NBA Player Option Decisions For 2021/22

A number of NBA contracts include player options in the final year. Those option years give the player the opportunity to either opt into the final year of his deal, finishing out his contract, or to decline the option and hit the free agent market a year early.

Several factors play a part in a player’s option decision. The value of the option salary is obviously crucial, as is the player’s performance in the season leading up to his decision. The state of the NBA’s salary cap also generally becomes a necessary consideration for players weighing their decisions.

If the salary cap is projected to increase only modestly, or if not many teams project to have cap room, a player may be inclined to take the guaranteed money rather than trying his luck on the open market. That could be the case for some players in 2021, as the cap may only increase by about 3% and most teams won’t have room available.

This year’s player options are listed below. This list – which can be found anytime under the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right sidebar on our desktop site or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu – will be updated throughout the spring and early summer to note the latest decisions.

Each player’s decision date comes courtesy of ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Unless otherwise indicated, the player’s decision is due by August 1.


Atlanta Hawks

Brooklyn Nets

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Nuggets

Golden State Warriors

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Milwaukee Bucks

Phoenix Suns

Portland Trail Blazers

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.

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