October 31st is the deadline for first-round picks from the Class of 2006 to sign contract extensions, with the alternative to play out this season and become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2010.
- Larry Kuzniewski
- It looks like Rudy Gay may have to fight through this season without a contract extension.
Yesterday, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge (5 years, $65 million) became only the third player in this draft class to sign an extension, following his teammate Brandon Roy (a max 5 year, $80 million) and top overall pick, Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani (5 years, $65 million). And according to reports, it doesn’t seem like any other significant Class of ’06 extensions are forthcoming. The best players from this class still looking for a deal: Boston’s Rajon Rondo and the Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay.
ESPN.com’s Chad Ford reports that the Grizzlies’ initial offers to Gay have been “underwhelming.” If the Grizzlies don’t ink Gay to an extension before the deadline, I’ll have mixed feelings about it.
While Gay is a comparable player to Aldridge and Bargnani, I tend to think the Blazers and Raptors overpaid for players still shy of all-star caliber and don’t think the Grizzlies would be wise to follow suit. The team will have leverage with Gay next summer as a restricted free agent in a climate where league-wide player salaries are likely to contract. I think there are two reasons to extend a rookie at the first opportunity: If the player is a clear-cut #1 guy (and you can certainly make the case that Roy fits that criteria) or if you can get what you feel is a good deal. Otherwise, wait it out. This is the mistake I thought the Grizzlies made with Pau Gasol, maxing him out at the first opportunity when he wasn’t quite that level of player.
