At times like this, I blame my parents for birthing a small and unathletic human. Ausar Thompson has signed a mouth-watering five-year $155 million rookie-scale contract extension with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania. This is now the going rate for a talented young superstar; the Philadelphia 76ers must get their finances in order in preparation for VJ Edgecombe's salary demands when his deal expires in 2029.
The 76ers current financial situation wouldn't accommodate Edgecombe
2029 seems like a whole lifetime away, but in the world of the NBA, it will come around fast. Mike Gansey can't just consider short-term success; creating a sustainable future while keeping the 76ers relevant must be at the top of his priority list.
As it stands, Philadelphia's salary sheet offers little flexibility. According to Sportrac, the franchise is $1,828,528 under the first apron and $14,499,528 under the second apron. Luckily, Edgecombe's contract is not up for renewal yet, but preparing for the moment talks begin will pose some dilemmas.
Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid will all see their contracts expire in 2029, meaning they will all require discussions at around the same time as their second-year teammate. Without any inside knowledge, it is unlikely that any of these star players will be willing to accept a similar contract to LeBron James.
If VJ Edgecombe is the 76ers' future, then one of the team's leading lights is going to have to face the axe.
Joel Embiid could fall victim to Edgecombe's extension
Ausar Thompson's contract is a guideline for the money that could potentially head in VJ Edgecombe's direction when he is extension-eligible. With the 76ers' luck, anything could happen in the meantime, but working off the premise that the 21-year-old will live up to the hype, Philadelphia must create around $31 million a year in cap space (without considering inflation).
In the final years of their deals, both Jaylen Brown ($65,609,278) and Tyrese Maxey ($46,394,040) will be making well above the required sum to execute Edgecombe's extension. However, with both stars being at the peak of their powers in 2029, there would be little to gain from letting such valuable assets walk away without getting something in return.
In comparison, Joel Embiid will be 35 years old. The dominant center has already seen his mobility limited due to relentless injuries throughout his career. Nobody wants to see Embiid leave the franchise, but when his contract expires ahead of the 2029-30 season, it could feel like the perfect ending to a career-long relationship.
There is always the possibility of Embiid opting out of his contract when his player option is active for the 2028-29 season; however, it is unlikely that a player in the twilight of his career will be willing to leave such a large sum of money on the table.
Ausar Thompson's bumper contract should serve as a serious warning to the Philadelphia 76ers' hierarchy: when VJ Edgecombe's extension arrives, it won't be cheap. The explosive guard is the franchise's future, and they must ensure they have the financial capacity to secure his long-term future when the time comes.
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