Patrick McCaw Likely To Accept Qualifying Offer?

Patrick McCaw is one of just two restricted free agents left on the market, and his free agency is expected to end with him accepting his qualifying offer to return to the Warriors, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Because he only has two years of NBA experience, McCaw was eligible for restricted free agency this offseason and the Warriors made him an RFA by issuing a qualifying offer worth approximately $1.71MM. While that offer gives Golden State the right of first refusal in the event that McCaw agrees to an offer sheet with another team, it also serves as a one-year contract offer the shooting guard can sign outright.

Assuming McCaw signs that QO, he’d put himself on track to reach free agency again in 2019. Unlike players coming off rookie scale contracts, who become unrestricted free agents a year after accepting a qualifying offer, McCaw would be eligible for restricted free agency again next season, since he’d still have just three years of NBA experience under his belt.

Still, McCaw would receive one notable benefit from signing his qualifying offer — since he’d be re-signing on a one-year deal and would have Bird rights at the end of his contract, he’d have the ability to block any attempts to trade him during the 2018/19 league year.

McCaw, 22, had a promising rookie season in 2016/17 for the Warriors, but took a step backward last season and battled multiple injuries. In 57 games (16.9 MPG), he averaged just 4.0 PPG on .409/.238/.765 shooting. Golden State still views him as a promising – and inexpensive – young prospect with the ability to bounce back in 2018/19, however.

Besides McCaw, Cavaliers swingman Rodney Hood is the only other restricted free agent who still has a standard NBA qualifying offer on the table.

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