NBA media day jolted the trade market into life, with the question of a contract extension for Denver Nuggets centre Nikola Jokic dominating the conversation. In Detroit, the Pistons' standoff with restricted free agent Jalen Duren came to a head, while in New York an extension for Karl-Anthony Towns could force the Knicks to trade away other players to stay under the second apron, the NBA's strictest payroll threshold. Anthony Davis, meanwhile, is eligible for a four-year, $276 million maximum extension with the Washington Wizards, although talks between the two sides are on hold.
The financial reshuffle rolls on across the league. In Golden State, there is talk of a possible trade involving Jimmy Butler, still recovering from knee surgery, and Moses Moody, while the Dallas Mavericks could revisit a Kyrie Irving deal in January, ahead of February's trade deadline. Michael Porter Jr.'s extension talks with the Brooklyn Nets have effectively stalled. Four of the league's young players have yet to agree rookie-scale extensions, and unless deals are done by the 19 October deadline, they will become restricted free agents next summer.
