If they don't pick up his option, I'm almost positive they won't have Bird Rights to re-sign him. That means either a veteran's minimum contract, which I'm quite confident he can easily beat on the open market, or the mid-level exception, which they probably want to offer to Lopez. Picking up his option, even though it's a big over-pay, is the only way they can keep him without compromising their ability to keep other personnel assets (the only asset it would cost is money from the owners' pocketbooks). Right he'd be a UFA correct? Then sign him to a UFA deal.I doubt he gets $18 million on the open market.