October 31 was the deadline for NBA teams to decide on whether to pick up the third and fourth-year team options for players on their rookie contracts. First-round picks normally receive a contract guaranteed for two years and have team options for their third and fourth years.
Here are the players that did not have their third and fourth-year options picked up. They will become unrestricted free agents in the offseason.
Jahlil Okafor
Career stats (2 seasons): 104 G (81 GS), 26.4 MPG, 14.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 51.1% FG, 1-6 3PT, 67.7% FT.
The Philadelphia 76ers declined to pick up Okafor’s $6.3 million fourth-year option. The third overall selection in 2015 averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game as a rookie, but he saw a decrease in his playing time in 2016-17. This season, the 6-11 center has appeared in just one game, as he is completely out of the rotation.
Mario Hezonja
Career stats (3 seasons): 150 G (11 GS), 16.3 MPG, 5.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 40.1% FG, 33.4% 3PT, 85.6% FT.
”Super Mario" was taken by the Orlando Magic with the fifth overall pick in 2015. They declined his $5.2 million fourth-year option on Tuesday. Despite being on a Magic team that hasn’t come close to sniffing a playoff berth, Hezonja has never received a lot of playing time.
He saw a sharp decrease in his shooting numbers in 2016-17, as he shot just 35.5 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from deep. He is averaging 13.0 minutes per game in his first six outings this season.
Josh Huestis
Career stats (3 seasons): 14 G (0 GS), 12.0 MPG, 2.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 15-of-41 FG, 9-of-23 3PT, 0-of-5 FT.
Huestis, the 29th overall selection in 2014, had his $2.2 million fourth-year option declined by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was drafted to be stashed in the G-League for a year, and he didn’t make his NBA debut until March 24, 2016. Half of his career games have come this season, but he is off to a slow 4-18 start with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Chris McCullough
Career stats (3 seasons): 41 G (4 GS), 11.0 MPG, 3.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 42.8% FG, 14-of-41 3PT, 15-of-30 FT.
McCullough was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in 2015 with the 29th overall pick. He was involved in a trade last February that shipped him to the Washington Wizards. He has since appeared in a grand total of three games for Washington, one of which that came this season. 24 of his 41 appearances came in his rookie season with the Nets in 2015-16.
Rashad Vaughn
Career stats (3 seasons): 115 G (8 GS), 13.1 MPG, 3.3 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 33.3% FG, 31.1% 3PT, 14-of-20 FT.
The Milwaukee Bucks declined the $2.4 million fourth-year option on Vaughn’s contact.
The 17th overall selection in 2015 was a part of the Bucks’ rotation during much of his rookie season, but that hasn’t been the case in 2016-17 and this season. He has appeared in four of the seven games Milwaukee has played in this season.
Kevon Looney
Career stats (3 seasons): 60 G (4 GS), 8.1 MPG, 2.6 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 54.2% FG, 3-of-11 3PT, 23-of-37 FT.
Looney was selected 30th overall by the Golden State Warriors in 2015. The team has decided not to pick up his $2.2 million fourth-year option. He appeared in 53 of his career 60 games last season but didn’t see any postseason action as the Warriors went on to win the NBA Championship. The 21-year-old has only played in two games so far this season scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
Brice Johnson
Career stats (2 seasons): 5 G (0 GS), 4.4 MPG, 2.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 6-of-12 FG, 0-of-0 3PT, 2-of-2 FT
Johnson was the 25th overall pick in 2016 by the Los Angeles Clippers. His third-year option of $1.5 million was not picked up as he has seen minimal playing time with the NBA club. After appearing in only three games as a rookie, he has played in two this season scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds.
