Now that he is eligible to do so, Amen Thompson is expected to sign a “lucrative extension” to his Houston Rockets contract this offseason.
Drafted at No. 4 overall in the 2023 first round, Thompson averaged 18.3 points (53.4% FG), 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists in 37.4 minutes per game last season. An athletic and versatile 6-foot-7 player, Thompson’s points, assists, and minutes totals were all career-highs, and he remains a dynamic defender, as well.
Yet, his next contract may not be for the full maximum salary.
After speaking with a variety of league sources at the NBA’s 2026 draft combine, the Houston Chronicle’s Varun Shankar writes:
Do not expect Amen Thompson to get a max contract extension. Such a contract would pay him a quarter of the salary cap over the next few seasons, but the impressive guard/forward still faces enough questions about his shot and eventual offensive profile. That, combined with the Rockets’ precedent of getting relatively team-friendly extensions, should keep him in the ballpark of 20-23% of the salary cap.
Per David Weiner (@BimaThug on X), a Rockets fan who closely monitors NBA salary cap developments, a deal between 20% and 23% of the projected cap would likely come in at five years in length and between $201 million and $231 million in total value. A full maximum extension would be for approximately $251 million.
At 23 years old and with almost no injury history, the Rockets will likely want to extend Thompson for the most seasons possible, which is five. Any negotiations would likely come down to the total value over those five years.
Coming off an All-Star season in 2025, the Rockets negotiated a sub-max deal with Alperen Sengun (five years, $185 million) when he was extension eligible a year ago. Thus, as Shankar reports, the hope is that general manager Rafael Stone will be able to do the same with Thompson.
The upcoming season will be Thompson’s fourth in the NBA. Should he not sign a contract extension prior to the 2026-27 regular season, he would be slated to enter restricted free agency in the 2027 offseason, during which the Rockets would have the ability to match any outside offer.
Regardless of when he signs it, Thompson’s eventual second contract — and its associated salary increase — will begin with the 2027-28 campaign. In 2026-27, he will play out the final year of his rookie-scale contract from 2023.
After finishing with three consecutive losing seasons prior to Thompson’s arrival, Houston has finished at .500 or better in each of his three seasons with the team. The last two years have featured matching 52-30 records before a series loss in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Chronicle: Don’t expect max contract extension for Amen Thompson
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
