There are many NBA players this offseason who will have to decide if they want to pick up their player option for the 2024-25 season. The most notable players with player options include LeBron James ($51,415,938) and Paul George ($48,787,676).
Many of those with player options for next season won’t think twice about declining it to enter free agency. Here are four players that will pick their player options up barring a surprising development.
NBA Players That Should Surely Pick Up 2024-25 Player Option
Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls (PG) – $21,395,348
The second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Lonzo Ball hasn’t appeared in a game since January 14, 2022. The 26-year-old has been unable to get his left knee right, one he has had three procedures on. Nobody has an idea when (or if) Ball will return to the court.
That is a shame because the Bulls were playing well in the 35 games he appeared in during the 2021-22 season. Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per outing.
Back in October 2021, in his second game with the Bulls, Lonzo Ball put up a triple-double against his former team, the Pelicans
The Bulls were 27-13 and ‘Zo was shooting 42.3% on 7.4 3PA/G when he went down in January of that season
Oh what could have been… pic.twitter.com/HReNBlYtSN
— NoahMuse (@JoakimMuse) April 16, 2024
Davis Bertans, Charlotte Hornets (PF) – $16,000,000 ($5,250,000 guaranteed)
While Davis Bertans actually has an early termination option, it would be quite a surprise if he exercised it. The 31-year-old Bertans would have a salary of $16 million for next season, although just $5.25 million would be guaranteed. In all likelihood, the Hornets would decide to move on from him.
Bertans signed a five-year, $80 million deal to re-sign with the Wizards in 2020. He was coming off a career season in 2019-20 where he averaged 15.4 points, but the sharpshooter hasn’t come close to reaching those heights since. He has nearly shot 40% from beyond the arc for his career though, so at least a minimum deal should be out there for him as a free agent.
Richaun Holmes, Washington Wizards (C) – $12,876,780
From 2019-20 to 2021-22, Richaun Holmes was a productive big man for the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, he hasn’t been part of a rotation for the last two seasons. At least not until he joined a bad Wizards team in a deal that sent Daniel Gafford to the Dallas Mavericks.
Holmes played just 348 total minutes for the Kings in 2022-23 and 237 for Dallas this season prior to being traded. He averaged a career-best 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in 2020-21.
P.J. Tucker, Los Angeles Clippers (PF/C) – $11,539,000
After joining the Clippers in a deal that also netted Los Angeles James Harden, P.J. Tucker has received a lot of DNP – CD in the box score. Turning 39 on May 5, Tucker averaged just 1.6 points in his 25 games with the team. He has not played in either of the Clippers’ first two playoff games against the Mavericks.
The only reason why Tucker would turn down his player option is if he’s willing to sacrifice a lot of money to go to a team that promises him more playing time. He started 19 games in the playoffs during the Milwaukee Bucks 2021 championship run.
