Credit Ipa Agency
Paolo Banchero signed a maximum salary extension from 239 million in five years with Orlando Magic, thus becoming one of the few rookies to have achieved a player option in the contract.
This clause has not been granted since they obtained it in 2021. Luka Doncic e Bring youngOrlando’s decision may have influenced the renewal negotiations of other rookie of the 2022 Draft, as Chet holmgren e Jalene Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who could aim for similar conditions.
In the context of rookie max extensions, there are two critical points:
Eligibility for the 30% salary cap (normally 25%), reachable through All-NBA selection, MVP or DPOY;
The player option, which offers the player the possibility of exiting the contract before its natural expiry.
Banchero got it both conditions in his contract. This concession is particularly significant, given that neither Anthony Edwards (All-Star) nor Ja morant (All-NBA Second Team) managed to get a player option in their renewals.
Banchero’s profile
Selected with the first pick in 2022, Banchero was All-Star at 21 and increased his stats in his second season, despite an oblique injury limiting him. However, he has yet to crack the top 20 in the All-NBA voting.
Despite the potential, the Magic’s decision to accept a player options which could allow Banchero to access the supermax one year earlier, or to become free agent in 2030, in the prime of his career at 27 years old.
This choice follows another similar operation: Franz Wagner He received a maximum salary extension last summer, despite having yet to earn any notable individual accolades.
RATING: B-