Major Pay Raise for Rising Stars
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers have been named to the All-NBA Teams, significantly increasing their contract values by $40.89 million. This boost comes as a result of their All-NBA selections, which trigger a salary escalator clause in their rookie max extensions signed last year.
Impact of Rookie Max Extensions
Both Edwards and Haliburton signed five-year rookie max extensions with their respective teams. According to ESPN salary cap expert Bobby Marks, their contracts will jump from $204.45 million to $245.34 million due to their All-NBA selections. This substantial increase underscores the financial benefits of earning a spot on the All-NBA Teams.
New CBA Requirements
This season, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) required players to participate in at least 65 games and play a minimum of 20 minutes per game to be eligible for annual awards. If a player did not meet the 20-minute requirement, two games of at least 15 minutes each could be counted. These conditions had to be met to qualify for All-NBA consideration.
Haliburton Overcomes Early Frustration
At the start of the season, Haliburton expressed frustration with the new requirements due to his strong early performance and subsequent injury. Despite this, he managed to play in 69 games, averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists. His efforts earned him a spot on the All-NBA Third Team, a career first, and he led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Edwards’ Stellar Season
Edwards played in 79 games this season, averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. His impressive performance secured him a place on the All-NBA Second Team, also a career first. In addition to his regular-season success, Edwards led the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals, mirroring Haliburton’s postseason achievements.
Missed Opportunities for Ball and Bane
LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets and Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies, both from the same draft class and with similar rookie max extensions, were unable to meet the All-NBA selection criteria due to injuries. As a result, they missed out on the potential salary increases this season.
Future Prospects
With their new financial incentives and burgeoning careers, Edwards and Haliburton are poised for continued success. Both players have a strong chance to compete for their first NBA championship this year, adding further excitement to their already impressive seasons. (LODIBET)