According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Washington Wizards will opt not to exercise the $2.42 million team option on rising interior star Tristan Vukcevic's contract next season, meaning Vukcevic will become a full free agent when free agency market opens.
Vukcevic, who completed a buyout with his former club Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade in the second half of the season, made a total of 10 appearances for the team after joining the Wizards, averaging 15.3 minutes per game, averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1 turnover, while shooting 43.3% from the field, 27.8% from three-point range, and 77.3% from the free throw line. Although the Wizards' record has been very poor throughout the season, Vukcevic's performance actually has some bright spots, he has a pretty good offensive efficiency under the basket (70.8% shooting rate inside), and he also has some mid-to-long-range shooting ability. Vukcevic actually has a lot of plasticity on the defensive end, and his defensive awareness is still good, but he still needs to improve some confrontation ability and defensive experience.
Born in March 2003, Vukcevic is 21 years old, 213cm tall and weighs 104kg, and is the interior star selected by the Wizards with the 42nd pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. In fact, Vukcevic's performance in the European arena is also worthy of recognition, he is a pretty good offensive interior lineman, and his contribution and influence on the offensive end are still quite good. It seems that Vukčević also has a high ceiling, and he has also shown good individual ability in the second half of the season with the temporary arrival of the Wizards, and it seems that his adaptability is also worthy of recognition, and his maturity level is much higher than everyone thinks.
Considering that both the Wizards and Vukcevic have put in a lot of effort to be able to join the NBA, and Vukcevic's performance is indeed quite bright, in this case, we are indeed a little incomprehensible that the Wizards will not implement the team option in Vukcevic's contract next season. The Wizards, who are in the midst of a rebuild, could have had a chance to use Vukcevic on a child labor contract for another year, and Vukcevic could have continued to grow and improve during that year. If Vukcevic can prove next season that he has the potential to be a long-term player for the team, the Wizards should also offer him a long-term contract. Now that Vukcevic is about to enter free agency, whether or not the Wizards consider signing him, they could face competition from other teams. I don't know what fate awaits Vukčevich next.