Victor Wembanyama Nears $252M Spurs Extension

Victor Wembanyama can sign an extension on or after July 6, and ESPN's Bobby Marks expects "little negotiating" before a projected five-year, $252 million deal that could reach $303.3 million with "All-NBA, Defensive Player of the Year and MVP language." The 22-year-old is leading a Spurs team second in the West, averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading 2.7 blocks while shooting a career-high 51.1 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from three. Merlin sees San Antonio treating the pact as inevitable. Locking Wembanyama now buys the Spurs stability around a transcendent two-way star, even with minutes managed and knee caution. Those award-based triggers are the only thing that could push the number toward $303.3 million, and if he keeps this trajectory the Spurs will build around him rather than chase a quick fix.