Keyonte George just locked down a massive five-year, $157.5 million deal with the Utah Jazz this week, and let me tell you, that ESPN report set the league buzzing. It’s a huge move! He’s now the third player from that stacked 2023 NBA Draft class to snag a rookie-scale extension, joining Victor Wembanaya and Amen Thompson. What’s even wilder? George is the first guy drafted *outside the lottery* to get this kind of early extension, which just proves how much talent can be found deeper in the draft. That’s a serious statement about his game and his potential. So, with George cashing in big, everyone’s asking: who’s next to get that bag?
The Next Big Check Is Coming
The logical pick to get paid similar money, maybe even hitting the $200 million mark over a contract, is Hornets forward Brandon Miller. Charlotte has been busy, clearing house by trading star guard LaMelo Ball to Minnesota. That move means their books are looking pretty clean beyond this year, and it looks like they are all-in on their young core of Miller and Kon Knueppel. Remember all the talk during the 2023 Draft about who Charlotte would pick at number two? They went with Miller over Scoot Henderson, who ended up with the Blazers at number three. Now, it feels like that decision is really coming into focus for Charlotte.
Miller’s Millions and Other Hurdles
A projected deal for Miller could easily hit five years and $200 million. He has absolutely shown flashes of why he deserves top-tier pay in his class, no doubt about it. The biggest hurdle? Injuries. Miller missed a whopping 55 games in 2024-25 and another 17 last season. That’s significant time away from the court! If he can stay healthy and keep developing, he could absolutely outplay a $200 million deal. But it is a big “if,” and durability is always a question mark in these big contracts. Then there’s Scoot Henderson over in Portland. He was supposed to be one of the best guard prospects in a decade, heralded with so much fanfare! But his career has been underwhelming so far, and that’s a tough pill for Blazers fans to swallow. Portland’s guard rotation is talented but also incredibly confusing, a real head-scratcher. If Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday are starting, Scoot might be stuck on the bench, which would be wild for a number three pick. He could be waiting until next summer’s restricted free agency if his role shrinks this season. It’s a tough spot for a guy with that kind of pre-draft hype, no question.
And don’t forget Ausar Thompson with the Pistons. He’s already one of the best defenders in the league, period, and he’s making a name for himself. But he might be waiting for his payday through no fault of his own. Detroit and Jalen Duren are in a contract stalemate this offseason, which is totally out of Ausar’s control, and that could definitely hold things up for Ausar getting his own big extension. This 2023 class is just getting started with these extensions, and the next few weeks could see even more dominoes fall across the league. It’s wild to watch these young stars lock in their future, and the pressure is officially on for the next round of guys looking to get paid! What a time to be an NBA fan!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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