The Philadelphia 76ers have until October 23 to decide on whether to hand Tyrese Maxey a contract extension. The third-year guard has been the brightest spot for the team over two-plus years of increasingly failed expectations as he has continued to grow and develop his game.
Maxey, with an affable personality that meshes well with Joel Embiid, has arguably been the best player on the court at times but reports indicate that the team is content to wait until 2024 to extend him. The Sixers want to “preserve as much salary-cap space as possible,” per The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, thus shutting the door on a new contract for Maxey this year. Remember, the Kentucky product is eligible to receive a five-year, $213 million rookie-scale extension. Pompey explained the situation as such:
"If Maxey does not receive an extension, he will become a restricted free agent next summer. He would then be able to sign an offer sheet with any team. However, the Sixers could retain him by matching the terms of that offer. The franchise is invested in keeping Maxey long-term, and holding off on a deal would potentially clear a pathway to another max salary."
Think the foundation of Tyrese Maxey becoming a sniper catch-and-shoot guy in years 2 and 3 was the simplicity of his mechanics.
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) August 9, 2023
No wasted motion, minimal variance from shot to shot (his gait shrinks a few inches sometimes).
Makes for an effortless process. (h/t @DrewHanlen) pic.twitter.com/JPHOTOTzYH
That simply means that Maxey’s number isn’t going to drop. If anything, those figures could rise since Spotrac already thinks he’s “easily worth” 25% of the (not-yet-determined) 2024-25 salary cap with 8% annual raises built in for the remainder of his deal. Maxey is going to get paid.
Meanwhile, the Sixers are in no rush to extend their rising star guard considering the uncertainty facing them. Remember, James Harden ($35.6 million) and Tobias Harris ($39.2 million) remain on the roster despite all the trade rumors. The Sixers may keep the band together for one more run before going in a different direction.