Russell Westbrook and Paul George each made contract decisions before free agency tipped off.
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Before free agency officially tips off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, players and teams had to make decisions on contract options, qualifying offers and contracts that were either partially or non-guaranteed. Here’s the lowdown on who’s staying and who could be going.
Player options
These players had an option in the final year of their contract. If they exercised it, they were in for one more year. If they declined it, they become free agents on July 1.
Exercised (under contract for one more year)
Lonzo Ball (CHI)
Keita Bates-Diop (BKN)
Torrey Craig (CHI)
Jaxson Hayes (LAL)
Reggie Jackson (DEN)
Gary Payton II (GSW)
Cam Reddish (LAL)
Josh Richardson (MIA)
D’Angelo Russell (LAL)
P.J. Tucker (LAC)
Russell Westbrook (LAC)
Christian Wood (LAL)
Declined (free agents)
OG Anunoby (NYK)
Oshae Brissett (BOS)
Thomas Bryant (MIA)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (DEN)
Drew Eubanks (PHX)
Paul George (LAC)
Eric Gordon (PHX)
LeBron James (LAL)
Damion Lee (PHX)
Kevin Love (MIA)
Caleb Martin (MIA)
Josh Okogie (PHX)
Jalen Smith (IND)
Yuta Watanabe (MEM)
In addition, Richaun Holmes (WAS) signed a contract extension before the deadline for his player option.
Early-Termination option
An early-termination option is basically the same as a player option, except that when it’s exercised, the player becomes a free agent. There aren’t many early-termination options these days.
Declined (under contract for one more year)
Davis Bertans (CHA)
Team options
Here, the decision lies with the team. If they exercised the team option, they keep the player for another year. If they declined it, they allowed him to become a free agent.
Exercised (under contract for one more year)
Jose Alvarado (NOP)
Dalano Banton (POR)
Bruce Brown (TOR)
Jeff Green (HOU)
Sam Hauser (BOS)
Garrison Mathews (ATL)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (NOP)
Jericho Sims (NYK)
Jae’Sean Tate (HOU)
Lindy Waters III (OKC -> GSW)*
* Waters had to have had his option exercised to have been traded to Golden State.
Declined (free agents)
Vlatko Cancar (DEN)
Jeff Dowtin Jr. (PHI)**
Evan Fournier (DET)
Joe Ingles (ORL)
DaQuan Jeffries (NYK)
Isaiah Joe (OKC)
Kai Jones (LAC)
Luke Kennard (MEM)
Chimezie Metu (DET)
Neemias Queta (BOS)*
JT Thor (CHA)**
Stanley Umude (DET)**
Tristan Vukcevic (WAS)**
Moritz Wagner (ORL)
Aaron Wiggins (OKC)*
* Though the Celtics and Thunder declined the team options on Queta and Wiggins, respectively, they issued them qualifying offers (see below), so they’re restricted free agents.
** Downtin, Thor, Umude and Vukcevic were also eligible for restricted free agency, but in addition to declining their team options, their teams chose not to extend them qualifying offers. So they’re unrestricted free agents.
Qualifying offers
Some players were eligible for restricted free agency. This group includes 2020 first round draft picks who had their third and fourth-year options picked up and just completed their rookie contract, as well as other players who have played three or fewer seasons in the league.
Restricted free agency allows the team to match any offer the player receives from another team. But in order to have that right, the team must have issued the player a qualifying offer by Saturday. If a qualifying offer wasn’t issued, that player is an unrestricted free agent instead.
The qualifying offer is binding as a one-year contract. If the player signs it, he’s under contract for next season. He could also sign an offer sheet from another team (which his team would have the ability to match), and he and his team could agree on a new, multi-year contract. The team also has the ability to rescind the qualifying offer going forward (the list below is as of June 29.)
Issued (restricted free agents)
Max Christie (LAL)
Simone Fontecchio (DET)
Sandro Mamukelashvili (SAS)
Tyrese Maxey (PHI)
Isaac Okoro (CLE)
Immanuel Quickley (TOR)
Obi Toppin (IND)
Trendon Watford (BKN)
Patrick Williams (CHI)
Not issued (unrestricted free agents)
Precious Achiuwa (NYK)
Dominick Barlow (SAS)
Saddiq Bey (ATL)
Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC)
Kessler Edwards (SAC)
Malachi Flynn (DET)
Luka Garza (MIN)
Kira Lewis Jr. (UTA)
Chuma Okeke (ORL)
Lester Quinones (GSW)
Malik Williams (TOR)
James Wiseman (DET)
Two-way free agents
This past season was the seventh with two-way players that can go between the NBA roster and the G League. Some two-way players are still under contract for next season. Those that aren’t can be restricted free agents if they were on the NBA team’s active or inactive list for 15 or more days of the regular season, if (like non-two-way free agents) they’ve played less than three years in the league, and if they were issued qualifying offers.
Here’s a rundown of two-way free agents …
Restricted
Emoni Bates (CLE)
Colin Castleton (LAL)
David Duke Jr. (SAS)
Quenton Jackson (IND)
Johnny Juzang (UTA)
Vit Krejci (ATL)
Seth Lundy (ATL)
Drew Peterson (BOS)
Trevelin Queen (ORL)
Adama Sanogo (CHI)
Cole Swider (MIA)
Jacob Toppin (NYK)
Oscar Tshiebwe (IND)
Alondes Williams (MIA)
Brandon Williams (DAL)
Nate Williams (HOU)
