Twenty-nine NBA veterans have player options on their contracts for 2016/17, but few – if any – are expected to actually exercise those options and play out their current deals. With so much salary cap space available around the NBA this summer, it makes more sense for most of these players to opt out and explore the market, since – barring a huge dropoff or a major injury – they’re unlikely to be offered less money than they’d been set to earn via their options.
Still, not every decision is a lock. For instance, a player like Mo Williams, who battled injuries this season and wasn’t always a part of the Cavaliers’ rotation even when healthy, may be inclined to exercise his option, worth about $2.2MM.
While most players don’t have to make decisions on their options until later in June, some early deadlines have passed, and other decisions have already been reported. We’ve made note of those decisions below, and will continue to pass them along in this space over the next several weeks.
Here’s a breakdown of the decisions on 2016/17 NBA player options:
Point Guards
- Seth Curry, Kings ($1,015,696): Opted out
- Shane Larkin, Nets ($1,500,000): Opted out
- Jeremy Lin, Hornets ($2,235,255): Opted out
- Deron Williams, Mavericks ($5,621,026): Opted out
- Mo Williams, Cavaliers ($2,194,500): Opted in
Shooting Guards
- Arron Afflalo, Knicks ($8,000,000): Opted out
- James Anderson, Kings ($1,139,123): Opted out
- DeMar DeRozan, Raptors ($10,350,000): Opted out
- Wayne Ellington, Nets ($1,567,500): Opted out
- Manu Ginobili, Spurs ($2,940,630): Opted out
- Wesley Johnson, Clippers ($1,227,286): Opted out
- Austin Rivers, Clippers ($3,344,106): Opted out
- J.R. Smith, Cavaliers ($5,375,000): Opted out
Small Forwards
- Caron Butler, Kings ($1,551,659): Opted in
- Alonzo Gee, Pelicans ($1,379,400): Opted out
- LeBron James, Cavaliers ($24,004,173): Opted out
- Chandler Parsons, Mavericks ($16,023,000): Opted out
- Derrick Williams, Knicks ($4,598,000): Opted out
Power Forwards
- Quincy Acy, Kings ($1,050,961): Opted out
- Darrell Arthur, Nuggets ($2,940,630): Opted out
- Brandon Bass, Lakers ($3,135,000): Opted out
- Tim Duncan, Spurs ($6,393,750): Opted in
- Pau Gasol, Bulls ($7,769,520): Opted out
- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks ($8,692,184): Opted out
- Thomas Robinson, Nets ($1,050,961): Opted out
- David West, Spurs ($1,551,659): Opted out
Centers
- Cole Aldrich, Clippers ($1,227,286): Opted out
- Bismack Biyombo, Raptors ($2,940,630): Opted out
- Dwight Howard, Rockets ($23,282,457): Opted out