JULY 9th: Oklahoma City is indeed interested in locking up Jerrett with a multiyear deal, tweets Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.
JUNE 30th: The Thunder have made the unusual decision to decline Grant Jerrett‘s option while also extending him the qualifying offer, tweets Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com. The team option would have been worth $816K while the QO is worth ~$1.16MM and is guaranteed.
Oklahoma City could be seeking to lock up Jerrett to a long-term deal while his value is fairly low. The same thing probably could have been accomplished for less money without the qualifying offer, but going with the QO gives OKC the maximum amount of control over him this summer. If the Thunder pitch Jerrett on a new deal, it would probably be largely non-guaranteed.
Our own Chuck Myron predicts that Jerrett will re-sign on a multiyear deal for the amount of his qualifying offer that includes at least a partial guarantee in year two to entice him to take a multiyear deal rather than just signing the QO. Or, Jerrett could wind up back with the Thunder on a deal similar to the one Robert Sacre signed with the Lakers last summer, when he was in virtually the same position. Sacre took a deal for the minimum salary from the Lakers instead of the value of his qualifying offer, but the first two years of his contract are guaranteed, assuring him of more money in the end than his QO would have given him.