In the dead of a recent night, the NBA and its player union secured labor peace for another seven years after agreeing to a collective bargaining agreement, scheduled to start next season. The CBA is expected to be ratified in the coming weeks.
Many of the big features of the latest CBA are already drawing plenty of discussions. Among them is the addition of a regular season tournament and a minimum amount of games someone needs to play in to be eligible for certain postseason awards.
There are also a few notable things omitted from the CBA. For instance, it doesn’t seem players will be able to make the jump from high school to the pros, an oft-rumored discussion point.
Most of the changes in the CBA feel speculative. They will change the way the NBA functions, to some degree, but the product of that change may not be noticeable until things like the regular season tournament actually happens for the first time.
A key element that could make an immediate difference, however, is an increase in the upper limits of contract extensions. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the upper limit will jump from 120 percent to 140 percent.
Which players stand to benefit the most from the newly agreed upon CBA between the NBA and its players association?
This change will particularly affect young stars eligible for a contract extension from their team. There’s at least one player who has been in trade and free agency rumors for years, but could lock up his future with the only team he’s ever played for at a better rate with the new CBA.
Here are a few players who could benefit from the CBA’s ratification.
F Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Jaylen Brown has been noncommittal about his future with the Boston Celtics, despite being under contract for another season. With the new CBA, it may be slightly easier for Brown to commit to Beantown going forward.
Under the old rules of business, Brown would only be able to sign an extension of four years for $165 million. The new rules, however, would allow him to sign an extension for the same amount of years, but for $189 million, or an average of $6 million more per season.
That being said, that’s not the prize Brown is after. Brown likely wants a much bigger contract extension, one that he can only attain if he makes All-NBA.
If Brown reaches All-NBA status this summer, he would be eligible for a five-year, $290 million. For just one additional year, the Cal product could make over $100 million more on that contract than what the new CBA would allow sans All-NBA accolades.
Keeping Brown is likely a priority for the Celtics’ front office. He’s part of a dynamic duo – alongside Jayson Tatum – that has turned the Boston Celtics into perennial contenders. The team came close to a title last year, making it to the NBA Finals, and have a chance to do so again this season despite the offseason coaching turmoil.
The incentive remains for Brown to hope for All-NBA honors or test free agency at the conclusion of next season when his contract expires. The Celtics, however, have one more option to convince Brown to stay.
F Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Domantas Sabonis’ arrival has been the biggest spark in the Sacramento Kings‘ play this season, the first for them in the playoffs in 16 years. They’ll want to keep the big man in the fold and should soon have slightly more money to make that happen.
The big man has been a dominant player for the Kings this season, perhaps even a sneaky candidate to get some MVP votes. There’s nothing more valuable than ending a lengthy postseason drought, after all.
The Indiana Pacers signed Sabonis to what now feels like a team-friendly contract, four years and $74.9 million. That deal came before the trade deadline last year, when Indiana and Sacramento swapped players and assets, including Tyrese Haliburton landing in Indiana. That deal comes to an end following next season. Sabonis is eligible to sign an extension with the Kings this offseason, though.
Under the terms of the old CBA, Sacramento could only offer a four-year, $111 million extension. Under the new CBA, that rises to $121 million extension, roughly $2.5 million more each year. Every penny counts, right? Sabonis could make more than $30 million per year on an extension under the CBA. That’s not high enough to be befitting a player of Sabonis’ stature, though.
In all likelihood, Sabonis is going to take his chances going into the final year of his contract and assume he can play at or near this level again next season. That would be enough to get him a bigger contract, as well as a chance to test free agency.
F O.G. Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
At the trade deadline, O.G. Anunoby seemed like a big domino to be dealt. Instead, Masai Ujiri held on to the wing, who can now sign a more lucrative extension with the Toronto Raptors under the new CBA.
Anunoby is on a team-friendly contract. While that benefits the Raptors now, it makes it harder to extend him long-term, as he’s been able to get more on the unrestricted free agency market than with a 120 percent raise in Toronto.
The 25-year-old is slated to make $18.6 million next season, the last of his deal. With the 120 percent threshold, Anunoby would be eligible in the offseason for a four-year extension that would pay a few hundreds dime above $100 million.
The new CBA will allow the Raptors to extend Anunoby for four years and $116.9 million. Assuming the contract escalates each year, he could be earning more than $32 million by the final season of such an extension.
Anunoby does have a player option for the 2024-25 season at $19.9 million. Considering the raise he could be expecting, he’ll likely opt out of he doesn’t reach an extension with the team during the offseason.
The Raptors have some decisions to make this offseason about its future, especially as Fred VanVleet approaches his own free agency.
G Dejounte Murray, Atlanta Hawks
Things aren’t going well with the Atlanta Hawks, but Dejounte Murray could have millions of more reasons to smile this offseason.
Murray is entering the final year of his four-year, $64 million deal he initially signed with the San Antonio Spurs before being traded to Atlanta. He will earn $17.7 million during the 2023-24 season.
With the old CBA, Murray would be eligible for an extension worth $76.8 million over four years. The new CBA makes him eligible for an extension worth $89.6 million over four years, almost $13 million more than before.
That doesn’t seem like it would be enough to sway Murray to sign an extension in the offseason, especially as the team flounders to the play-in tournament without a clear direction for the future. Murray is the kind of player who would probably seek the max in his next deal, which will almost certainly be well above the average annual salary he would command with the $90 million extension.
Like many players on this list, the changes to the CBA close the gap between what can be had and what should be had, but not entirely. Dejounte Murray is another example of a player who could benefit from the extension limit increase without it necessarily being a likely possibility.