Projecting 2022 NBA Player and Team Options
By: Keith SmithPublished: May 26, 2022
Projecting 2022 NBA Player and Team Options
Derrick Favors of the Oklahoma City Thunder got a jump on “option season” by exercising his player option for the 2022-23 season well in advance of his deadline. Despite Favors’ early decision, there are dozens of other option decisions pending for the 2022-23 season.
We’ll go team-by-team through the remaining 39 decisions each player or team must make before their respective deadlines. Some of these are no-brainers, while others are legitimate debates. All will have an impact on their team’s cap space, luxury tax bill or roster moves during the 2022 offseason.
ATLANTA HAWKS
No option decisions pending
BOSTON CELTICS
Sam Hauser - $1.6M team option due 6/29/22: Boston is likely to pick up their team option for Hauser. His contract will then shift to become partially guaranteed, but the Celtics like what he’s shown as a shooter while on his minimum deal.
Juwan Morgan – $1.8M team option due 6/29/22: The Celtics are more likely to move on from Morgan than Hauser, but it may not come via his option. If Boston exercises their option for Morgan, his deal becomes non-guaranteed. He’s good enough to make it at least to training camp on that deal.
BROOKLYN NETS
Kessler Edwards - $1.6M team option due 6/29/22: The Nets did well when they converted Edwards to get a little flexibility. That said, he was part of their rotation for most of the second half of the season and he played for them in the playoffs. Edwards will be back.
Kyrie Irving - $36.9M player option due 6/29/22: There are reports that Brooklyn isn’t committed to re-signing Irving long-term. Despite that, look for Irving to still opt out. Even on a short-term deal, he stands to make more money than he would by opting in. That next deal however…
Patty Mills - $6.2M player option due 6/29/22: Mills is in a bit of a tricky spot. He was very good for the Nets in the first half of the year, before playing too many minutes wore him down. At 34 years old, will he get more than $6.2 million option? Probably not. He’ll be back too.