While decisions on contract options for players and teams for NBA veterans are usually made in June, the deadline to exercise third- and fourth-year team options for players on rookie contracts comes each fall. This year, the deadline for teams to select rookie options is Nov. 2.
All players whose options are exercised or declined by November 2 are already under contract for the 2026/27 season. Their teams have to make a decision on whether they want to lock in the contracts of these players outside the borders next season, taking up or rejecting squad options for the 2027/28 campaign.
In many cases, these decisions are not difficult. Rookie salaries are affordable enough that it usually makes sense to use these teams even if the player isn’t a key cog on the roster. And for those players who to do play a significant role on the team’s roster, the decision is even simpler – it’s not that Sixers will consider waiving their option VJ Edgecombefor example.
(RELATED: 2027/28 Rookie Squad Options Decisions)
While most players will exercise their options with their teams, every year there are a handful of clubs that choose not to pick up those options for a variety of reasons. That will be the case again ahead of this year’s Nov. 2 deadline, and today we take a closer look at the players who may be most at risk of missing out on easy calls like the Sixers from Edgecombe.
Let’s dive into…
Atlanta Hawks
