Kyle O’Quinn To Seek $30MM Payday In Free Agency?

While one Knicks center weighs whether or not to decline his player option, it sounds like another has already made up his mind to opt out. A source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News that Kyle O’Quinn, who faces a player option decision this offseason, has been asking for approximately $30MM in guaranteed money on his next contract.

[RELATED: Enes Kanter leaning toward declining player option?]

Teammate Enes Kanter was the Knicks’ most productive center, but O’Quinn was a reliable backup, appearing in 77 games (18.0 MPG) and establishing new career highs in PPG (7.1), RPG (6.1), and FG% (.582), among other categories.

O’Quinn almost certainly wouldn’t land as significant a contract as Kanter on the open market, but his player option is worth a modest $4.26MM compared to Kanter’s $18.62MM. That makes it an easier decision to opt out and seek a multiyear deal in free agency.

Although O’Quinn may be looking for a $30MM contract for now, that number could change by the time he actually reaches free agency in July. As Bondy observes, that price tag would be “far too much for a career backup on a losing team.” In a market like 2016’s, when centers like Bismack Biyombo, Ian Mahinmi, and Timofey Mozgov signed mega-deals worth over $60MM apiece, a $30MM contract for O’Quinn would look much more reasonable, but teams are expected to be tighter with their money during the 2018 offseason.

According to Basketball Insiders’ data on O’Quinn’s contract, his option decision is due seven days after the Knicks’ final game of 2017/18, so we should hear official word soon on his opt-out.

View Comments (10)