Recap Of 2022/23 Rookie Scale Option Decisions

Decisions on rookie scale options for the 2022/23 season were due on Monday — any team that wanted to exercise a third- or fourth-year option on a player for next season was required to do so by today.

As is typically the case, a huge majority 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 2022/23 team option had it exercised by Monday’s deadline. The players who had those options declined will now be on track to reach unrestricted free agency during the summer of 2022, assuming they’re not waived before then. At the end of the season, their teams won’t be able to offer them starting salaries that exceed the value of their declined options.

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 ’22/23 salary is now guaranteed and he won’t be eligible for free agency until at least 2023.

Declined options:

Note: These players will become unrestricted free agents in 2022.

• Jarrett Culver, Grizzlies (fourth year, $8,109,063)
• Jalen Smith, Suns (third year, $4,670,160)

In addition to these two players who remain under contract for the 2021/22 season, two players who had rookie scale team options on their contracts for ’22/23 were waived during the offseason. Those players were Sekou Doumbouya (cut by the Rockets) and Luka Samanic (waived by the Spurs). Their options were automatically voided once they cleared waivers.

Exercised options:

Fourth year:

Note: These players will become eligible for rookie scale extensions in July of 2022. If they’re not extended, they’ll be on track for restricted free agency in 2023.

• Zion Williamson, Pelicans ($13,534,817)
• Ja Morant, Grizzlies ($12,119,440)
• RJ Barrett, Knicks ($10,900,635)
• De’Andre Hunter, Hawks ($9,835,881)
• Darius Garland, Cavaliers ($8,920,795)
• Coby White, Bulls ($7,413,955)
• Jaxson Hayes, Pelicans ($6,803,012)
• Rui Hachimura, Wizards ($6,263,188)
• Cam Reddish, Hawks ($5,954,454)
• Cameron Johnson, Suns ($5,887,899)
• P.J. Washington, Hornets ($5,808,435)
• Tyler Herro, Heat ($5,722,116)
• Romeo Langford, Celtics ($5,634,257)
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Pelicans ($5,009,633)
• Goga Bitadze, Pacers ($4,765,339)
• Matisse Thybulle, Sixers ($4,379,527)
• Brandon Clarke, Grizzlies ($4,343,920)
• Grant Williams, Celtics ($4,306,281)
• Darius Bazley, Thunder ($4,264,629)
• Ty Jerome, Thunder ($4,220,057)
• Nassir Little, Trail Blazers ($4,171,548)
• Dylan Windler, Cavaliers ($4,037,278)
• Jordan Poole, Warriors ($3,901,399)
• Keldon Johnson, Spurs ($3,873,025)
• Kevin Porter Jr., Rockets ($3,217,631)

Third year:

Note: Teams will have to make fourth-year option decisions for 2023/24 on these players by October 31, 2022.

• Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves ($10,733,400)
• James Wiseman, Warriors ($9,603,360)
• LaMelo Ball, Hornets ($8,623,920)
• Patrick Williams, Bulls ($7,775,400)
• Isaac Okoro, Cavaliers ($7,040,880)
• Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks ($6,395,160)
• Killian Hayes, Pistons ($5,837,760)
• Obi Toppin, Knicks ($5,348,280)
• Deni Avdija, Wizards ($4,916,160)
• Devin Vassell, Spurs ($4,437,000)
• Tyrese Haliburton, Kings ($4,215,120)
• Kira Lewis, Pelicans ($4,004,280)
• Aaron Nesmith, Celtics ($3,804,360)
• Cole Anthony, Magic ($3,613,680)
• Chuma Okeke, Magic ($3,433,320)
• Isaiah Stewart, Pistons ($3,433,320)
• Aleksej Pokusevski, Thunder ($3,261,480)
• Josh Green, Mavericks ($3,098,400)
• Saddiq Bey, Pistons ($2,959,080)
• Precious Achiuwa, Raptors ($2,840,160)
• Tyrese Maxey, Sixers ($2,726,880)
• Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets ($2,617,800)
• R.J. Hampton, Magic ($2,412,840)
• Immanuel Quickley, Knicks ($2,316,240)
• Payton Pritchard, Celtics ($2,239,200)
• Udoka Azubuike, Jazz ($2,174,880)
• Jaden McDaniels, Timberwolves ($2,161,440)
• Malachi Flynn, Raptors ($2,145,720)
• Desmond Bane, Grizzlies ($2,130,240)

For a team-by-team breakdown of this year’s rookie scale option decisions for the 2022/23 season, along with full stories on each decision, you can check out our tracker.