The Bulls have issued a qualifying offer to shooting guard David Nwaba, ensuring that he’ll become a restricted free agent on Sunday, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
The move had been expected, since Nwaba’s qualifying offer will only be worth about $1.7MM and he has developed into a solid rotation player over the course of two NBA seasons. In 2017/18, Nwaba averaged 7.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG in 70 games (23.5 MPG) for the Bulls. The 25-year-old is also viewed as a strong perimeter defender.
Nwaba will now have the option of accepting his one-year qualifying offer, negotiating a new agreement with the Bulls, or trying to secure an offer sheet from a rival suitor. If Nwaba signs with another team, Chicago would have two days to decide whether or not to match his offer sheet.
Nwaba is one of three Bulls veterans eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Zach LaVine and Noah Vonleh are in line for qualifying offers worth approximately $4.33MM — LaVine is a lock to receive one, while Vonleh isn’t.