Missing in the first round of an NBA Draft is a setback in team building, but for seven teams this year it was better to accept the pain now rather than keep the player around for the final year of their rookie deal.

Seven players did not have their rookie-scale team options for the 2027-28 season picked up, the deadline was Monday. Those players are (via Keith Smith of Spotrac), in order of most to least expensive deals declined:

• Tidjane Salaun, Charlotte Hornets ($10.4 million)
• Cody Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves ($7.6 million)
• Nikola Topic, Oklahoma City Thunder ($7.5 million)
• A.J. Johnson, New Orleans Pelicans ($5.5 million)
• DaRon Holmes II, Denver Nuggets ($5.5 million)
• Pacome Dadiet, New York Knicks ($5.4 million)
• Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz($4.8 million)

Some of these were simply financial decisions in the apron era, such as Pacome Dadiet with the Knicks. Three players were outright waived by their teams before this season:

• Rob Dillingham (waived by the Hornets after being traded for Buddy Hield, has yet to re-sign)
• Dalton Knecht (waived by the Lakers, signed as a two-way player with the Knicks)
• Devin Carter (waived by Hawks, signed as a two-way player by Celtics)

There were 19 players who had their extensions picked up, they are extension-eligible next summer or could be headed to 2028 restricted free agency. Among those are Stephon Castle (Spurs), Matas Buzelis (Bulls), Alex Sarr (Wizards), Reed Sheppard (Rockets), Donovan Clingan (Trail Blazers), Zach Edey (Grizzlies) and Zaccharie Risacher (Mavericks).