Utah Jazz Mailbag: What Could Youth Extensions Look Like?

SALT LAKE CITY – Welcome to the Utah Jazz mailbag, where this week we explore potential contract extensions for the team’s soon-to-be third-year players.

Each week, we will send out a prompt on X and BlueSky asking for the questions you have about the Jazz.

Then, we’ll respond to as many as we can in that week’s Jazz mailbag on the podcast.

Jazz Mailbag: When Will Jazz Get Extensions Done?

What does extensions look like for Key, Brice, Taylor look like assuming they are successful role players this year. 6th- 7th man type success? Heading into 2026 offseason.

— T (@jazztimejones2) July 28, 2025

Question: What do extensions look like for Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, and Taylor Hendricks look like assuming they are successful role players this year?

Answer: Extensions seem to be undergoing a makeover under the new collective bargaining agreement, which has made forecasting them more difficult than in previous years.

Before addressing players from the 2023 draft class (i.e., George, Sensabaugh, and Hendricks), let’s first look at the 2022 class and who has signed an extension.

To date, only four players have signed a rookie extension this summer, guaranteeing their NBA futures beyond the 2025-26 season.

Teams can sign players to rookie extensions after their third year of NBA service, locking them into long-term deals before hitting restricted free agency in year four.

Breaking: Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has agreed to a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million, Mike Miller of LIFT Sports Management tells ESPN. Deal includes a player option; the first for a rookie max since 2021 (Luka Doncic, Trae Young). pic.twitter.com/bwnCrJbnmu

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025

The players from the 2022 draft class who have signed extensions are top overall pick Paolo Banchero, second overall pick Chet Holmgren, third overall pick Jabari Smith Jr., and All-Star Jalen Williams.

Banchero, Holmgren, and Williams each got max contract extensions, and were relative no-brainers based on their career success thus far.

Smith Jr. signed a five-year, $122 million extension, which is significantly below a max contract, but a healthy number for a player who has yet to live up to his top-three billing.

While there is still a long summer ahead for the remainder of the 2022 rookie class to sign extensions, it is notable that only four of the 30 eligible first-rounders have signed deals as we reach the mid-point of the offseason.

Compare this summer’s four extensions (so far) with last year’s 11 rookie deals, and it seems clear that teams are more hesitant to extend their players at the first opportunity.

Why Have Fewer Teams Offered Extensions?

With the new CBA intact, financial flexibility is at an all-time premium, and as a result, teams are prioritizing their maneuverability more than ever before.

Using the Jazz and 2022 first round pick Walker Kessler as an example, we can see how it benefits the team to hold off on signing rookies to early extensions.

Let’s say the Jazz and the Kessler agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension this summer, one year before he’s set to hit restricted free agency next summer.

Jazz Mailbag: What Could Walker Kessler’s Next Contract Look Like?

Though Kessler’s contract wouldn’t kick in until 2026, he would account for $25 million on the books beginning July 1 when free agency opens next season.

That is $25 million the Jazz won’t have to use on other free agents, or in trades if they are taking back more money than they are sending out.

However, if the Jazz hold off on signing Kessler this summer, even if he remains in their long-term plans (spoiler alert, he does), his cap hold as a restricted free agent will only be three times his 2025-26 salary, or roughly $14.6 million.

In this scenario, the Jazz would have more than $10 million in extra financial flexibility by waiting to sign Kessler.

the sheriff is on the scene 🤠 pic.twitter.com/D10BSZ7HP9

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 17, 2025

Realistically, Kessler will earn more than $100 million, which makes the flexibility gained even greater.

Additionally, the Jazz will get another year to watch Kessler play to track his development, which should give them a better idea of his value when they come to the negotiating table next summer, and protects them in case of injury.

But there are some downsides to this strategy.

First, Kessler will hit restricted free agency, which means every team in the NBA can offer him a contract, including those willing to overpay for his services.

By waiting an extra summer, the Jazz run the risk of a rogue team offering Kessler a deal well above what they are comfortable paying, putting them in the difficult position of matching the contract, or letting him walk with no compensation in return.

Second, Kessler could have a breakout season in 2025-26, upping his value from the current $100-120 million range to as much as $200+ million, robbing the Jazz of a chance to sign the center to a long-term team-friendly deal.

Or third, the team could irk Kessler and his representation by slowplaying an extension, damaging the relationship between the parties.

Famously, the Jazz refused to offer Gordon Hayward a rookie extension in 2013, despite signing a max offer sheet from the Charlotte Hornets in 2014. Though the Jazz matched the Hornets’ offer as a restricted free agent, the relationship between the two parties remained tenuous until he left the team in 2017.

Could Jazz Reach Agreements With 2023 Draft Picks Next Summer?

While current trends seem to indicate that the Jazz won’t sign George, Sensabaugh, or Hendricks to rookie extensions next summer, there are pathways where it benefits all involved.

For Hendricks, after suffering a serious injury three games into his second season, the former lottery pick may prefer to guarantee himself long-term financial flexibility next offseason, rather than waiting to hit restricted free agency in 2027.

Taylor Hendricks was back playing 5-on-5 last week in his return from last season’s scary leg injury. #TakeNote https://t.co/ASPCbKPXVl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 28, 2025

And, since his cap hold in 2027 may be as high as $18 million if he were to remain unsigned, the Jazz could preserve financial flexibility by inking him to a deal with an average salary below that number, say three years and $45 million.

Furthermore, if any of the three 2023 draft picks have true breakout seasons and become no-brainer maximum contract players, the Jazz may feel inclined to sign them, as the Thunder did with Holmgren and Williams this summer.

At this point, I wouldn’t expect the Jazz to reach agreements with George, Sensabaugh, or Hendricks next offseason, though that shouldn’t be cause for concern.

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Ben Anderson is the author of the Jazz Mailbag, a Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports, the author of the Jazz Mailbag, and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops, on Instagram @BensHoops, or on BlueSky. 

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