Bullets Forever · May 21, 2018
Player options will haunt Wizards this off-season
When properly issued, player options are used at the final season of a player’s contract to give someone who’s earned it more autonomy over the future of his career. Over the past two years, 45 of the 53 veterans with the option opted out, instead choosing to become free agents and test their value on the marketplace.
Eight of the players who opted in were either uncertain of their futures in the league or ability to earn equal money as free agents, so the player option served as a life jacket for them – and a potential sinking anchor for their teams.
This off-season, the Wizards will be one of the handful anchored by their own poor decision making and liberal use of player options.