NBA Notes: Thunder, Chet Holmgren, Nets, Pelicans, James Borrego

Thunder

Thunder big man Chet Holmgren has agreed to a five-year, fully guaranteed maximum rookie contract extension, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal is projected to be worth $240 million based on current salary cap projections for the 2026–27 season, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in 2022, has navigated through injuries but delivered when healthy. After missing his entire rookie season due to a foot injury, he returned to start all 82 games in 2023–24, averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks.

He appeared in just 32 regular-season games last year due to a pelvic fracture, posting 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game before returning to anchor the defense in the playoffs. Holmgren started every game during Oklahoma City’s championship run, adding 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds across 23 postseason contests.

He joins MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the latest Thunder player to sign a max deal. Rising forward Jalen Williams is also eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer and is expected to receive similar consideration.

At this time, there’s no indication Holmgren’s extension includes the Rose Rule clause, which could have increased his first-year salary beyond the standard 25% cap threshold if he earns All-NBA or other major honors.

Nets

With five first-round picks in this year’s NBA Draft, the Nets made a historic move that has already drawn comparisons to the famed “Fab Five” from the University of Michigan.

“We’re gonna have to prove ourselves,” said Michigan product Danny Wolf. “The Fab Five arguably is one of the best college teams of all time, so if we can consider ourselves the Fab Five of the NBA at some point in time, that would be pretty cool. But I’ll leave it up to you guys [in the media] to give us a nickname.”

Among the Nets’ selections was No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin from BYU, who acknowledged the unique opportunity.

“This is special,” Demin said, via The New York Post. “No other team ever did the same thing in the draft. For us, it’s important to stay close — not just to compete, but to learn from each other and from the older guys on the team.”

Time will tell if the group lives up to the early buzz, but there’s no denying Brooklyn’s young core has captured the league’s attention heading into Summer League play.

Pelicans

James Borrego will remain as associate head coach on Willie Green’s staff in New Orleans, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

Borrego was a finalist for the Knicks’ associate head coach position under newly hired Mike Brown and also drew strong interest from the Denver Nuggets to serve as David Adelman’s lead assistant. However, the Pelicans denied Denver’s request to interview him.

Borrego, 47, has been on Green’s staff since 2022. He previously served as head coach of the Hornets from 2018–22, compiling a 138–163 record over four seasons. Prior to that, he was interim head coach in Orlando during the 2014–15 season, going 10–20 in 30 games.

Borrego has held assistant coaching roles with the Spurs, Magic, and Hornets during a coaching career that began in 2010. For now, he stays put in New Orleans, helping guide one of the Western Conference’s most intriguing rosters.