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Inside the NBA: Class of '05 look for extensions

ATLANTA — Don't blame the fragile economy for the NBA's sudden recession where contract extensions are concerned.

The problem appears to be more performance related. That's why prominent members of the 2005 draft class could very well see the Oct. 31 deadline for extensions come and go without having anything to sign.

To date only four first-round picks of the class have received lucrative extensions — Olympic gold medalists Chris Paul and Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut and Francisco Garcia.

Here are five players to keep an eye on between now and Halloween:

Hawks SF Marvin Williams

2005 draft slot: No. 2

What's the deal?: Williams will forever be plagued by where was drafted, ahead of both Deron Williams and Paul, who since draft night have moved to the head of the point guard class. That fact overshadows what has been steady improvement from the former North Carolina star during the course of his first three years in the league. If you place his career statistics alongside No. 1 pick Bogut's from their first three years there wouldn't be a significant difference in the raw numbers. But Bogut is a true center and the foundation of Milwaukee's future (hence the $72 million, with incentives, extension he received earlier this summer). Williams is also caught up in a financial matrix that the Hawks have to figure out since he, All-Star and captain Joe Johnson and All-Rookie team center Al Horford are eligible for extensions in the next two years.

Lakers C Andrew Bynum

2005 draft slot: No. 10

What's the deal?: The knee injury that cost Bynum the second half of last season and the Lakers' trip to the NBA Finals also cost him a sure-fire maximum contract extension in the summer. He was on target for a breakout season before the injury and if he can reclaim any of the big man magic he was working before the injury, he'll be a force to be reckoned with alongside Pau Gasol and MVP Kobe Bryant. The only glitch in the process right now appears to be an agreement by Bynum's camp and the Lakers on the exact numbers. No team, not even one swimming in luxury tax waters as deep as the Lakers, is foolish enough to toy around with a young budding star like Bynum. He clearly should have been drafted higher in the lottery tand has more upside than Bogut or any other big man in the class.

Pacers SF Danny Granger

2005 draft slot: No. 17

What's the deal?: Granger's slide was one of the more curious developments in a draft that has produced several washouts taken before him. He's been the Pacers' steadiest performer the past three seasons, one of the only players on the roster immune to the rash of injuries and off-court foolishness that have paralyzed the one-proud franchise. His reward should be coming this fall in the form of a handsome extension in excess of the $30 million the Kings gave Garcia, the 23rd pick in the draft. Granger's supporters could argue that he is the cream of the swingman crop in the class — with Marvin Williams the only other player in the debate. All the Pacers have to do is ante up for their best player, which shouldn't be a problem with the contracts of Rasho Nesterovic ($8.4 million) and Jeff Foster ($6.1) coming off the books after this season.

Nuggets SF Linas Kleiza

2005 draft slot: No. 27

What's the deal?: Arguably the most underrated players in this class, Kleiza is poised to become one of the hottest commodities on the free-agent market next summer if the Nuggets can't find a way to lock him up with a long-term extension. The Kings liked him so much they were willing to part with Ron Artest to get him. However, the Nuggets realized that they might have a player just as valuable and refused a trade. Now they'll have to find cash and a more prominent role for the versatile 6-foot-8, 245-pound Kleiza or risk alienating him and forcing him to find a better offer and situation elsewhere. Muddying the waters for the Nuggets is the fact that they already have one of the league's premiere small forwards on the roster in Olympic gold medalist and All-Star Carmelo Anthony. The Nuggets still have some work to do clear out space (in the rotation and on the books) to keep Kleiza.

Knicks PF David Lee

2005 draft slot: No. 30

What's the deal?: Lee was the last player taken in the first round of the draft, but he's outshined many of the players drafted before him. A relentless performer on both ends of the floor, Lee might not be a starter on most teams but he's more than capable of being the workman starter opposite a high-scoring small forward. Lee won't command a huge extension but a comfortable deal on par with the extension Garcia received from the Kings. Teams put a premium on players that can produce the way Lee does without the ball in his hands and without ever being the offensive focus. Initial concerns about Lee being a good fit in new coach Mike D'Antoni's system seemed to have calmed, making the chances of an extension with the Knicks much more likely.

Sekou Smith writes for