If there's been this formula that was built to show a certain interest level, with a minor added human elements from a PA to evaluate a contract offer, I think we could use that base for extensions. It could potentially lead to avoiding issues like extreme/unrealistic price driving, unrealistic restricted free agency outcomes, and could even make free agency a more realistic experience that the CSL strives for as a whole.
So here's my proposal:
Contract Extension Eligibility:
A player is eligible for a contract extension if they fit the following criteria:
- In or entering the final year on a contract that was 3 years of length or longer
- In or entering the final year of their rookie contract
- The team they play for possesses full bird rights on them
Contract Extension Rules:
Contract extensions have to fall in the following guidelines:
- Can't exceed more than 3/4 years for non-rookie contract players (year limit up to admins)
- Has to be a minimum of $x per season (minimum salary up to admins)
- Teams can only extend a maximum of one player per season cycle
- Player has to have interest level above a certain number (determined by player agents/admins) as decided by the given formula
- Players who are extended are subject to a full one year trade restriction
For rookie contract players, I think teams should be able to go up to the full 5 year max, with many of the better rookies (e.g. Jamal Murray, Mario Hezonja, Karl Anthony Towns from this off-season), accepting no less than a full max, or at least more than they could mathematically get from another team or the qualifying offer over that same time period.
Other Contract Extension Ideas:
Other potential ideas to make extensions more realistic:
- Player has to have played for mother team for a minimum of 2 or 3 full seasons
- Player has to have a loyalty rating above 7 or 8 to consider extension
The specifics of all of this are obviously subject to debate by both the league and admins, but I think if we're going to use this style of free agency now and in the future, extensions could and should be a part of that.