The NBA offseason is officially upon us. Here are the 10 biggest player option decisions of the 2023 NBA offseason that will dictate the direction of several franchises.
Several teams did not meet the expectations they had set for themselves and ramifications are coming.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 10. Jordan Clarkson
A former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, Jordan Clarkson has shown he can be a starter in this league. Clarkson started 61 games for a Jazz team that surprised a lot of people this year. In 61 games, he averaged 20.8 points per game, with 4.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Jordan Clarkson is a 6-foot-4 combo guard who can get hot in a hurry and beat you in a multitude of ways on the offensive end of the floor. Whether it be scoring off the dribble, catch-and-shoot, attacking the mid-range, or shooting from three, Clarkson has it all in his bag. He posted a 50.4 effective field goal percentage on catch-and-shoot opportunities and 49.7 percent on pull-up jumpers in addition to making 2.5 three-pointers per game,
While Clarkson can be a handful for opposing defenses, his defensive prowess has always been a bit of a liability. Per StatMuse, he posted a 120.3 defensive rating this season. For reference, the Spurs had the worst team defensive rating this season (119.6) and it was lower than Jordan Clarkson's rating.
Turning 31 years old in June, Clarkson has a player option worth $14.26 million and he will almost certainly be opting out in hopes of securing what may be his last long-term contract. There should be no shortage of suitors for him this offseason.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 9. Kyle Kuzma
Known for his style off the court, Kyle Kuzma has also established himself as a very capable scorer in the NBA. Coming off a season where he put up career highs in points and assists per game, Kuzma is headed towards a big payday if/when he chooses to opt out of his player option.
While it may have been a disappointing and injury-riddled season for the Wizards as a whole, Kyle Kuzma was one of the lone bright spots throughout the year. In 64 games, Kuzma averaged 21.2 points per game to go along with 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He was also able to maintain his three-point percentage while attempting nearly two more threes per game than the year prior.
Turning 28 in July and coming off the best season of his career to date, there should be plenty of teams willing to bet on Kuzma entering the prime of his career. It would be a shock If Kuzma chooses to opt into his $13 million option, as he is assuredly going to clear the AAV with a long-term contract extension, but we've seen crazier things happen in the NBA.
With a new front office in Washington, it has been reported that rival executives believe a rebuild is coming sooner than later for the Wizards. Is Kyle Kuzma part of the team's plans for the future? Or will they explore sign-and-trade options to maximize their draft capital and salary cap flexibility?
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 8. Gary Trent Jr.
While having five years of NBA experience under his belt, Gary Trent Jr. is only 24 years old. He has seemingly always been frustrated with his role (or lack thereof) during his time with both the Raptors and the Blazers. Averaging at least 16 points per game in each of the last three seasons, Trent Jr. has certainly proven himself as a capable NBA scorer, so it is easy to see why he feels he can handle a larger workload.
Shooting 38.4 percent on 3-point attempts throughout his career, Gary Trent Jr. has cemented himself as one of the best shooters in the league. In addition to being an efficient and high-volume three-point marksman, Trent Jr. has also averaged more than a steal per game each of the last three seasons.
In today's NBA, we hear the term "3-and-D" player thrown around very often, as that is the type of player every team covets. Gary Trent Jr. epitomizes what it means to be a player who can stretch the floor on offense while providing versatility on the defensive end of the floor,
With an $18.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season, Gary Trent Jr. will most likely opt out of the final year of his contract to test free agency and nearly every team will entertain the idea of signing him. Maybe newly-hired head coach Darko Rajakovic has bigger plans for Trent Jr. than Nick Nurse did, but it may be too little too late for the Raptors and their hopes of retaining him.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 7. Bruce Brown
The ultimate Swiss army knife, Bruce Brown is a player that every front office, coach, and player wants to have on their side. He has played a major role in the Nuggets' march to the NBA Finals since arriving from the Nets this offseason and figures to be headed for a major payday.
Earning nearly $6.5 million this season with a player option worth roughly $6.8 million, Bruce Brown has been one of the biggest bargains in the NBA. His versatility has been made abundantly clear when you consider the fact that he has been asked to fill a different role for every team he/'s played for.
There is nothing Bruce Brown can't do when it comes to making a positive impact on winning in the NBA. If a role needs to be filled for the sake of the team, Brown not only accepts that role but thrives in it. Whether he is coming off the bench or a part of the starting five, his presence is felt the second he steps foot onto the floor.
Brown plays with a relentless motor, high energy, and seemingly always knows where he needs to be on the court. Coming off a season in which he averaged 11.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, there is no chance Brown opts into his player option. The Nuggets will have to make a very competitive offer to ensure Brown stays in Denver.
Turning 27 years old in August, Bruce Brown's free agency will be a major domino to fall. While he may not be as much of a household name as the other players on this list, real fans of the game know what Brown brings to the table.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 6. Josh Hart
Acquired via trade by the Knicks before this year's trade deadline, Josh Hart made an instant impact in New York. in Hart's 25 regular season games as a member of the Knicks, the team went 17-8 en route to earning the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Through 25 games with the Knicks, Josh Hart averaged 10.2 points per game to go along with 7.0 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game.
Similarly to Bruce Brown, Hart is a do-it-all type of player who can and will play any role that is required of him. He primarily spent time as a shooting guard for the Knicks and has also solidified himself as arguably the best rebounding guard in the league and one of the NBA's most versatile players who can play any position.
Josh Hart himself has stated that he plans to decline his $12.96 million player option, but he has strong ties to this Knicks team. First, he is represented by the CAA (Creative Artists Agency), the former agency of current Knicks President of Basketball Operations, Leon Rose. Next, he is a very close friend and former college teammate of the Knicks' franchise player, Jalen Brunson.
Not to mention, the Knicks have three first-round picks invested in Hart. The first-round pick they used to draft Kevin Knox, who was then traded to the Hawks along with an additional first-round selection for Cam Reddish. After the Cam Reddish experience didn't go as planned, the Knicks packaged Reddish and another first-round pick to the Blazers in exchange for Josh Hart.
While Josh Hart expects to opt out of his option, he said he'd like to continue playing for the Knicks. Playing for his fourth team in six seasons, Hart just wants to be able to call New York his home. Given his instant impact on the team's success, his strong ties to the front office, and the amount of draft capital the Knicks have invested in him, Hart figures to re-up with the team on a long-term extension.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 5. Kristaps Porzingis
Similar to his teammate that also happens to be on this list, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis just had what was arguably the best season of his career to date with the Wizards. However, like Kuzma, his future with the team is certainly in question. If the Wizards' new regime does elect to rebuild this team from the ground up, where does that leave Porzingis?
During the 2022-23 season, Kristaps Porzingis averaged 23.2, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 38.5 percent from three on over five attempts per game. The ability to stretch the floor against opposing defenses on one end while controlling the paint defensively on the other end of the floor is part of what makes Porzingis such a dynamic talent.
Kristaps Porzingis has a player option worth upwards of $36M that he can elect to opt into if he pleases. Alternatively, he can opt-out in hopes of securing a long-term contract extension (whether it be from the Wizards or another team).
Turning 28 years old in August, paying Kristaps Porzingis a hefty sum over multiple years certainly comes with risk. From 2017 to 2023, Porzingis has suited up for 264 out of 492 possible games. There's an old saying that gets thrown around frequently in the world of sports: "The best ability is availability." Porzingis is uber-talented and an extremely unique player for what he brings to the court, but what good is it if he is not able to be on the court?
4. Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet would arguably be the best point guard to hit the open market if he were to opt out of his $22.8 million player option for next year. VanVleet has been a key cog for the Raptors franchise ever since he helped them win an NBA championship in 2019. Turning 30 in November, this could be VanVleet's last chance to strike on a long-term deal while the iron is still hot.
Although he is an undersized guard, Fred VanVleet has proven capable of holding his own on the defensive end. VanVleet has averaged no less than 1.7 steals per game in each of his past four seasons. He also ranked in the 82nd percentile amongst guards who have played at least 250 minutes this season in defensive plus/minus.
In addition to being a top-tier defensive guard, Fred VanVleet has also become of the best high-volume 3-point shooters in the league. Attempting nearly nine threes per game, VanVleet averaged three made 3s per game. His ability to get hot from beyond the arc in a hurry is something defenses must be aware of any time he steps onto the court.
Along with his defensive prowess and shooting ability, Fred VanVleet has also developed into quite a facilitator. Since Kyle Lowry left the Raptors to join the Heat before last season, FVV has had to take on more of a playmaking role. He has set new career-highs in assists per game in consecutive seasons, averaging 7.2 assists per game this past season.
A point guard with NBA Playoff/championship experience who can shoot the ball, hold his own on defense, and create plays for others is certainly going to be a hot commodity in free agency. Fred VanVleet will be a name to watch this offseason since he has already notified the Raptors he will be declining his player option to test free agency.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 3. Draymond Green
It is hard to envision Draymond Green in any uniform other than a Warriors jersey, but no one ever thought Michael Jordan would play for another team until it happened.
While Stephen Curry has been the best player on the court for the Warriors throughout their historic decade-long run, nearly everyone in the Warriors organization will acknowledge Green's impact on their quest to win four titles in 10 years. Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, went as far as saying "We don't have a single championship here without Draymond Green."
While Green can sometimes be a lot to handle for a coach, team, and organization, it is part of what makes him the player he is. He plays with an edge and competitive spirit that cannot be matched or tamed. But antics aside, Draymond Green is one of the smartest and most impactful players the NBA has to offer.
If he decides to test free agency, he will be heavily pursued by both contending and rebuilding teams. Contending teams will try to convince him that he has an opportunity to compete for more championships while rebuilding teams will throw lucrative contract offers his way to come play for their team and help establish a culture for young players.
Draymond Green certainly has limitations to his game offensively. But defensively, he can guard every position on the floor and make his presence felt. Green averaged 8.5 points to go along with 7.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. His elite defensive traits and all-around game combined with his championship DNA are something every team will covet if he elects to opt out of his $27.5M player option for next season. Turning 34 years old in March, the clock is ticking for Green to secure one last bag.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 2. Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton may not be the second-best player on this list, but his player option holds a lot of weight for how the rest of the offseason will transpire. If Middleton leaves the Bucks, there will be plenty of questions surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the team and the team's ability to build a contender around him.
Turning 35 years old in August, Middleton is coming off an injury-riddled season. He had surgery on his wrist last July which forced him to miss a large chunk of the regular season. Once he finally made it back onto the court, he suffered a knee injury that forced him to monitor it closely throughout the year and miss even more games. This season, Middleton played 33 out of a possible 82 games.
Injury concerns aside, there is no denying that Middleton is one of the NBA's premiere two-way wings. He is a mid-range assassin on the offensive end who can create his own shot off the dribble, but he doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact. A career 38.8 percent 3-point shooter, Middleton has a smooth shooting stroke and can light it up from deep.
Additionally, Khris Middleton has shown an ability to operate as a playmaker and get his teammates involved. Last season, Middleton averaged 4.9 assists per game in just over 24 minutes per game. Although, he has averaged at least six assists per game in three of the four seasons before this past season in which he was forced to play a reduced role due to injury.
It will be very fascinating to see how things play out with Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Bucks if he does indeed choose to opt out of his $40M player option for next season. While Middleton may not get offered that type of yearly salary in free agency, he could get long-term contract security.
Biggest player option decisions of the NBA offseason: 1. James Harden
Any time a two-time NBA MVP Award winner tests free agency, it is going to be a big deal. Even if James Harden is not the same player he once was, he is still one of the best players in the world. He transformed his game since coming to the 76ers, something that doesn't get mentioned enough. Harden sacrificed his status of being the alpha of a team with the hopes of winning his first championship. However, things have not gone as planned in Philadelphia.
As a member of the Rockets, James Harden was widely regarded as one of the best scorers of all time. He was a three-time scoring champion and averaged 30+ points per game in three consecutive seasons before evolving into a true point guard for the Nets and 76ers. Now, Harden went on to lead the NBA in assists per game this past season. How many players can be at the top of the league in both scoring and assists? What James Harden is doing has been nothing short of remarkable.
This season, James Harden averaged 21.0 points to go along with 6.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game. Turning 34 years old in August, Harden showed he still has plenty left in the tank to help a team compete for a title. He single-handedly won the 76ers two playoff games against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals this postseason. In Game 1, without Joel Embiid, James Harden went for 45 points and hit the game-winning shot to lead the 76ers to a road playoff win in Boston when they were nearly 10-point underdogs. In Game 4, he recorded 42 points and sealed the game with a three-pointer to tie up the series.
Similar to Khris Middleton's pending free agency potentially impacting the direction Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks go in the near future, James Harden's free agency decision could have a colossal impact on what it means for Joel Embiid's prospects with the 76ers. Rumors surrounding Harden returning to the Rockets or going to the Suns to reunite with his old teammate, Kevin Durant, continue to circulate.
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.