As the season winds down for most teams, especially with the first round over and the playoffs down to just eight teams, thoughts will turn towards decisions that must be made with regards to contracts. Decisions on various options and whether to issue Qualifying Offers must be done before the end of the June under the current collective bargaining agreement.

But not all options are created equal. In the following sections we offer a quick definition of Early Termination, Team, and Player options, as well as discuss the difference between options and non-guaranteed deals. Lastly we discuss Qualifying Offers. In each section there is also a list of the players the section pertains to, players who have to make a decision – or the team does – that will determine their contract status for 2011-12.

Early Termination Options

The difference with an Early Termination Option (ETO) and other options is in the results. The decision is up to the player, but if they decide to do nothing the next season simply becomes a guaranteed year. They must invoke the ETO to become a free agent. So if they like the salary on the books, they collect; if not, they opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. Typically this has to be done before midnight on June 30th, but different dates can be written into the contract.

Nene, Denver Nuggets – $11.6 million (exercised 6/30/11)

Charlie Bell, Golden State Warriors – $4.1 million (not exercised)

David West, New Orleans Hornets – $7.5 million (exercised 6/27/11)

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs -$21.1 million (indicated will not exercise)

Team Options

The player has no control with a Team Option (TO). It is up to the team to invoke the option, putting the player on the books for the upcoming season. If the team chooses not to invoke the TO, that player becomes an unrestricted free agent. Typically this has to be done before midnight on June 30th, but different dates can be written into the contract.

Goran Dragic, Houston Rockets – $2.1 million (exercised 6/28/11)

Sam Young, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.9 million (exercised 6/28/11)

Pooh Jeter, Sacramento Kings – $0.8 million (not exercised)

C.J. Miles, Utah Jazz – $3.7 million (exercised 6/29/11)

Player Options

A Player Option (PO) is just like a TO, but the onus is on the player rather than the team. If the player chooses to invoke the PO, he goes on the books for the next season. If he decides not to invoke the option or does nothing, he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Typically this has to be done before midnight on June 30th, but different dates can be written into the contract.

Ray Allen, Boston Celtics – $10.0 million (invoked 6/7/11)

Shaquille O’Neal, Boston Celtics – $1.4 million (announced retirement, 6/1/11)

Boris Diaw, Charlotte Bobcats – $9.0 million (announced exercised, 6/21/11)

Ryan Hollins, Cleveland Cavaliers – $2.5 million (exercised)

Louis Amundson, Golden State Warriors – $2.4 million (exercised)

Brian Cook, Los Angeles Clippers – $1.3 million (execised)

Shannon Brown, Los Angeles Lakers – $2.4 million (declined 6/30/11)

Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Lakers – $1.9 million (announced exercised, 5/31/11)

Eddie House, Miami HEAT – $1.4 million (exercised 6/30/11)

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Miami HEAT – $1.4 million (exercised 6/22/11)

James Jones, Miami HEAT – $1.3 million (declined 6/29/11)

Aaron Gray, New Orleans Hornets – $1.1 million (declined, 6/27/11)

Ronny Turiaf, New York Knicks – $4.4 million (exercised 6/22/11)

Mickael Pietrus, Phoenix Suns – $5.3 million (exercised)

Leandro Barbosa, Toronto Raptors – $7.6 million (exercised 6/25/11)

 

Non-Guaranteed

Contracts not fully guaranteed fall into a different boat. The decision is completely up to the team – the player is under contract for the given amount unless the team decides to let them go. All non- or partially-guaranteed contracts become fully guaranteed in early January (in this case, 2012), but earlier dates can be written into the contract.

Case in point, Chauncey Billups in New York. His $14.2 million salary for 2011-12 was often reported as being some kind of option, but that’s not technically correct. Billups’ deal was not guaranteed; the Knicks had five days after their last game of the season (regular or playoff) to waive Billups and pay him only $3.7 million instead. If it had been a team option as some reported, it would have been $14.2 million or nothing.

The following is a list of players on the books for 2011-12 with not fully guaranteed deals. Guarantee dates, if known, are in parentheses with their guaranteed amount if applicable; otherwise assume the January date for full guarantee and no minimum dollars.

Pape Sy, Atlanta Hawks – $0.8 million (10/1/12)

Magnum Rolle, Atlanta Hawks – $0.8 million

Jannero Pargo, Chicago Bulls – $1.3 million (7/15/11)

John Lucas III, Chicago Bulls – $0.9 million

Keith Bogans, Chicago Bulls – $1.3 million (7/10/11)

Samardo Samuels, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million

Manny Harris, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.8 million

Joey Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers – $1.1 million (7/15/11 – $100,000)

Alonzo Gee, Cleveland Cavaliers – $0.9 million (8/15/11 – $100,000)

Ian Mahinmi, Dallas Mavericks – $0.9 million (6/30/11)

Terrico White, Detroit Pistons – $0.8 million (7/18/11)

Jeremy Lin, Golden State Warriors – $0.8 million

Jeff Adrien, Golden State Warriors – $0.8 million (6/20/11 – $50,000) (waived)

Marcus Cousin, Houston Rockets – $0.8 million

Marqus Blakely, Houston Rockets – $0.8 million

Chase Budinger, Houston Rockets – $0.9 million (8/1/11)

A.J. Price, Indiana Pacers – $0.9 million (6/29/11 – $200,000)

Willie Warren, Los Angeles Clippers – $0.8 million (opening night)

Devin Ebanks, Los Angeles Lakers – $0.8 million

Derrick Caracter, Los Angeles Lakers – $0.8 million

Ishmael Smith, Memphis Grizzlies – $0.8 million

Dexter Pittman, Miami HEAT – $0.8 million (6/30/11 – 10%; 7/25/11 – 80%)

Carlos Delfino, Milwaukee Bucks – $3.5 million (6/30/11)

Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks – $2.5 million (7/1/11 – $400,000)

Stephen Graham, New Jersey Nets – $1.1 million (day before start of season – $100,000)

Sundiata Gaines, New Jersey Nets – $0.9 million

David Andersen, New Orleans Hornets – $2.7 million (8/15/11 – $185,185)

Andy Rautins, New York Knicks – $0.8 million (7/31/11)

Landry Fields, New York Knicks – $0.8 million (7/15/11)

Royal Ivey, Oklahoma City Thunder – $1.2 million (9/15/11)

Robert Vaden, Oklahoma City Thunder – $0.8 million

Jodie Meeks, Philadelphia 76ers – $0.9 million (8/1/11 – 50%; 11/1/11 – 100%)

Vince Carter, Phoenix Suns – $18.3 million (6/30/11 beginning of free agency – $4.0 million)

Gani Lawal, Phoenix Suns – $0.8 million

Andre Miller, Portland Trail Blazers – $7.8 million (6/29/11)

Chris Johnson, Portland Trail Blazers – $0.8 million

Earl Barron, Portland Trail Blazers – $1.1 million

Jermaine Taylor, Sacramento Kings – $0.9 million (8/1/11) (waived 6/14/11)

Antonio McDyess, San Antonio Spurs – $5.2 million (7/1/11 – $2.6 million)

DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs – $1.0 million ($500,000)

Gary Neal, San Antonio Spurs – $0.8 million

Danny Green, San Antonio Spurs – $0.9 million

Da’Sean Butler, San Antonio Spurs – $0.8 million

Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz – $0.8 million (7/20/11 – $50,000; 11/15/11 – $100,000)

Qualifying Offers

{AUTHOR_BOX}Qualifying Offers (QO) can be issued by a team to any player coming off the fourth season of their rookie scale contract for first-round picks. The amount is pre-set by the CBA. They can also be issued to any player with three or less seasons of NBA experience (125% of the previous year’s salary or the minimum + $175,000, whichever is greater). By issuing the offer – a one-year deal – the team earns the right of first refusal, making the player restricted and allowing the team to match any offer from another team within 10 days. QOs must be issued by midnight on June 30th. The player can also opt to sign the one-year contract. If the team elects to not offer the QO, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. (For more details on QOs and restricted free agency, visit the NBA Salary Cap FAQ.)

Here is a list of players, by team, eligible to be issued Qualifying Offers (unlisted teams don’t have anyone eligible):

Boston Celtics

Jeff Green – $5.9 million (issued 6/30/11)

Charlotte Bobcats

Dante Cunningham – $1.1 million (Issued 6/27/11)

Garrett Temple – $1.1 million

Denver Nuggets

Wilson Chandler – $3.1 million (Issued 6/20/11)

Arron Afflalo – $2.9 million (Issued 6/20/11)

Gary Forbes – $1.0 million (Issued 6/20/11)

Detroit Pistons

Rodney Stuckey – $3.9 million (issued 6/16/11)

Jonas Jerebko – $1.1 million (issued 6/16/11)

DaJuan Summers – $1.1 million

Golden State Warriors

Reggie Williams – $1.1 million (issued 6/21/11)

Los Angeles Clippers

DeAndre Jordan – $1.1 million (issued 6/14/11)

Los Angeles Lakers

Trey Johnson – $1.0 million

Memphis Grizzlies

Marc Gasol – $4.5 million (issued 6/24/11)

Hamed Haddadi – $2.0 million (issued 6/28/11)

Miami HEAT

Mario Chalmers – $1.1 million (issued 6/15/11)

Milwaukee Bucks

Chris Douglas-Roberts – $1.1 million

Luc Mbah a Moute – $1.1 million (issued 6/21/11)

New Jersey Nets

Brandan Wright – $4.6 million

Ben Uzoh – $1.0 million

New Orleans Hornets

Marco Belinelli – $3.4 million (issued 6/30/11)

Jason Smith – $3.1 million

New York Knicks

Derrick Brown – $1.1 million (issued 6/29/11)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Daequan Cook – $3.1 million (issued 6/27/11)

Philadelphia 76ers

Spencer Hawes – $4.1 million (issued 6/22/11)

Thaddeus Young – $4.0 million (issued 6/22/11)

Phoenix Suns

Aaron Brooks – $3.0 million (issued 6/23/11)

Zabian Dowdell – $1.0 million

Portland Trail Blazers

Greg Oden – $8.8 million (issued 6/29/11)

Patty Mills – $1.1 million (issued 6/29/11)

Sacramento Kings

Darnell Jackson – $1.1 million

Marcus Thornton – $1.1 million (issued 6/14/11)

Toronto Raptors

Julian Wright – $4.0 million

Sonny Weems – $1.1 million (issued 6/27/11)

Joey Dorsey – $1.1 million

Washington Wizards

Yi Jianlian – $5.4 million

Nick Young – $3.7 million (issued 6/18)

Mustafa Shakur – $1.1 million

Othyus Jeffers – $1.1 million (issued 6/18)

Hamady N’Diaye – $1.0 million (issued 6/18)

Larry Owens – $1.0 million (issued 6/18)