The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised their rookie-scale team options for Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi and Derik Queen for the 2027-28 NBA season.
The franchise picked up Missi’s fourth-year option, while Fears and Queen had their third-year options exercised, keeping all three players under contract for another season.
Under the terms of their rookie contracts, Missi is scheduled to earn $5.6 million in 2027-28, while Fears will receive $8.3 million and Queen will make $5.7 million.
However, New Orleans did not exercise the fourth-year option for guard A.J. Johnson, which would have been worth approximately $5.5 million.
Since NBA teams typically make these decisions together, the omission suggests that the Pelicans do not intend to retain Johnson through his rookie-scale team option.
If the franchise ultimately declines the option, the 6-foot-5 guard will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026-27 season.
Additionally, New Orleans would face a restriction on any new contract offered to Johnson, with his starting salary limited to the amount of the declined option.
