Donte DiVincenzo is declining the player option on his two-year deal with the Warriors and will become an unrestricted free agent, according to media reports.
The 26-year-old guard played a key role off the bench for Golden State last season, averaging 9.4 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 39% from 3 in 26 minutes per game. He played in 72 of the Warriors’ 82 regular-season games and all 13 of their playoff games.
DiVincenzo came to the Warriors last season after a troublesome stretch with the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. He injured his foot during the Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship run, underwent foot surgery that offseason and was traded to Sacramento the next season.
DiVincenzo signed a two-year, $9.3 million deal with a second-year player option on the second day of free agency last offseason. His departure was somewhat expected as it’s likely the guard will field a more lucrative contract in free agency. Golden State’s trade of Jordan Poole for veteran point guard Chris Paul lessens the need for DiVincenzo’s role as a primary ball handler off the bench.
After Steph Curry and Paul, the Warriors have a handful of guards to supplement their depth. The team is high on Ty Jerome and Lester Quinones, who were both signed to two-way contracts last season, and some have projected first-round pick Brandin Podziemski as a longer-term fit in DiVincenzo’s role.
