Over the weekend, a group of youngsters got paid.
Saturday was the NBA's contract extension deadline for players on the last guaranteed year of their rookie deals. A small group of guys drafted in 2011 — with the exception of Ricky Rubio, who was drafted in 2009 but didn't come over until 2011 — inked new deals at the very last second, avoiding the stress of restricted free agency.
MORE: Rubio's new deal | Klay's new deal | Wiggins introduction | Stars then and now
That said, there is a positive for those like Kawhai Leonard, last year's Finals MVP, who ultimately didn't sign an extension with the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA's new TV deal with ESPN and Turner Sports was a big one, jumping from $930 million to $2.6 billion. With that will come more revenue for the league, and eventually, more money in the pockets of the players by way of a bigger salary cap and (most likely) a higher max contract ceiling.
While the deal will not come into effect for another couple years, it may be in the best interest of many players from this draft class to simply take their team's qualifying offers and wait it until the real payday happens. Still, understandably, some preferred to get paid and get paid now. Let's take a look at how their negotiations shaped up:
Klay Thompson
Signed 4-year, $70 million deal
Of all the players on this list, Thompson wasn't just the most vocal about wanting a contract done right away, he also (perhaps not coincidentally) received the biggest bump in his paycheck. In addition, Thompson is probably the one who needs to worry least about his abiliy to "play in" to his new max contract. He has been the No. 2 option on a Western Conference playoff staple, and as his role has increased, he has produced at about the same level every year since he came into the league. Past being a knockdown shooter, he's also a solid defensive player and plays smart off the ball.
Still, there's always something a guy can work on. For Klay, perhaps it's creating offense off the dribble. Since Steve Kerr took over in Golden State, Thompson has had more freedom to do that, and it has worked well for him so far. Thompson has scored a combined 70 points in 2 games since signing his extension, with a good amount of those coming from drives off the dribble. It had been speculated that Thompson's game was partially restricted by Mark Jackson. As a max guy, that won't be an option under Steve Kerr. So far, so good.
Ricky Rubio
Signed 4-year, $55 million deal with incentives
Rubio's shooting woes have been well-documented since he came into the league. What hasn't been as well-documented is that he does, in fact, seem to be improving. His 3-point percentage from a year ago hovers around the league average, though most would agree 33 percent is a number that needs to be improved to be considered a threat.
Ultimately, it's his struggles from inside the 3-point line that have given him the most fits. Still, after the 2014 All-Star break, Rubio's numbers at the hoop shot up by 10 percent. This year, with new shooting coach Mike Penberthy, his mid-range game seems to be improving as well.
This isn't to say that Rubio's shooting is fixed — far from it. To fully earn his extension, he needs to continue working on his mid-range and 3-point jumpers, along with his ability to finish at the rim. He's already one of the league's premiere passers and one of the best defenders at his position. It's far from a guarantee, but an improved scoring stroke could take Rubio from being very good to a potential All Star.
Kemba Walker
Signed 4-year, $48 deal
Like Rubio, Kemba Walker has struggled to hover around league-average shooting efficiency since entering the league. Last year, he couldn't eclipse 40 percent shooting from the field, and, like Rubio, shot just 33 percent from deep. In his defense (or, arguably, to his detriment), the scoring responsibility he shoulders is far greater than Rubio's, and it results in much tougher shots for the former college phenom.
On top of that, he isn't a pass-first point guard, and while he's strong enough to match up with any point man in the league, he rarely plays like a lock-down defender. But man, can he hit shots in the clutch. Very few deny his ability to score the ball, and the hope by most Kemba fans is that with a steadily-improving roster will come fewer awkward shots. The thought is with that will come a higher shooting percentage, a more confident floor general and an overall more productive offense.
This summer, they added consistent triple-double threat and meme generator Lance Stephenson, who should help open up the offense for Walker and Al Jefferson. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist worked with Mark Price all summer and has a new-look jump shot. The hope: all this change could bring out the best in Walker.
Alec Burks
Signed 4-year, $42 million deal
In a league where the crop of really good shooting guards has started to shrink, a quality player like Alec Burks has become a a high-value addition to an NBA roster. Through three games this season, Burks has averaged over 30 minutes per game. If he manages that for the entire year, it will be the first time in his career that he would eclipse the 30-minute mark for an entire season.
That number has steadily increased since he came into the league, especially last year when his scoring numbers doubled, as did (nearly) his minutes. He has earned those minutes, too. Burks is a good scorer off the dribble, an underrated passer and a respectable shooter from deep — granted, he doesn't typically take more than two per game.
In his first year of big minutes, he had several moments of inconsistency. He would often fall into single digits after a number of high-scoring affairs. Last year's addition of point guard Trey Burke should continue to soften the load for Burks offensively. He enters this season with a year of solid minutes under his resume and a steady point guard at his side. Maybe the individual consistency will come with it.