Tag: qualifying offer

Could Grant Williams elect to take his qualifying offer to bet on himself in free agency?

If the Celtics star were unhappy enough in his current role, the option is on the table.

As we inch closer to the 2023 NBA offseason no matter the Boston Celtics’ fortunes in the 2023 NBA playoffs, the issue of reserve forward Grant Williams’ next contract looms.

While the consensus seems to be the soon-to-be restricted free agent will be back in the fold on an affordable deal for Boston, it is by no means guaranteed.

In a recent article breaking down the potential free agencies of the league’s best wings in the offseason, Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus had plenty to say about the Charlotte native.

“Williams may be one of the most challenging cases to predict this offseason, with his role diminishing in the Celtics’ playoff rotation,” wrote the B/R analyst.

“Is he the kind of player a team with cap space would chase or does Boston hold all the leverage?” Pincus asks, referencing the potential of a team with cap space to upset that narrative.

And while the consensus doesn’t point to an obvious suitor, there could be other routes for the former Tennessee player to bet on himself.

“Williams can always accept a one-year, $8.5 million qualifying offer to explore unrestricted free agency next season, though that’s probably a last resort,” writes the analyst.

Given Williams has re-emerged onto Boston postseason rotation, a consistent role matching his solid play of late ought to make that a non-issue — but one never knows.

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Lakers extend qualifying offer to Talen Horton-Tucker, stays as restricted free agent

Talen Horton-Tucker will officially be a restricted free agent as the Los Angeles Lakers extended the qualifying offer.

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially extended the qualifying offer to Talen Horton-Tucker, keeping him a restricted free agent.

Horton-Tucker, 20, is slated to enter the free-agent market in August as his two-year contract will expire.

The Lakers drafted Horton-Tucker with the 46th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and he broke into the rotation this season with more minutes.

After a strong preseason showing that caught many eyes, Horton-Tucker slowly inserted himself as a backup ball-handling option.

At 6’4″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, Horton-Tucker relentlessly attacked the rim when he had a lane and was one of the few players off the bench who could create his own shot.

Horton-Tucker still has plenty of room to improve, especially regarding his perimeter shooting, off-the-bounce passing and overall defense, but he’s the best young asset the Lakers have, which is why they extended the qualifying offer, via Shams Charania of The Athletic:

The qualifying offer is worth just over $1.8 million. The Lakers can match any offer teams submit for the promising young guard by giving Horton-Tucker the offer. The deadline to extend the offer was July 31.

If the Lakers didn’t extend the offer, Horton-Tucker would’ve become an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any team that submitted an offer.

Free agency begins on Aug. 2, and the Lakers are slated to have over 10 free agents on the roster.

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