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NBA Contract Year All-Stars: Grizzlies' Ty Jerome and 11 others playing for a payday

The Memphis Grizzlies’ Ty Jerome is leading a group of 12 high-profile players in ESPN’s Contract Year All-Stars, a roster of unrestricted free agents poised to demand significant paydays in the 2027 offseason. At 29, Jerome has delivered a breakout season, averaging 28.2 points per game while shooting 42.1% from three and posting 5.7 assists.

His contract status is a player option for next summer, with a base value of $9.7 million, though his production has already surpassed expectations. Jerome’s career trajectory includes a historic NCAA tournament upset as a freshman—leading Virginia to a 16-seed victory over UMBC in 2018—before stints alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City and Stephen Curry in Golden State.

His current contract year marks a pivotal moment, as teams evaluate whether to re-sign him for a long-term extension or trade him for a more favorable deal.

Fred VanVleet of the Houston Rockets is another standout on the list, though his role has shifted this season. After recovering from a torn ACL last year, the 32-year-old guard is averaging 12.2 points and 6.8 assists while maintaining a low turnover rate, stabilizing Houston’s offense.

Despite his impact, VanVleet’s contract doesn’t qualify for an extension, leaving his future tied to the Rockets’ financial flexibility. With the team projected to be under the luxury tax threshold in 2027, a re-signing seems likely—but the timing and terms remain uncertain.

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