By Bobby Marks / ESPN, 2026-11-03 20:00:00
关于孟菲斯灰熊队后卫泰·杰罗姆 (Ty Jerome)，这位29岁的流浪球员正为联盟最令人惊喜的球队之一场均砍下28分，有几件事你或许不知道：
杰罗姆曾经历过NCAA锦标赛历史上第一场16比1种子的爆冷，2018年他和弗吉尼亚大学被UMBC击败。（不过杰罗姆和骑士队在下一个赛季夺得了冠军。）他曾在俄克拉荷马城与谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大并肩作战两个赛季，还在金州勇士与斯蒂芬·库里做过一个赛季的队友。
联盟各队管理层如今肯定已经注意到的一点是：杰罗姆明年夏天可以成为完全自由球员。
作为ESPN合同年全明星的首发后卫，杰罗姆领衔这份12人名单，其中不乏潜在的自由球员大牌，许多人都在为2027年休赛期的大合同而努力。我们还将对每位球员的下一份合同以及他们在2月交易截止日前被交易的可能性做出早期预测。
下面让我们逐一盘点这份名单。
名单是如何选出的
我们排除了曾入选过最佳阵容或全明星的球员。这意味着你不会在这份名单中看到诸如华盛顿奇才队的安东尼·戴维斯、纽约尼克斯队的卡尔-安东尼·唐斯、迈阿密热火队的扬尼斯·阿德托昆博、密尔沃基雄鹿队的泰勒·希罗——甚至费城76人队前锋勒布朗·詹姆斯（他手握2027-28赛季的球员选项）——这些潜在的夏季自由球员。
现合同中拥有球队选项的球员，如尼克斯队的约什·哈特和洛杉矶快船队的八村塁，也不在考虑之列。毕竟，如果一名球员的表现已经好到足以入选合同年全明星，他的球队几乎不可能放弃球队选项。
最后，我们也没有纳入2027年受限制自由球员，如底特律活塞队的丹尼斯·詹金斯。
首发阵容
弗雷德·范弗利特，火箭队
2026-27赛季数据： 12.2分 | 6.8助攻 | 1.7抢断
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 范弗利特的场均得分是2018-19赛季以来的最低值，但他稳定了火箭队的进攻。在因右膝前交叉韧带撕裂缺席整个上赛季之后，这位32岁的后卫场均送出6.8次助攻，失误仅为1.0次。因此，休斯顿的助攻率已从2025-26赛季的第27位提升至本赛季初的第13位。
预测： 火箭队将在季后赛中走得很远，并在自由市场上与范弗利特重新签约。
尽管处于合同最后一年，范弗利特并不具备提前续约资格，因为他在2025年签下的是一份两年合同。范弗利特在休斯顿的未来如何，可能取决于球队的财务状况。随着阿门·汤普森和塔里·伊森续约合同的第一年从2027-28赛季开始生效，预计火箭队将低于奢侈税线1000万美元，低于第一土豪线1900万美元。
泰·杰罗姆，灰熊队
2026-27赛季数据： 28.2分 | 5.7助攻 | 三分命中率42.1%
合同状况： 2027年球员选项（970万美元）
本赛季表现： 杰罗姆上赛季因只打了15场比赛而未入选候选，但2026-27赛季的前两周已让这位29岁球员成为首发得分后卫位置的明显人选。杰罗姆正在刷新自己的生涯各项最高纪录，据Cleaning the Glass统计，当他在场时，孟菲斯每百回合净胜对手18.2分。
预测： 如果他能继续保持高水平发挥，杰罗姆将拒绝执行970万美元的球员选项，成为完全自由球员。
由于已积累早伯德权，杰罗姆与孟菲斯（或若被交易则与新球队）可签下的最大合同为4年7230万美元。预计有8支球队拥有薪金空间，另有12支球队拥有1600万美元的非税中产特例，杰罗姆在孟菲斯之外应该不乏追求者。如果杰罗姆选择执行下赛季的选项，他将有资格签下一份4年9990万美元的提前续约合同。
瑞安·罗林斯，雄鹿队
2026-27赛季数据： 11.0分 | 4.4助攻 | 4.1篮板
合同状况： 2027年球员选项（400万美元）
本赛季表现： 罗林斯的场均得分比去年少了7分，投篮命中率为34.5%，三分命中率仅为26.3%。这些下滑的数据，加上重建中的雄鹿队1胜6负的战绩，通常会让球员无缘这份名单。
但合同年全明星的评选依据远不止赛季前两周的表现。2025-26赛季，当罗林斯场均砍下生涯新高的17.6分、5.6次助攻和4.6个篮板时，他在场时密尔沃基每百回合要净胜近6分。
预测： 罗林斯拒绝执行选项，成为完全自由球员。
罗林斯在2025年与雄鹿签下了一份三年合同，但要到2027年夏天才具备提前续约资格；若想签下长约，罗林斯需要先执行2027-28赛季400万美元的合同选项。与杰罗姆类似，罗林斯将有资格签下一份4年7200万美元的合同。
小迈克尔·波特，篮网队
2026-27赛季数据： 20.7分 | 7.0篮板 | 1.6抢断
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 波特连续第二个赛季场均得分至少20分，但这位28岁的前锋所做的远不止得分：他场均1.6次抢断（外加2.5次破坏传球）创生涯新高，且当波特在场时，布鲁克林的防守每百回合要少丢8分。
预测： 波特将在2月11日截止日前被交易至一支争冠球队。
自7月起，波特就有资格与布鲁克林签下一份4年2.365亿美元的提前续约合同。如果篮网交易他，波特将有资格与新球队签下3年1.54亿美元的合同。他也可以选择在2027年夏天成为完全自由球员，无论截止日后的去向如何。
保罗·里德，活塞队
2026-27赛季数据： 13.4分 | 6.7篮板 | 投篮命中率65.0%
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 在首发中锋杰伦·杜伦腿筋拉伤后，里德抓住了上场时间激增的机会（从上赛季的场均13.9分钟增至2026-27赛季的26.9分钟）。他的场均得分几乎翻倍，投篮命中率65%创生涯新高。当里德在场时，活塞队每百回合净胜12.9分。
预测： 里德因与底特律签下的是两年合同而不具备提前续约资格，他将成为完全自由球员。
里德角色的提升只会进一步抬高他作为明年夏天顶级前场选择之一的自由市场身价。近三分之二的球队在自由市场上至少有1600万美元可花。与此同时，活塞队低于奢侈税线2450万美元，且凭借邓肯·罗宾逊、约翰·科林斯和以赛亚·乔的非保障合同，他们还拥有一定的操作灵活性。
替补阵容
克里斯·邓恩，快船队
2026-27赛季数据： 9.0分 | 4.7助攻 | 2.9抢断
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 邓恩上赛季抢断数排名联盟第四（仅次于卡森·华莱士、戴森·丹尼尔斯和奥萨尔·汤普森），破坏传球数排名第五。本赛季是他在快船的第三个赛季，邓恩场均出场29.7分钟，为生涯第二高，场均2.9次抢断创生涯新高。这位32岁球员本赛季的破坏传球数仅次于丹尼尔斯。
预测： 快船队将在截止日交易邓恩，收回在联盟薪资规避调查后被罚没的五个未来首轮签之一。随后邓恩与新球队签下一份2年3700万美元的续约合同，跳过自由市场。
达维恩·米切尔，热火队
2026-27赛季数据： 16.0分 | 8.0助攻 | 三分命中率45.7%
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 尽管热火队战绩仅为2胜5负，米切尔却在出场时间（场均33.5分钟）、得分（16.0分）、助攻（8.0次，联盟第三）和投篮命中率（51.8%）上均迎来生涯最佳赛季。上赛季他仅有9场比赛助攻上双，而本赛季他已经做到了4场。
预测： 现在下结论确实为时尚早。在萨克拉门托国王队效力三个赛季、多伦多猛龙队效力半个赛季之后，米切尔似乎已在迈阿密找到了长久的归宿。不过，他的下一份合同将取决于迈阿密的薪金空间灵活性。随着佩勒·拉尔森续约合同的第一年从2027-28赛季开始生效，预计热火队将低于税线2300万美元，低于第一土豪线3200万美元。如果米切尔以每赛季1500万至1600万美元的价位签约，迈阿密明年夏天很可能无法保留完整的1600万美元非税中产特例。（由于米切尔与迈阿密签下的是两年合同，他本赛季不具备提前续约资格。）
RJ·巴雷特，猛龙队
2026-27赛季数据： 20.7分 | 6.1篮板 | 4.0助攻
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 我们在是否纳入巴雷特时曾有所犹豫，毕竟他正处于2022年与尼克斯签下的1.07亿美元新秀续约合同的最后一年。抛开财务因素，自2023年12月多伦多通过交易得到他以来，巴雷特已经打出了三个半有影响力的赛季。此后每个赛季他的场均得分都至少达到19.2分。正如过去季后赛首轮布兰登·英格拉姆受伤时他所做的那样，预计在科怀·伦纳德无限期缺阵的情况下，巴雷特将承担起大部分得分重任。
预测： 尽管自7月起就有资格提前续约，巴雷特将成为完全自由球员。凭借巴雷特的伯德权，猛龙队可以超过工资帽，但下赛季他们将面临财务压力。随着伦纳德和雅各布·珀尔特尔续约合同第一年的生效，预计多伦多将低于奢侈税线2300万美元，低于第一土豪线2900万美元。
乔纳森·库明加，森林狼队
2026-27赛季数据： 12.3分 | 5.4篮板 | 三分命中率44.1%
合同状况： 2027年球员选项（640万美元）
本赛季表现： 在安东尼·爱德华兹长期缺阵的情况下，预计库明加将扮演重要角色。这位24岁的前锋本赛季首发出战了全部8场比赛，场均出场时间（30.8分钟）和三分命中率均创生涯新高。防守端，库明加场均贡献1.3次抢断和2.8次破坏传球，且当他在场时，明尼苏达的防守效率高达99.5。整个赛季需要关注的两项数据：库明加的三分出手（场均比上赛季多1.4次）和罚球命中率（本赛季55%，创生涯新低）。
预测： 库明加将拒绝执行球员选项，连续第三个休赛期成为自由球员。由于库明加只拥有非伯德权，且明尼苏达已接近第一土豪线，球队能提供的首年最高薪水仅为720万美元。这在合同谈判中将是无法接受的，库明加将转投他队。
肯里奇·威廉姆斯，雷霆队
2026-27赛季数据： 6.0分 | 3.4篮板 | 三分命中率47.4%
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 如果杰伦·威廉姆斯和卡森·华莱士保持健康，威廉姆斯很可能无缘这份名单。但由于这两位首发将缺席大部分（甚至全部）赛季，预计威廉姆斯的出场时间将大幅增加。上赛季进入轮换的37场比赛中，他场均得到8.2分，投篮命中率36.3%。
预测： 随着俄克拉荷马城再度面临财务压力，威廉姆斯将成为完全自由球员，并在休赛期转投他队。他下赛季的起薪为600万美元，与税中产特例相当。
凯尔登·约翰逊，马刺队
2026-27赛季数据： 9.3分 | 5.6篮板 | 1.1助攻
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 这位卫冕最佳第六人在上赛季出战了全部比赛，并打破了替补球员的得分纪录。但在季后赛中，约翰逊在马刺队的16场比赛里仅有5场得分上双。本赛季，约翰逊的触球次数下降了近20%，场均三分出手减少了2.5次，但他更加坚决地冲击篮筐。前六场比赛中，约翰逊79%的得分来自油漆区。
预测： 在下赛季财务状况更加明朗之前，圣安东尼奥将搁置与约翰逊的续约谈判。
随着维克托·文班亚马续约合同的第一年从2027-28赛季开始生效，预计圣安东尼奥将低于奢侈税线1100万美元，低于第一土豪线1800万美元。即便约翰逊不续约，考虑到来自亚特兰大的2027年首轮签以及补齐的阵容名单，马刺队仍很可能成为缴纳奢侈税的球队。
穆萨·迪亚巴特，黄蜂队
2026-27赛季数据： 9.1分 | 9.5篮板 | 1.8抢断
合同状况： 2027年完全自由球员
本赛季表现： 迪亚巴特已从一名双向合同球员蜕变为或许是全联盟最好的进攻篮板手。得益于迪亚巴特联盟最佳的场均5.4个进攻篮板，夏洛特在该项数据上排名第六，二次进攻得分排名联盟第11。过去两个赛季，当迪亚巴特首发时，黄蜂队的战绩为37胜16负。
预测： 迪亚巴特将在2月8日——他具备续约资格的第一天——签下一份4年6400万美元的提前续约合同。（首年1600万美元的薪水与下赛季的非税中产特例相当。）即便布兰登·米勒和迪亚巴特的续约合同从2027-28赛季开始生效，夏洛特仍将保持低于奢侈税线和土豪线的灵活性。
由生成式 AI 翻译，翻译内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：NBA Contract Year All-Stars: 12 playing for a payday
NBA Contract Year All-Stars: 12 playing for a payday
Things you might not know about Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome, the 29-year-old journeyman averaging 28 points per game for one of the NBA’s most surprising teams:
Jerome played in the first 16-1 upset in NCAA tournament history, when he and Virginia were stunned by UMBC in 2018. (Jerome and the Cavaliers would win the title the next season.) He played two seasons with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City. He played one season with Stephen Curry in Golden State.
Something front offices around the league are surely aware of by now: Jerome can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Jerome, a starting guard for ESPN’s Contract Year All-Stars, headlines a 12-player roster full of potential impact free agents, many of whom are searching for massive paydays in the 2027 offseason. We’re also providing early predictions on each player’s next contract and the likelihood of getting moved by the February trade deadline.
Let’s run down the roster.
How we selected the roster
We disqualified players who have previously made an All-NBA or All-Star team. That means you won’t see potential summer free agents such as the Washington Wizards’ Anthony Davis, New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, Miami Heat’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks’ Tyler Herro – or even Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James, who holds a player option for 2027-28 – on this list.
Players with team options in their current contracts, such as the Knicks’ Josh Hart and LA Clippers’ Rui Hachimura, also were not considered. After all, if a player is outplaying his deal enough to be considered a Contract Year All-Star, it is highly unlikely his team will decline the option.
Finally, we have kept off potential 2027 restricted free agents, such as the Detroit Pistons’ Daniss Jenkins.
STARTERS
Fred VanVleet, Rockets
2026-27 stats: 12.2 PTS | 6.8 AST | 1.7 STL
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: VanVleet is averaging his fewest points per game since 2018-19 but has steadied the Rockets’ offense. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee, the 32-year-old guard is averaging 6.8 assists with only 1.0 turnovers per game. As a result, Houston’s assist rate has improved from 27th in 2025-26 to 13th in the early going this season.
Prediction: The Rockets will advance deep into the playoffs and re-sign VanVleet in unrestricted free agency.
Despite being in the final year of his contract, VanVleet is not extension-eligible because he signed a two-year deal in 2025. How VanVleet factors into Houston’s future could be determined by the franchise’s finances. With Year 1 of Amen Thompson and Tari Eason’s extensions beginning in 2027-28, Houston is projected to be $10 million below the luxury tax and $19 million below the first apron.
Ty Jerome, Grizzlies
2026-27 stats: 28.2 PTS | 5.7 AST | 42.1 3P%
Contract status: 2027 player option ($9.7 million)
Impact this season: Jerome was not a candidate last season because he played just 15 games, but the first two weeks of 2026-27 has made the 29-year-old an obvious choice for the starting 2-guard role. Jerome is shattering previous career highs, and Memphis is plus-18.2 points per 100 possessions with him on the court, per Cleaning the Glass.
Prediction: If he continues to play at a high level, Jerome will decline his $9.7 million player option and become an unrestricted free agent.
Because early Bird rights have been accrued, the maximum Jerome could sign with Memphis (or with another team if he is traded) is four years and $72.3 million. With eight teams projected to have cap space and another 12 with the $16 million non-tax mid-level exception, Jerome should have suitors outside of Memphis. If Jerome chooses to opt-in for next season, he becomes eligible to sign a four-year, $99.9 million extension.
Ryan Rollins, Bucks
2026-27 stats: 11.0 PTS | 4.4 AST | 4.1 REB
Contract status: 2027 player option ($4 million)
Impact this season: Rollins is averaging seven fewer points per game than last year and is shooting 34.5% from the field and 26.3% on 3-pointers. Those down numbers, plus the fact that the retooling Bucks are 1-6, would normally preclude a player from this list.
But the Contract Year All-Star selection process factors in much more than the first two weeks of the season. With Rollins averaging career highs in points (17.6 per game), assists (5.6) and rebounds (4.6), Milwaukee was nearly six points better when he was on the court in 2025-26.
Prediction: Rollins declines the option and becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Rollins signed a three-year contract with the Bucks in 2025 but is not extension-eligible until the summer of 2027; to sign a long-term pact, Rollins would need to first opt in to his $4 million contract for 2027-28. Similar to Jerome, Rollins will be eligible to sign a four-year, $72 million deal.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets
2026-27 stats: 20.7 PTS | 7.0 REB | 1.6 STL
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Porter is averaging at least 20 points per game for the second consecutive season, but the 28-year-old forward is doing more than just scoring: His 1.6 steals per game (with 2.5 deflections) is a career high, and Brooklyn’s defense is eight points per 100 possessions better with Porter on the court.
Prediction: Porter gets traded to a contender before the Feb. 11 deadline.
Since July, Porter has been eligible to sign a four-year, $236.5 million extension with Brooklyn. If the Nets move him, Porter would become eligible to sign for three years and $154 million with his new team. He can also elect to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027, regardless of his post-deadline future.
Paul Reed, Pistons
2026-27 stats: 13.4 PTS | 6.7 REB | 65.0 FG%
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Reed has taken advantage of a surge in minutes (13.9 per game last season to 26.9 in 2026-27) following starting center Jalen Duren’s hamstring strain. Reed has nearly doubled his points per game and is shooting a career-high 65% from the field. The Pistons are plus-12.9 points per 100 possessions with Reed on the court.
Prediction: Reed, not extension-eligible because he signed a two-year contract with Detroit, will hit unrestricted free agency.
Reed’s increased role should only boost his free agent stock as one of the top frontcourt options next summer. Nearly two-thirds of teams have at least $16 million to spend in free agency. The Pistons, meanwhile, are $24.5 million below the luxury tax but do have flexibility with the non-guaranteed contracts of Duncan Robinson, John Collins and Isaiah Joe.
RESERVES
Kris Dunn, Clippers
2026-27 stats: 9.0 PTS | 4.7 AST | 2.9 STL
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Dunn ranked fourth in steals last season (trailing only Cason Wallace, Dyson Daniels and Ausar Thompson) and fifth in deflections. This season, his third with the Clippers, Dunn is averaging the second-most minutes in his career (29.7 per game) with a career-high 2.9 steals per game. The 32-year-old trails only Daniels for the most deflections this season.
Prediction: The Clippers trade Dunn at the deadline and recoup one of the five future first-round picks docked after the NBA’s salary cap circumvention investigation. Dunn then signs a two-year, $37 million extension with his new team to bypass free agency.
Davion Mitchell, Heat
2026-27 stats: 16.0 PTS | 8.0 AST | 45.7 3P%
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Despite the Heat’s 2-5 record, Mitchell is having a career year in minutes (33.5 per game), points (16.0), assists (8.0, third in the league) and field goal percentage (51.8%). And after recording double-digit assists in nine games last season, Mitchell is already up to four.
Prediction: This truly could be too early. After three seasons with the Sacramento Kings and half a season with the Toronto Raptors, Mitchell seems to have found a permanent home in Miami. His next contract, however, will depend on Miami’s cap flexibility. With Year 1 of Pelle Larsson’s extension beginning in 2027-28, Miami is projected to be $23 million below the tax and $32 million below the first apron. If Mitchell signs in the $15-16 million range per season, it is unlikely Miami has the full $16 million non-tax mid-level exception available to use next summer. (Because Mitchell signed a two-year contract with Miami, he is not extension-eligible during this season.)
RJ Barrett, Raptors
2026-27 stats: 20.7 PTS | 6.1 REB | 4.0 AST
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: We were hesitant including Barrett, considering he is in the final year of a $107 million rookie extension signed in 2022 with the Knicks. Finances aside, Barrett has had three and a half impactful seasons since Toronto traded for him in December 2023. Barrett has averaged at least 19.2 points per game in the seasons since. Just as he did when Brandon Ingram was injured during the Raptors’ first-round series this past postseason, expect Barrett to pick up most of the scoring load with Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely.
Prediction: Despite being eligible to sign an extension since July, Barrett will become an unrestricted free agent. The Raptors are allowed to exceed the salary cap because of Barrett’s Bird rights but face a financial crunch next season. With the first year of Leonard’s and Jakob Poeltl’s extensions beginning, Toronto is projected to be $23 million below the luxury tax and $29 million below the first apron.
Jonathan Kuminga, Timberwolves
2026-27 stats: 12.3 PTS | 5.4 REB | 44.1 3P%
Contract status: 2027 player option ($6.4 million)
Impact this season: Expect Kuminga to play a significant role with Anthony Edwards out for an extended period. The 24-year-old forward has started all eight games this season, averaging career highs in minutes (30.8 per game) and 3-point percentage. Defensively, Kuminga is averaging 1.3 steals and 2.8 deflections, and Minnesota boasts a defensive rating of 99.5 when the forward is on the floor. Two stats to monitor all season: Kuminga’s 3-pointers (1.4 more attempts per game than last season) and free throw percentage (a career-low 55% this season).
Prediction: Kuminga declines his player option to become a free agent for the third straight offseason. Because Kuminga has non-Bird rights and Minnesota is close to the first apron, the maximum first-year salary it can offer is just $7.2 million. That will be a non-starter in contract negotiations, with Kuminga signing elsewhere.
Kenrich Williams, Thunder
2026-27 stats: 6.0 PTS | 3.4 REB | 47.4 3P%
Contract status: 2027 Unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Williams likely does not make the list if Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were healthy. But because the two starters will miss most (if not all) of the season, expect Williams’ minutes to soar. In the 37 games as part of the rotation last season, he averaged 8.2 points and shot 36.3% from the floor.
Prediction: With another financial crunch looming in Oklahoma City, Williams becomes an unrestricted free agent and signs elsewhere in the offseason. His salary next season starts at $6 million, comparable to the tax midlevel exception.
Keldon Johnson, Spurs
2026-27 stats: 9.3 PTS | 5.6 REB | 1.1 AST
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: The reigning Sixth Man of the Year appeared in every game last season, breaking the record for points by a reserve. But in the playoffs, Johnson scored double-digits in just five of the Spurs’ 16 games. This season, Johnson’s touches are down nearly 20% and he is shooting 2.5 fewer 3-pointers per game, but he is making a more concerted effort to attack the basket. Through six games, Johnson had scored 79% of his points in the paint.
Prediction: Until there is more clarity on the financial situation next season, San Antonio will table extension talks with Johnson.
With Year 1 of Victor Wembanyama’s extension beginning in 2027-28, San Antonio is projected to be $11 million below the luxury tax and $18 million below the first apron. Even without Johnson re-signing, the Spurs are likely a luxury tax team when factoring in the 2027 first-round pick from Atlanta and a filled-out roster.
Moussa Diabate, Hornets
2026-27 stats: 9.1 PTS | 9.5 REB | 1.8 STL
Contract status: 2027 unrestricted free agent
Impact this season: Diabate has transformed from two-way player to perhaps the best offensive rebounder in the NBA. Thanks to Diabate’s league-best 5.4 offensive boards per game, Charlotte ranks sixth in that category and 11th in second-chance points. Across the past two seasons, the Hornets are 37-16 when Diabate starts.
Prediction: Diabate signs a four-year, $64 million extension on Feb. 8, his first day eligible. (The $16 million first-year salary is comparable to the non-tax mid-level exception next season.) Even with extensions for Brandon Miller and Diabate kicking in for 2027-28, Charlotte would still have flexibility below the luxury tax and apron.
By Bobby Marks / ESPN