Top 3 Players Up For Huge Rookie Contract Extensions By Monday Deadline

The NBA Draft Class of 2019 has put a lot of coin in its collective pockets thus far, with Zion Williamson (No. 1 pick), Ja Morant (#2) and Darius Garland (#5) already securing max rookie extensions. Those are worth somewhere from $194M to $233M (depending on All-NBA, MVP or DPOY honors).

RJ Barrett, Tyler Herro and Keldon Johnson have also signed over the past few weeks.

But with Monday 6pm Eastern being the deadline to sign those rookie extensions, there are still 18 others who are eligible, but not all will get their deals.

With the help of NBA Insider Marc Stein, here's a look at the Top 3 players who are most likely to get a rookie extension done by the deadline.

Jordan Poole

The Golden State Warriors' breakthrough sensation of last season, Poole was the No. 28 pick in the 2019 Draft, but has soared up the ranks with his performance last year. And he is one of the most likely to get his extension, as per the reports we've been hearing. It'll most likely be in the $100M range of recent signees Barrett and Herro.

“There’s a reason Jordan is who he is right now,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Especially considering where he was coming out of Michigan, a late first-round pick, struggling his first few months in the league. There’s a reason he’s in this position, about to sign a big extension hopefully. He’s just tough. He’s mentally tough and physically tough and ultra-confident in his game.”

De'Andre Hunter

The Atlanta Hawks small forward was the No. 4 pick back in 2019, and according to Stein, he's "widely believed to have the best chance of scoring a deal" before Monday's deadline.

Reports earlier in the summer had Hunter receiving a deal that would average in the high teens to $20M annually. But reports a bit later in the offseason said that talks were dragging. This one could come down to the wire.

Cam Johnson

There's been plenty of talk this offseason about the Phoenix Suns trying to get something done with their young power forward, who was drafted with the No. 11 pick in the '19 Draft. In fact, he's been named the starter by coach Monty Williams, and this development is the main reason that Jae Crowder is on the trade block.

“We’re having discussions. Cam is a big part of what we do. Really excited for the progress he’s shown over the last few years, especially last year. He’s primed to take some steps forward." James Jones on Cam Johnson, who is up for rookie extension. #Suns https://t.co/yoLfOlceCk pic.twitter.com/b6HdVrgiVN
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) September 10, 2022

Here's the full list of others who are eligible. Any of these players who don't sign would be restricted free agents after the season.

Chicago’s Coby White (No. 7)
New Orleans’ Jaxson Hayes (No. 8)
Washington’s Rui Hachimura (No. 9)
New York’s Cam Reddish (No. 10)
Charlotte’s P.J. Washington (No. 12)
San Antonio’s Romeo Langford (No. 14)
Utah’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17)
Indiana’s Goga Bitadze (No. 18)
- Philadelphia’s Matisse Thybulle (No. 20)
- - Memphis’ Brandon Clarke (No. 21)
  - Boston’s Grant Williams (No. 22)
Oklahoma City’s Darius Bazley (No. 23)
Portland’s Nassir Little (No. 25)
Cleveland’s Dylan Windler (No. 26)
Houston’s Kevin Porter Jr. (No. 30)