Caldwell-Pope and Russell Opt for Contract Extensions Ahead of Next Season

Recent days have seen a flurry of players opting out of their contracts to enter free agency, with Trae Young making headlines, although he is expected to re-sign with the Washington Wizards. Other notable players, such as the Los Angeles Lakers' Austin Reaves, are also expected to follow suit. However, not every player is choosing that route.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has decided to exercise his player option worth $21.6 million for the upcoming season, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. This decision was anticipated, as Caldwell-Pope likely wouldn't secure a comparable deal in the free-agent market. The veteran, who has won championships with the 2020 Lakers and the 2023 Nuggets, has seen a decline in his performance, particularly in three-point shooting, over the last couple of years. Last season, he participated in 51 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.4 points per game while posting a shooting percentage of 31.6% from beyond the arc.

Given his sizable expiring contract, Caldwell-Pope's name is expected to surface in numerous trade discussions as the Grizzlies look to revamp their roster.

Meanwhile, Wizards point guard D'Angelo Russell has also opted to pick up his $6 million player option, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. Fans may not recall seeing Russell in a Wizards jersey, as he joined the team from Dallas as part of the trade involving Anthony Davis but was told he didn't need to report to Washington. Consequently, by mutual consent, he sat out the remainder of the season.

This move guarantees Russell will receive compensation from his contract, although he may never take the court for the Wizards. With Trae Young and Bub Carrington already on the roster, along with the potential for another point guard to be drafted next week, Russell could find himself included in trades during the draft or free agency. If that does not materialize, a buyout may be negotiated between the player and the team.