The big news in the last couple of days has been players turning down their player options to become free agents. Trae Young was the biggest name (though he is expected to re-sign with Washington), and more are on the way, including the Lakers’ Austin Reaves.
However, not everyone is taking that path.
Memphis wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will pick up his $21.6 million player option, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. This was expected because KCP was not going to find an offer that large on the open market.
Caldwell-Pope was a highly sought-after 3&D wing who has a couple of rings for his efforts (2020 Lakers, 2023 Nuggets), but the 33-year-old’s game has fallen off over the past couple of seasons, particularly his 3-point shooting. With the Grizzlies last season, he played in 51 games (he had finger surgery in February that ended his season) and averaged 8.4 points per game, shooting 31.6% from beyond the arc.
Because he’s on a good-sized expiring contract, expect Caldwell-Pope’s name to pop up in a lot of trade rumors this season as the Grizzies make over their roster.
Also picking up his $6 player option is Wizards’ point guard D’Angelo Russell, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer.
If you don’t remember seeing Russell in a Wizards’ uniform, that’s because you didn’t. He came to Washington from Dallas as part of the Anthony Davis trade, but the Wizards told Russell he didn’t have to report to the team. So he didn’t and, by mutual agreement, sat out the rest of the season.
This move by Russell makes sure he gets paid off his contract, but we may never actually see him suit up for the Wizards — they already have Young and Bub Carrington at the point (and could draft another next week). Russell could end up part of any draft night or free agency trades, and barring that it is possible the sides work out a buyout.
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