29-year-old big man Marreese Speights has opted out of the second year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, his agency ASM Sports announced on Twitter:
ASM client @Mospeights16 has officially opted out of his contract with the @LAClippers
— ASM SPORTS (@ASM_SPORTS) May 23, 2017
Speights stood to make around $1.46 million with the Clippers next season after signing a two-year deal that included a player option last summer. A big man who can space the floor a bit, Speights could probably make more than that this summer.
Unless Chris Paul and Blake Griffin walk, the Clippers likely won’t have the cap space to bring Speights back at a higher salary.
Spacing the floor is all the rage in today’s NBA, and Speights brings that floor-spacing ability to the table. He’s above average for a backup big man but definitely isn’t mobile enough to start for a halfway decent team.
In all likelihood, Speights will join a different contending team, attempting to ring-chase for the remainder of his career. Where will Mo go? Cleveland? San Antonio? Maybe a reunion with the Warriors? We shall see.
