Oklahoma City Thunder center Derrick Favors has officially picked up his $10.2 million option for the 2022-23 season, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Oklahoma City Thunder center Derrick Favors has opted into his $10.2 million player option for the 2022-23 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 17, 2022
This was all but a courtesy call as Favors mentioned during his exit interview that he was probably going to pick up his option. Favors makes that decision over a month early as he had until June 29 to decide on it.
With Favors officially on the books, this now means the Thunder could trade him before the 2022 NBA draft, which will be held on June 23. The Thunder will find out where their two lottery picks will land on Tuesday during the 2022 NBA draft lottery.
There’s also the possibility that the Thunder simply eat up his $10.2 million salary and buy him out. At almost 31 years old, Favors doesn’t fit the team’s timeline and his minutes next season would be better off distributed to the younger players.
In 39 games last season, Favors averaged 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.
