NBA opening week intel: A new trend in contract talks; another pricey decision in OKC

ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon report that the NBA is entering a season of change — including a new posture from teams when star players come asking for contract extensions.

Three cases defined the trend this summer. Karl-Anthony Towns told the Knicks he wanted an extension and was reportedly willing to accept less than a max deal; New York instead drew a line in the sand, issued a statement ending negotiations, and opened the season without a deal. Anthony Davis wanted to extend with the Wizards, but with the ability to opt out into unrestricted free agency next summer, his camp — led by agent Rich Paul — preferred to wait 20 to 30 games into the season before deciding. And Jalen Duren, coming off an All-Star and All-NBA season in Detroit, finally signed a $200 million contract on the eve of training camp, though only about $87 million of it is guaranteed.

Executives say teams feel far less pressure to cave to star demands than they did a year or two ago, with the second-apron rules reshaping the financial calculus. The trend isn't universal: the Lakers went all-in to keep Luka Doncic happy, landing Walker Kessler in a sign-and-trade worth $130 million over four years, while Minnesota overhauled its roster partly to please Anthony Edwards, even pairing him with LaMelo Ball.

The other big-money story is Oklahoma City. The Thunder handed Cason Wallace a $139 million extension, and rival executives are watching how large a luxury-tax check owner Clay Bennett will sign. Oklahoma City also holds three first-round picks in the 2027 draft, including the Clippers' selection, and faces option decisions on Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber and Jaylin Williams. As one rival executive put it: "They will not be paying that much, so it comes down to who and how they cut some of it."

Elsewhere, the 76ers draw the brightest spotlight after trading for Jaylen Brown and signing LeBron James, with Joel Embiid's availability and fit the key wild card. Miami is building around Giannis Antetokounmpo with floor-spacers around him, Boston's hopes hinge on Jayson Tatum returning to elite form after his Achilles tear, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg stirred the pot by trash-talking Doncic in his debut.