Devin Vassell inks five-year extension with Spurs

Devin Vassell inks five-year extension with Spurs

Devin Vassell has agreed to a five-year, $146 million rookie scale extension with the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported Monday.

San Antonio Spurs G Devin Vassell has agreed on a five-year, $146 million contract extension, Andrew Morrison, Rich Beda and Mitch Nathan of @CAA_Basketball tell ESPN. Vassell lands rookie scale extension as part of 2020 Draft class and solidifies himself as a Spurs cornerstone. pic.twitter.com/SUK3Y0ig8T

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 2, 2023

Vassell is the sixth player to sign a rookie scale extension this offseason, joining LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Desmond Bane and Isaiah Stewart. The former three signed for the maximum rookie-scale extensions–worth approximately $217 million, which could be worth up to $260 million via the Rose Rule–while Bane and Stewart signed for $197 million (over five years) and $60 million (over four years), respectively.

Vassell, the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has gradually improved each season. He averaged 18.5 points last year–up from his 12.3 point-per-game average in 2021-22–albeit in a smaller sample. That considerable rise in scoring production came in addition to 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 31 minutes per game. He shot 43.9 percent from the floor, including a career-best 38.7 percent from deep (7.0 3PA) and 78.0 percent from the free-throw line–reaching a career-best 55.0 true-shooting percentage.

The 23-year-old’s extension won’t officially kick in until the 2024-25 season, with the starting salary expected to be around $25 million.

The Spurs will only have 10 players on guaranteed contracts–including those of Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama and Tre Jones, per Spotrac–with nobody outside of Vassell making north of $20 million. So they will still have plenty of expected cap space; ESPN NBA cap insider Bobby Marks projects anywhere between $45-60 million to be available.

The Devin Vassell $17.8M free agent hold will be replaced by a new salary north of $20M.

The Spurs are well positioned next offseason to have significant cap space.

$45-60M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 2, 2023

A full 10 percent increase from the 2023-24 salary cap ($136.0M) projects it to be about $149.62 million.

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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