The deadline passed at midnight on Halloween for NBA teams to sign 2009 first-round draft picks to contract extensions.
There was a flurry of activity Wednesday night as several young players cashed in with big extensions but a whole host of players are set to become restricted free agents next summer. Several others will have to wait as they spent a season or two overseas before making their way to the NBA.
Who signed on for new deals and who will have to wait and see?
1. Blake Griffin — Los Angeles Clippers
There was no deadline drama here. The Clippers took care of business early as they signed Griffin to a five-year extension back in July.
2. Hasheem Thabeet — Oklahoma City Thunder
Thabeet was originally drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies before being dealt to Houston who in turn sent him to Portland. The Thunder signed Thabeet as a free agent in the summer.
3. James Harden — Oklahoma City Thunder
In a draft do-over it would be interesting to see if Harden or Griffin would go No. 1. They are on a pretty similar plane as far as talent level. On Saturday night, the Thunder traded Harden to the Rockets for a package including Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and draft picks. He was signed to a five-year extension by the Rockets on Wednesday.
4. Tyreke Evans — Sacramento Kings
The Kings appear to be content to let Evans test the market next summer. He has been decent in Sacramento but has yet to establish himself as a star as he prefers to play point guard but should be on the wing.
5. Ricky Rubio — Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves had to wait an extra year for Rubio’s services therefore he has to wait an extra year for an extension. Look for him to get a max contract next summer from the Timberwolves.
6. Jonny Flynn — Currently without team
The Timberwolves made the curious decision to draft Flynn one spot after drafting Rubio. He never worked out and was eventually dealt to the Rockets, and then onto the Blazers. He was in the Pistons camp for the first couple of weeks but was cut on Oct. 22 and is currently without a team.
7. Stephen Curry — Golden State Warriors
Despite spraining his twice-surgically repaired right ankle again in pre-season, the Warriors signed Curry to a four-year, $44 million contract on Wednesday.
8. Jordan Hill — Los Angeles Lakers
Hill has turned into a solid rotation player with the Lakers after being drafted by New York and then being traded to Houston. He signed a new, two-year $8 million deal with Los Angeles last summer.
9. DeMar DeRozan — Toronto Raptors
In a move that shocked many in the basketball community, DeRozan was signed to a four-year, $38-million deal by the Raptors on Wednesday.
10. Brandon Jennings — Milwaukee Bucks
Jennings averaged 19.1 points and 5.5 assists per game last season. The Bucks will let him test the market but it would be a shocker if they let him leave without getting anything in return.
11. Terrence Williams — Currently without team
After a decent rookie season with New Jersey, Williams career went off the rails. He was dealt to Houston, who eventually cut ties with the Louisville product. He had a cup of coffee with Sacramento last season and was in the Pistons camp this fall.
12. Gerald Henderson — Charlotte Bobcats
Henderson recorded career highs of 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season but that was for one of the worst teams ever. As the talent level in Charlotte increases, look for his numbers to drop. While the Bobcats like Henderson, they were in no hurry to offer an extension.
13. Tyler Hansbrough — Indiana Pacers
‘Psycho T’ has developed into a solid back-up for Roy Hibbert and David West in Indiana. There is too much talent on the roster ahead of Hansbrough for the Pacers to chance tying up cap space with an extension. He will likely have to leave the Pacers to cash in.
14. Earl Clark — Los Angeles Lakers
Clark was dumped on the Lakers as part of the Dwight Howard deal. Originally drafted by Phoenix, he has yet to see the court in L.A.’s first two games.
15. Austin Daye — Detroit Pistons
A career average of 5.9 points per game will never earn any player an extension, especially for a franchise that is trying to create some cap space.
16. James Johnson — Sacramento Kings
Now on his third team, Johnson needs to mature quickly if he is going to stay in the league.
17. Jrue Holiday — Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers signed Holiday to a four-year, $41-million extension on Wednesday night. After averaging 14 points and 11 assists per game last season it was hardly a surprise.
18. Ty Lawson — Denver Nuggets
Kyle Lowry must be licking his lips in anticipation after seeing the deal Lawson signed Wednesday. Not that it was a bad contract but Lawson posted Lowry-esque numbers of 16 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game last season.
19. Jeff Teague — Atlanta Hawks
Teague is firmly entrenched as the Hawks starter but he is not far above average and this is a team looking to shed long-term deals to make a run at Chris Paul down the road.
20. Eric Maynor — Oklahoma City Thunder
If the Thunder can’t afford to keep James Harden, they can hardly afford to spend much on a backup point guard coming off an injury-plagued season.
21. Darren Collison — Dallas Mavericks
In New Orleans, Collison was stuck behind Chris Paul and Indiana he fell behind George Hill in the pecking order so last summer he was traded to Dallas. He has been a decent player thus far in his career but Dallas is looking to maintain cap flexibility at the moment.
22. Víctor Claver — Portland Trail Blazers
Claver just signed with Portland last summer so he won’t be eligible for an extension for a couple of years.
23. Omri Casspi — Cleveland Cavaliers
Casspi will likely be around the NBA for awhile but the former Kings’ draft pick will be allowed to test the market next summer.
24. Byron Mullens — Charlotte Bobcats
Mullens will likely start the season for the Bobcats at power forward. Like Henderson, he put up decent numbers for a bad team last year but certainly is replacable.
25. Rodrigue Beaubois — Dallas Mavericks
See Darren Collison.
26. Taj Gibson — Chicago Bulls
The Bulls locked up Gibson to a $38-million, four-year deal. Many are predicting a breakout year for him so this could be a bargain.
27. DeMarre Carroll — Utah Jazz
Now with his fourth NBA team, Carroll has settled into journeyman status.
28. Wayne Ellington — Memphis Grizzles
The Grizzlies let Mayo walk and will likely do the same with Ellington if it comes to it.
29. Toney Douglas — Los Angeles Lakers
Douglas is a decent glue guy but Houston will more than likely let him walk next summer.
30. Christian Eyenga — Currently without team
Traded to Orlando in the Dwight Howard deal, the ultra-athletic forward was cut at the end of training camp. Europe may be his next stop.
