Guerschon Yabusele did Knicks major favor to complete Bulls trade

The New York Knicks didn't make any major moves at the trade deadline, but they were able to turn Guerschon Yabusele into New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.

Late Wednesday night, they sent Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls in a straight-up swap for Dalen Terry, then re-routed Terry and two second-round picks to the Pelicans for Alvarado.

But the deal wouldn't have been possible in the first place had Yabusele not done the Knicks a huge favor by adjusting a contract and allowing New York to deal him to Chicago.

Guerschon Yabusele waived player option to complete Bulls trade

According to SNY's Ian Begley, Yabusele waived the player option in his contract, allowing the trade with Chicago to go through.

"Guerschon Yabusele worked with Knicks to amend 2nd year of his contract, removing the player option in order facilitate trade with Chicago, per league sources. Trade gives him opportunity to compete and play this season in CHI and evaluate his options this summer," Begley wrote in a post on X.

The contract that Yabusele signed with the Knicks this past summer was a two-year, $12 million deal with a player option on the second season.

Had the French forward opted to keep his player option, Chicago would've backed out of the deal, and the Knicks would not have landed Alvarado Thursday afternoon.

New York's front office and Knicks fans should be thanking Yabusele. Given his small role with the team despite his moderately sized contract, he didn't need to do the Knicks any favors.

Instead, he gets a chance to prove himself in a Chicago, where he figures to have a larger role to finish the 2025-26 season.

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