Pelicans small forward Alonzo Gee has elected to decline his player option for 2016/17 and will become an unrestricted free agent as a result, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reports (Twitter link). Gee was set to earn $1,379,400 next season.
The swingman appeared in 73 games this past season for the Pelicans and averaged 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 22.4 minutes per outing. His slash line on the campaign was .518/.283/.667.
Gee, who finished the season in street clothes courtesy of a ruptured right quadriceps muscle, enters the open market at a good time given the surge in the salary cap to approximately $94MM. It remains to be seen what teams will be interested in his services given his struggles from beyond the three-point arc. However, the 29-year-old remains a strong defender and could slot in nicely on a contending team’s bench.