When I estimated the extensions that the big names from the class of 2006 could potentially sign this summer, I pegged Andrea Bargnani at $7-$8 million per season. It turns out I underestimated his value to the Raptors.

The deal, according to NBA front-office sources, would span five seasons starting in 2010-11 and earn Bargnani an estimated $50 million.

Bargnani did go through something of a transformation in his third season, averaging 15.4 points on 45% shooting from the field and 41% from long range. The previous year, he shot 39% from the field and less than 35% from deep, so he made a big jump, efficiency-wise. His PER (14.66) is still below average, mainly due to his suspect rebounding for a seven-footer (5.3 rpg) and lack of assists (1.2 apg).

The bottom line is that Bargnani will have to continue his career trajectory to earn the contract that the Raptors just awarded him.

All in all, I think I did a pretty good job. Of the 12 players that signed a contract last summer, I correctly predicted the range for seven and was within $1.5 million for the other five. Granted, I underestimated what the Lakers would give Vujacic, but I find him so annoying that I have a tough time objectively determining his worth. (Though it should be noted that he didn’t do anything this season to justify $5.0 million per season.)

This year, I’m going to list the top names from the class of ’06 to try to determine what kind of extension they’ll get if their current teams choose to lock them up this summer instead of letting them hit restricted free agency in 2010. (I’ll tackle the restricted free agents of the class of ’05 in my free agency preview, which will run on 6/29.)

Due to the economy and the unwillingness of most owners to spend, the summer of 2009 promises to be tougher for free agents than years past, so we may see a few players stubbornness get the best of them. One executive predicted a “nuclear winter” of sorts, so at the very least, it will be interesting.

So here are the top players from the class of ’06 and my best estimate of the kind of money they’ll command. I’ll list their age, Player Efficiency Rating (PER), along with a few comparables.

Brandon Roy, G, Blazers
Age: 24
PER: 24.08
Comparables: Kobe Bryant ($23.0 M), Dwyane Wade ($15.8 M)
The Blazers hit a home run with Roy. In his third season, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Moreover, he did it efficiently, shooting a stellar 48% from the field, 38% from long range and 82% from the line. Simply stated, he is one of the league’s best all-around players. I’d be shocked if the Blazers didn’t offer him a max contract, though he may elect to sign a shorter three- or four-year deal (like LeBron and Wade did) to give him more flexibility in the future. (Just to throw a little salt in the wounds, the Bobcats, Bulls, Hawks and Celtics all had a shot at Roy on the night of the draft and passed.)
Value: $14.5 M – $15.5 M per year, depending on the salary cap

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Blazers
Age: 23
PER: 19.13
Comparables: Antawn Jamison ($13.4 M), David West ($9.0 M), Amare Stoudemire ($17.0 M)
The Blazers hit another home run with Aldridge. In his third season, the smooth shooting power forward averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 48% from the floor. I seriously doubt Portland will be able to get him to sign a West-type deal. He’s going to command more than that, though it’s pretty clear that he’s not a “franchise” player, so he probably won’t get a max contract.
Value: $13.0 M – $14.0 M per year

Rajon Rondo, PG, Celtics
Age: 23
PER: 18.90
Comparables: Jameer Nelson ($7.7 M), Chauncey Billups ($12.0 M), Jose Calderon ($8.0 M), Devin Harris ($8.8 M)
It’s going to be interesting to see if Rondo and the Celtics will be able to come to terms on an extension this summer. He’s a great guard, and has improved in his biggest area of weakness (shooting), but he has a reputation for being a pain in the ass. The C’s can argue that Rondo thrived playing alongside three All-Stars, while Rondo’s camp can point to his playoff stats — 16.9 ppg, 9.8 apg, 9.7 rpg — as proof of what he can do as one of the main cogs in the offense. I think he’ll get a little more than Harris but not as much as Billups.
Value: $9.0 M – $10.0 M per year

Rudy Gay, SF, Grizzlies
Age: 22
PER: 15.38
Comparables: Tayshaun Prince ($10.8 M), Richard Jefferson ($14.7 M), Corey Maggette ($9.6 M), Luol Deng ($11.9 M)
Gay’s value is a little tough to pin down. He posted good numbers on a bad team, but wasn’t terribly efficient in his play, as evidenced by his just-above-average PER. He can score (18.9 ppg) and his rebounding (5.5 rpg) is decent, but he’s not a playmaker (1.7 apg, 0.7 A/TO ratio). I wouldn’t be surprised if he and the Grizzlies find themselves miles apart when they sit down at the negotiation table. I think he’s more valuable than Maggette, but doesn’t have the reputation of Deng. However, both of those contracts seem quite high at this point, so I’d estimate Gay’s value at or below Maggette’s.
Value: $8.0 M – $9.0 M per year

Andrea Bargnani, FC, Raptors
Age: 23
PER: 14.66
Comparables: Tim Thomas ($6.5 M), Nenad Krstic ($5.4 M)
After a pretty disastrous sophomore season (39% from the field), Bargnani bounced back and posted decent offensive numbers in 2008-09. He averaged 15.4 points and shot almost 41% from long range. His rebounding (5.3) is pretty bad for a seven-footer, and has a reputation of being a mediocre to poor defender. Both areas should improve as he gets stronger, but he’s a long way from becoming the next Dirk Nowitzki. Like Thomas, I think the Raptors will wait to see how Bargnani develops in his fourth season before committing to a long term deal. Even then, he’ll probably just sign a three-year deal so that he can sign another contract at 27, when he (hopefully) reaches his potential.
Value: $7.0 M – $8.0 M per season

Ronnie Brewer, SG, Jazz
Age: 24
PER: 16.19
Comparables: Jamal Crawford ($9.8 M), Delonte West ($4.4 M), Tayshaun Prince ($10.8 M), Shane Battier ($7.1 M)
Brewer is known more for his defense, but he’s a capable scorer (13.7 ppg, 51% FG%), who gets his points on layups and putbacks. His three point shot is still shaky (26%), but it’s improving, and he only takes about one per game. He’s an athlete with a 6’11″ wingspan, and the Jazz need his defense if they hope to get past Kobe and Co. in the postseason anytime soon. He’s not the stopper that Prince or Battier is, but he’s better offensively than Battier, at least from a scoring standpoint.
Value: $6.0 M – $7.0 M per year

Tyrus Thomas, F, Bulls
Age: 22
PER: 15.95
Comparables: Al Harrington ($10.0 M), Jason Maxiell ($5.0 M)
Thomas is an athletic freak who has improved his skill set in his first three seasons. He now has a pretty dependable shot out to about 18-feet, and he’s a terrific shot blocker on the other end of the court. His third-year averages of 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 27.5 minutes are pretty solid, but his field goal percentage (45%) is low for a forward. This is mostly due to a lack of finishing ability, which is surprising considering his overall athleticism. I think the Bulls are going to want to see how he develops for another season before signing him to an extension, as I’m guessing that the franchise and his camp are miles apart on his true value.
Value: $6.0 M – $7.0 M per year