Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Davis were willing to discuss extensions below their maximum salaries. Their teams still decided to wait.
That’s getting attention around the NBA, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon, who detailed how some front offices are becoming more comfortable letting contract uncertainty follow their stars into the season.
“A year or two ago, I don’t think you’d have seen that. The teams would’ve felt too much pressure,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “Being unhappy is not a negotiating position anymore.”
The Knicks ended extension discussions with Towns despite his public willingness to accept less than a maximum deal. He holds a $61 million player option for 2027-28, giving him the ability to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The Wizards took a similar approach with Davis. Agent Rich Paul indicated that Davis would negotiate below his maximum, but Washington wanted to evaluate the first 20 to 30 games before proceeding. Davis subsequently said he would wait until after the season.
Then there’s Jalen Duren. Coming off an All-Star and All-NBA season, the Pistons center ultimately agreed to a $200 million contract just before training camp. That was $87 million below his maximum, Windhorst noted.
Duren has said there are no hard feelings. Still, the negotiations illustrated how difficult securing that next deal can become, even after a breakthrough season.
“I know the fans are tired of hearing about the aprons, but this is just another example of how they are changing the league,” a Western Conference general manager told ESPN. “The aprons give the owners a reason to take a harder line. Before, it was just about money.”
The approach carries risk. Towns and Davis can both reach free agency next summer, and Windhorst reported that the league is particularly interested in how Davis’ situation develops.
Nor has every superstar lost leverage. MacMahon pointed to the Lakers acquiring Walker Kessler to fulfill a promise to Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves landing LaMelo Ball in a move that appealed to Anthony Edwards.
Teams still want to keep their stars happy. They’re becoming more selective about what they’ll pay to do it.
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