A couple of players and teams got a jump on “option season” already. Russell Westbrook of the Denver Nuggets declined his player option to become an unrestricted free agent. The Orlando Magic declined the team options for Gary Harris and Cory Joseph in order to complete the Desmond Bane trade.

As a point of order, a player or team option doesn’t have to be actually declined. It’s often simply not exercised. A player must exercise, or opt in, to his option year, while a team must take the same action when they have control. The lone exception here is an Early Termination Option. For an ETO, a player must decline or opt out. No action would result in that player staying under contract. Of course, as we saw with Westbrook, Harris and Joseph, a player or team can take early action and let it be known they aren’t picking up an option.

With three decisions already made, we’re going to take a shot at predicting what happens with the remaining 51 player and team options.

(Note: This article does not include players on partial or non-guaranteed contracts. Although those are often referred to as options, they are a different thing. We’ll cover those in an upcoming article.)

Atlanta Hawks

Dominick Barlow - $2.3M team option

Barlow just turned 22 years old despite having three NBA years under his belt. He showed some flashes for the Hawks this past year. There’s untapped potential for Barlow, so the Hawks should pick up this option.

Boston Celtics

J.D. Davison - $2.3M team option

Davison is a good third point guard for Boston as they reset the roster a bit. He’s athletic, a solid defender and a good playmaker. Davison’s contract is also helpful for Boston, as it comes in slightly under a veteran minimum deal. That’s important for a team looking for savings.

Brooklyn Nets

Keon Johnson - $2.4M team option

Johnson got his career on track with the Nets over the last two seasons. If he shot better, picking up this option would be a no-brainer for Brooklyn. The team has significant cap space goals this offseason, so they’ll likely decline this option. Don’t be surprised if Johnson is re-signed later in the summer though, as the Nets like him quite a bit.

 

Tyrese Martin - $2.2M team option

Martin developed into a reliable rotation guy for Jordi Fernandez this season. His combination of size and skill for a wing means that picking up his option is worthwhile for Brooklyn. Martin will make less than a veteran minimum, so it’s a minimal use of potential cap space.

Drew Timme - $1.9M team option

Timme had a nice late-season run with the Nets. There’s a good chance that he’s back with Brooklyn next season. However, because of his short track record of NBA success, the Nets will likely decline this option in favor of cap space.

Jalen Wilson - $2.2M team option

Wilson’s deal will have a very light guarantee if Brooklyn picks up this option. Expect that to happen, as Wilson developed into a rotation player this season. If the Nets end up needing a bit more cap space, they can always waive Wilson after picking up his option.

Charlotte Hornets

No pending options

Chicago Bulls

Jevon Carter - $6.8M player option

Carter won’t see this kind of money in free agency. At least, not in any single season. He’ll pick up his option, then the Bulls will have his salary to use in a trade as they begin clearing out a very crowded guard group on their roster.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Chuma Okeke - $2.5M team option

The Cavs are well over the second apron, and they have some free agents they’d like to re-sign. Okeke’s deal will become non-guaranteed if his option is picked up. Because of that, Cleveland will likely initially pick up this option and delay the decision for a later date.

Dallas Mavericks

Kyrie Irving - $42.9M player option

Irving is going to opt out of his deal to sign a new, long-term deal with the Mavericks. He might even lower his salary by a bit for next season in that new deal. That would be a win for Dallas, as they are working up against some tight margins with the aprons.

Dwight Powell - $4.0M player option

Powell will opt in, because he won’t see anything beyond a veteran minimum deal if he opts out. It’s really that simple.

Denver Nuggets

Dario Saric - $5.4M player option

The Nuggets history of giving out questionable second-year player options continued with Saric, after Reggie Jackson got the initial one. Like Jackson, Saric will opt in because there’s no chance that he’d get more than a minimum deal in free agency.

Detroit Pistons

No pending options

Golden State Warriors

Quinten Post - $1.9M team option

The Warriors will pick up this option for Post. He’s worth far more than this, which makes it a very team-friendly figure for Golden State. In addition, the Warriors will still have the ability to make Post a restricted free agent next summer.

Gui Santos - $2.2M team option

Santos is in the same boat as Post, just for slightly more money. Everything else is exactly the same, so he’ll be back with the Warriors next season too.

Houston Rockets

Aaron Holiday - $4.9M team option

The Rockets are probably going to decline this option for Holiday, if only to give themselves some additional flexibility around the tax and the aprons. He could be back on a smaller deal, as Houston values what he brings to the backcourt with his off-ball ability.

Fred VanVleet - $44.9M team option

This one is kind of tricky. If Houston picks up this option for VanVleet, they’ll be in second-apron territory. But it’s likely they’d be doing so to send VanVleet elsewhere as part of a trade. If the Rockets decline this option, it’s likely because they’re going to re-sign VanVleet for a lower number for next season, with some addition years tacked on. Bet on the latter approach, unless a trade develops very quickly in the next week or so.

Indiana Pacers

Tony Bradley - $2.9M team option

Indiana will probably pick up this option for Bradley. He’s given them solid minutes behind Myles Turner throughout the team’s run to the NBA Finals. Unless the Pacers know they can replace Bradley with a true minimum signing, which would come with helpful tax savings, bank on him being back.

LA Clippers

Nic Batum - $4.9M player option

Batum is likely to opt in. He’s been a bit cagey about retirement, but Batum has another year left in him.

James Harden - $36.3M player option

Expect Harden to opt out, but with eyes on signing a new deal with the Clippers. Another two-year pact would align him with Kawhi Leonard’s contract length. Harden also earned a bump in salary with his play last season. A bit more money for two years makes sense for both sides.

Los Angeles Lakers

Dorian Finney-Smith - $15.4M player option

Finney-Smith is probably going to opt out, but then re-sign on a long-term deal. That will give him the security he’s looking for. He might even lower his salary a bit for next season, which could help the Lakers create a little flexibility around the tax aprons.

Jordan Goodwin - $2.3M team option

Los Angeles is likely to pick up this option for Goodwin. It’s right in the range of what he’d make on a minimum deal. The Lakers like what he’s done as a depth guard too.

LeBron James - $52.6M player option

Here we are again, but this time things feel a bit less certain. There’s some sense James could opt in for next season and make it his swan song. There’s also a very good chance that he’ll opt out and sign another 1+1 deal with the Lakers. That’s probably how it will go, but this time around, don’t expect James to give Los Angeles any sort of discounts.

Memphis Grizzlies

No pending options

Miami Heat

Keshad Johnson - $1.9M team option

The Heat like Johnson as the type of developmental prospect they’ve had a lot of success with. Given that they can make him a restricted free agent next summer, and this is below a veteran minimum salary, expect Johnson to be back in Miami.

Duncan Robinson - $19.8M early termination option

Robinson has the rare ETO. He’s not going to exercise it though! From there, Robinson’s deal will convert to being $9.8 million guaranteed. Unless he’s part of a trade package for star, expect that deal to become fully guaranteed and for Robinson to be back with the Heat.

Milwaukee Bucks

Pat Connaughton - $9.4M player option

Connaughton has already given indications that he’ll pick up his option. That’s smart, because he wouldn’t see close to that amount in free agency. It’s fair to also expect the Bucks to see what adding Connaughton in a trade as salary-matching could get them.

Kevin Porter Jr. - $2.5M player option

Porter is going to opt out. He’s played well enough to get quite a bit more than a minimum deal this summer. The big question: Who gives it to him? Porter can score, but remains a wild-card on and off the court.

Bobby Portis - $13.4M player option

It looks like Portis will opt out. He says he wants to stay in Milwaukee, but that he won’t give the Bucks any kind of hometown discount this time around. Expect there to be plenty of interest in Portis from teams who need frontcourt scoring.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Luka Garza - $2.3M team option

The Wolves are likely to pick up this option and to bring Garza back. They like him for deep frontcourt depth.

Josh Minott - $2.2M team option

If Minnesota is worried about losing Minott next summer in unrestricted free agency, they’ll decline this option and make Minott a restricted free agent this summer. However, they shouldn’t have too many worries about the summer of 2026 and Minott. Keeping this year’s finances in line is more important, so the Timberwolves should pick up this option.

Julius Randle - $30.9M player option

No pun intended, but Randle has options here. If he opts out, it’s likely to sign a new long-term deal with Minnesota. No one else can reasonably offer him $30 million this offseason. If Randle opts in, he could sign a long-term extension with Minnesota, similar to Rudy Gobert a couple of years ago. He could also be a part of a trade package for a star. Expect Randle to opt in, which gives him a few more options than opting out would.

Naz Reid - $15.0M player option

Reid is likely to opt out and to get a new, bigger deal. There’s a possibility that he could opt in and then extend too. However, Reid has earned a new, immediate payday. That’s why opting out makes the most sense, even if he re-signs with the Wolves.

New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Boston - $2.3M team option

The Pelicans will likely decline their option for Boston, but then look to sign him to a longer deal. He played well enough to lock in a couple of additional years, maybe even with a slight bump in salary.

Elfrid Payton - $3.1M team option

New Orleans will decline Payton’s option. If they want him back, they’ll re-sign him on a minimum deal and save almost $1 million towards the tax and aprons.

New York Knicks

Ariel Hukporti - $1.9M team option

Hukporti played well in spurts for the Knicks. There’s a ton of potential here. Because New York can make him a restricted free agent in 2026, and they are working around the aprons this season, they’ll pick this option up.

P.J. Tucker - $3.5M team option

If the Knicks pick up Tucker’s option, it’s because his deal will become non-guaranteed. From there, New York can look to use the veteran forward as matching salary in trades, because they can guarantee his contract all the way up to the full $3.5 million amount if they need to.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Ajay Mitchell - $3.0M team option

There are two ways to look at this one. The Thunder could decline this option, then re-sign Mitchell on a long-term deal. The other option would be to pick up this option, then make Mitchell a restricted free agent in 2026. Either way, Mitchell isn’t going anywhere. The latter path makes sense, as OKC isn’t dealing with tax or apron issues yet.

Jaylin Williams - $2.2M team option

Williams is in a different spot from Mitchell. If the Thunder pick up his option, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent next summer. If they decline it, they can make Williams a restricted free agent this summer. Expect OKC to decline this option to control the free agency process a bit. Also, roster spots are once again an issue for the Thunder. That could ultimately squeeze Williams out of town, despite the fact that the team likes him a lot.

Orlando Magic

Caleb Houstan - $2.2M team option

Houstan had moments for Orlando this season. They trust him more as a wing shooter than former first-round pick Jett Howard. Expect the Magic to pick up this option.

Moritz Wagner - $11.0M team option

Wagner is coming off a torn ACL, and $11 million is a bit rich for his role. However, the Magic love Wagner, who has been one of the best backups bigs in the NBA for two years running. Expect him to be back for less money, but with an additional year or two tacked onto the deal.

Philadelphia 76ers

Jared Butler - $2.3M team option

Butler is worth picking up this option for. He can play and gives Philly some affordable down-roster guard depth. The only way reason for the Sixers to decline this option would be if they felt the guard group was already overstuffed.

Andre Drummond - $5.0M player option

Drummond is still a quality backup center. That’s important for the 76ers, given Joel Embiid’s health issues. Expect Drummond to pick up this option, as he’s found a good fit for quality money for himself in Philadelphia.

Justin Edwards - $1.9M team option

This is another situation where the team can make the player a restricted free agent in 2026 after picking up the option. Edwards proved he’s an NBA rotation player last season. Philadelphia will pick this option up to have him on a team-friendly deal for at least one more season.

Eric Gordon - $3.5M player option

Gordon could probably get another veteran minimum deal from a number of teams this offseason. However, he’s comfortable in Philadelphia and played a real role when he was healthy. He’ll be back for another year.

Kelly Oubre Jr. - $8.4M player option

Oubre will likely pick this option up. He could possibly get more in free agency via a team’s MLE this summer, but that’s a risky bet. Bet on Oubre returning to Philadelphia.

Lonnie Walker IV - $2.9M team option

This is a true 50-50 decision. The guard group for the Sixers is pretty deep, and the draft could bring another guard. If that’s where the Sixers are leaning, they might decline this option. If they think Walker is a good value at $2.9 million, they can bring him back for additional guard depth. We’re betting that it’s the latter, especially given that Walker would be a nice piece of salary-matching in a trade too.

Phoenix Suns

Vasilije Micic - $8.1M team option

There’s a world where the Suns could pick up Micic’s option to have him as $8 million matching salary in a trade. However, Phoenix is already dealing with a monster tax bill and other roster issues. Combine that with the fact that Micic seems ready to go back overseas, and the Suns will decline this option.

Portland Trail Blazers

Rayan Rupert - $2.2M team option

Rupert hasn’t done enough in the NBA to bother with playing around with declining his option to re-sign him early. If he pops this year, the Blazers can make him a restricted free agent next summer. He’ll be back for at least one more year in Portland.

Matisse Thybulle - $11.5 million player option

Thybulle will pick up this option, because he wouldn’t get this much in free agency. Then it’s about what the Trail Blazers do on the trade market. Thybulle has shot fairly well in Portland and he’s still an outstanding defender. That gives him real value to playoff contender, perhaps even with the Blazers.

Sacramento Kings

Keon Ellis - $2.3M team option

If they’re smart, the Kings will decline this option, make Ellis a restricted free agent and work out a long-term deal with the talented guard. There’s no reason to mess around here. Ellis is too good to risk losing next summer by being cheap this summer.

Isaac Jones - $1.9M team option

Another member of the 2026 restricted free agent club, Jones should have his option picked up. He’s got a ton of untapped potential. That’s worth working with for another year on a less-than-the-minimum deal.

San Antonio Spurs

No pending options

Toronto Raptors

No pending options

Utah Jazz

John Collins - $26.6 player option

Collins is going to pick this option up. He wouldn’t get nearly this much in free agency. However, Collins has bounced back and put together a couple of solid seasons in Utah. That makes the real question: Will the Jazz find a trade for the talented veteran big man?

Washington Wizards

Khris Middleton - $33.3M player option

The Wizards and Middleton could get creative here. That would see the veteran wing opting out, but re-signing at a lower, and crucially, more tradable number. But that probably isn’t the way this will go. Middleton will likely pick up his option and then the Wizards will play him for a while with their young core, while he rebuilds his value and Washington looks for a trade.