By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Monday’s deadline for NBA rookie contract options and roster adjustments arriving, attention turned to several young European players who could become unrestricted free agents after the 2026–27 season.
In a move highlighting the league’s tough financial realities, the Oklahoma City Thunder are declining the fourth-year option on Serbian point guard Nikola Topic, as confirmed by insider Justin Martinez on Sunday.
The decision on his 7.5 million dollar salary represents a budget-friendly choice aimed at securing salary cap flexibility for next summer.
The OKC Thunder has exercised its team options on Jared McCain and Thomas Sorber, but it will not do so for Nikola Topić.
Here’s a breakdown of these decisions and what they signal:
https://t.co/6dM7Y7I3FS— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) November 2, 2026
Selected with the 12th overall draft pick in 2024, Topic has seen his early career derailed by health struggles. He missed his entire rookie year with an ACL tear. Then, he overcame a testicular cancer diagnosis at the top of the 2025–26 season, underwent chemotherapy, and finally debuted in February. After undergoing back surgery this past summer, he has yet to play this year. He remains sidelined with no timetable for a return after appearing in just 10 career games.
Notable today for NBA transactions:
The Charlotte Hornets did not exercise the 2027-28 rookie scale team option for Tidjane Salaun.
The Oklahoma City thunder did not exercise the 2027-28 rookie scale team option for Nikola Topic.
Both CHA & OKC picked up other team options.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 2, 2026
In a similar move, the Charlotte Hornets are expected to decline their fourth-year option for French forward Tidjane Salaun, as noted by Keith Smith. The Paris native was the sixth overall draft pick in 2024. He has suited up for 103 NBA games so far, including six this season with 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest.
The Washington Wizards have exercised fourth-year team options on Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and Alex Sarr, and third-year team options on Tre Johnson and Will Riley.
📰 Read more: https://t.co/qOcO7byfz1 https://t.co/PkBGeNN0KD
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 1, 2026
Elsewhere, the Washington Wizards exercised options on five players, including French starting center Alex Sarr. The Bordeaux native was the second overall pick in 2024. He has averaged 9.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over six games this season, securing a fourth-year salary of 15.6 million dollars. He has already played 121 games in his young career.
Other teams still face choices on their recent first-round picks before the window closes, including the Milwaukee Bucks on the third-year option for Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis.
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