The 2026 offseason is poised to be a major period for contract extensions, with more than 100 players eligible to sign new deals, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic and Donovan Mitchell. Changes to extension rules in the 2017 and 2023 collective bargaining agreements have encouraged players to lock in guaranteed money earlier, and since the current CBA began for the 2023-24 season an average of 31 players have signed veteran and rookie extensions compared with 21 under the previous CBA.
There is also a group of 44 potential free agents who can sign an extension through June 30. That list includes CJ McCollum, Dean Wade, Trae Young, Julian Champagnie, Norman Powell, Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle. Champagnie can sign a four-year, $87 million extension with the San Antonio Spurs if the team declines his $3 million option for next season; he would still be extension-eligible in July if the option is picked up.
Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes extension-eligible Oct. 1 and faces a June 30, 2027, deadline. He has two years remaining on his current deal, with the second year a player option. If he declines that option beginning Oct. 1, he could sign a four-year, $275 million extension; if he exercises the $62.8 million option for 2026-27, he could instead sign a three-year, $213.6 million extension. Antetokounmpo has spoken cautiously about the timeline, saying “We’ll see when we get there” according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Two scenarios have been outlined for Antetokounmpo’s immediate future: a verbal commitment to remain in Milwaukee and sign an extension once eligible, or a noncommittal stance followed by a trade prior to the draft. Co-owner Jimmy Haslam said a pre-draft move “is a natural time,” noting the club would need assets if Antetokounmpo plays elsewhere, according to the report. Under the league’s rules, any new team could sign him to an extension no earlier than six months after a trade.
Stephen Curry is eligible to sign an extension Aug. 29, with the same June 30, 2027, deadline. Curry said the Warriors will have a busy offseason and that commitment this summer is possible, adding, “For sure, but none of those conversations have happened,” according to ESPN. He could sign a two-year, $136.7 million extension that would pay career-high average salaries of $65.7 million and $71 million in what would be his age-39 and age-40 seasons. Over the past 14 seasons, Curry has missed more than 12 games due to only two injuries: a broken left hand that cost 58 games in 2019-20 and a right knee issue that sidelined him for roughly two months this season.
