There are a few ways that one can structure contracts, and some players have player options/team options as part of their deals. A team option in a given contract year would allow the team control of whether they want to keep the player on the roster for another year, while a player option would give that same control to the player, allowing them to choose to remain on the team or become a free agent.
There have recently been two NBA All-Stars that have rejected lucrative player options in order to become free agents. The first of those two All-Stars is Chris Paul, who rejected a $44.2 million player option. Paul had a fantastic season for the Phoenix Suns, where he played a key role in their run to the NBA Finals.
Chris Paul has DECLINED his $43M player option, and will seek a long-term deal near $100M, via ESPN.
— Fadeaway World (@FadeawayWorld) August 1, 2021
Phoenix Suns’ Chris Paul is declining his $44.2 million player option for the 2021-22 season and becoming an unrestricted free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2021
The second player is Kawhi Leonard, former Finals MVP, and superstar on the Los Angeles Clippers. Kawhi Leonard declined a 36 million player option to become a free agent, and could potentially sign a new deal with the Los Angeles Clippers or elsewhere.
Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard is declining his $36 million player option for the 2021-22 season and becoming an unrestricted free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 1, 2021
It has to be said that while Chris Paul and Kawhi Leonard will become free agents with this move, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they will leave their teams. Oftentimes players decline player options to potentially sign new lucrative deals with their current franchises, and it seems as though there is optimism from the Phoenix Suns that Chris Paul will take that route.
Chris Paul has until midnight ET to decide on his $44M player option, but there’s optimism that if he does decide against picking it up that he and the Suns can reach a new deal when free agency opens on Monday night, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2021
While there has been no immediate reporting on whether Kawhi Leonard will sign a new long-term deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, a prior report from Adrian Wojnarowski suggests that he will do exactly that. However, things in the NBA could change in an instant. It remains to be seen whether the two All-Stars entertain offers from other teams, and there is no doubt that there would likely be a market for both of them. However it is entirely possible that they will re-sign with their teams as well, and we will see what they end up doing once free agency officially opens up.
