Decisions on rookie scale options for the 2019/20 season were due on Wednesday — any team that wanted to exercise a third- or fourth-year option on a player for next season was required to do so by last night.
As is typically the case, most of those options were picked up. Even for top picks, who are paid higher salaries due to the NBA’s rookie scale, those third- and fourth-year options are relatively team-friendly. So unless a player has fallen well short of his team’s expectations, it generally makes sense to lock in his salary for the following season at this point.
However, not every player with a 2019/20 team option had it exercised by Wednesday’s deadline. Several players selected in the first rounds of the 2016 and 2017 drafts had those options declined, meaning they will now be on track to reach unrestricted free agency during the summer of 2019, assuming they’re not waived before then.
Listed below are the players who had their options turned down, followed by the players whose options were exercised. If a player had his option picked up, his 2019/20 salary is now guaranteed and he won’t be eligible for free agency until at least 2020.
Declined options:
Note: These players will become unrestricted free agents in 2019.
- Dragan Bender, Suns (fourth year, $5,896,519)
- Marquese Chriss, Rockets (fourth year, $4,078,236)
- Justin Patton, Timberwolves (third year, $3,117,240)
- Henry Ellenson, Pistons (fourth year, $2,856,804)
- Malachi Richardson, Raptors (fourth year, $2,581,597)
- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Thunder (fourth year, $2,529,684)
- Tyler Lydon, Nuggets (third year, $2,190,720)
- Furkan Korkmaz, Sixers (third year, $2,033,160)
Exercised options:
Fourth year:
Note: These players will become eligible for rookie scale extensions on July 1, 2019. If they’re not extended, they’ll be on track for restricted free agency in 2020.
- Ben Simmons, Sixers ($8,113,930)
- Brandon Ingram, Lakers ($7,265,485)
- Jaylen Brown, Celtics ($6,534,829)
- Kris Dunn, Bulls ($5,348,007)
- Buddy Hield, Kings ($4,861,208)
- Jamal Murray, Nuggets ($4,444,746)
- Jakob Poeltl, Spurs ($3,754,886)
- Thon Maker, Bucks ($3,569,643)
- Domantas Sabonis, Pacers ($3,529,555)
- Taurean Prince, Hawks ($3,481,986)
- Dario Saric, Sixers ($3,481,986)
- Denzel Valentine, Bulls ($3,377,569)
- Juan Hernangomez, Nuggets ($3,321,030)
- Malik Beasley, Nuggets ($2,731,714)
- Caris LeVert, Nets ($2,625,718)
- DeAndre’ Bembry, Hawks ($2,603,982)
- Pascal Siakam, Raptors ($2,351,839)
- Skal Labissiere, Kings ($2,338,847)
- Dejounte Murray, Spurs ($2,321,735)
- Damian Jones, Warriors ($2,305,057)
Third year:
Note: Teams will have to make fourth-year option decisions for 2020/21 on these players by October 31, 2019.
- Markelle Fultz, Sixers ($9,745,200)
- Lonzo Ball, Lakers ($8,719,320)
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics ($7,830,000)
- Josh Jackson, Suns ($7,059,480)
- De’Aaron Fox, Kings ($6,392,760)
- Jonathan Isaac, Magic ($5,806,440)
- Lauri Markkanen, Bulls ($5,300,400)
- Frank Ntilikina, Knicks ($4,855,800)
- Dennis Smith Jr., Mavericks ($4,463,640)
- Zach Collins, Trail Blazers ($4,240,200)
- Malik Monk, Hornets ($4,028,400)
- Luke Kennard, Pistons ($3,827,160)
- Donovan Mitchell, Jazz ($3,635,760)
- Bam Adebayo, Heat ($3,454,080)
- Justin Jackson, Kings ($3,280,920)
- Guerschon Yabusele, Celtics ($3,117,240)
- D.J. Wilson, Bucks ($2,961,120)
- T.J. Leaf, Pacers ($2,813,280)
- John Collins, Hawks ($2,686,560)
- Harry Giles, Kings ($2,578,800)
- Terrance Ferguson, Thunder ($2,475,840)
- Jarrett Allen, Nets ($2,376,840)
- OG Anunoby, Raptors ($2,281,800)
- Ante Zizic, Cavaliers ($2,281,800)
- Caleb Swanigan, Trail Blazers ($2,033,160)
- Kyle Kuzma, Lakers ($1,974,600)
- Tony Bradley, Jazz ($1,962,360)
- Derrick White, Spurs ($1,948,080)
- Josh Hart, Lakers ($1,934,160)
For a team-by-team breakdown of this year’s rookie scale option decisions for the 2019/20 season, along with full stories on each decision, you can check out our tracker.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.