NBA Contract Year All-Stars: 12 playing for a payday - ESPN

Things you might not know about Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome, the 29-year-old journeyman averaging 28 points per game for one of the NBA's most surprising teams:

Jerome played in the first 16-1 upset in NCAA tournament history, when he and Virginia were stunned by UMBC in 2018. (Jerome and the Cavaliers would win the title the next season.) He played two seasons with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City. He played one season with Stephen Curry in Golden State.

Something front offices around the league are surely aware of by now: Jerome can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Jerome, a starting guard for ESPN's Contract Year All-Stars, headlines a 12-player roster full of potential impact free agents, many of whom are searching for massive paydays in the 2027 offseason. We're also providing early predictions on each player's next contract and the likelihood of getting moved by the February trade deadline.

Let's run down the roster.

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Starters | Reserves

We disqualified players who have previously made an All-NBA or All-Star team. That means you won't see potential summer free agents such as the Washington Wizards' Anthony Davis, New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, Miami Heat's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks' Tyler Herro — or even Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James, who holds a player option for 2027-28 — on this list.

Players with team options in their current contracts, such as the Knicks' Josh Hart and LA Clippers' Rui Hachimura, also were not considered. After all, if a player is outplaying his deal enough to be considered a Contract Year All-Star, it is highly unlikely his team will decline the option.

Finally, we have kept off potential 2027 restricted free agents, such as the