After Missing Entire Season, Lakers Guard Opts In To $5.25M Deal

His market value likely cratered, and with $5.25M guaranteed on the table for the 2022-23 season, it was indeed a no-brainer, as he called it himself, for guard Kendrick Nunn to pick up his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Nunn sat out the entire past season with a right knee bone bruise after signing a two-year free agent deal with the Lakers. 

The 26-year-old is now just the 5th player with a guaranteed contract for next season, joining LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker, and, as soon as he inevitably picks up his $47M option, Russell Westbrook. 

But with his $5M expiring salary intact now, it's quite possible that the Lakers will be trading Nunn this summer, meaning he may never play a minute in the purple and gold.

The 6'2" point guard actually had two successful years with the Miami Heat before arriving in LA this past season, averaging 15 points, 3 assists and a 36.4% mark from three-point range. 

With that resume, Nunn could still be an asset — whether as a trade chip, or as a good rotation piece for the Lakers. 

Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports