Timberwolves forward Luka Garza and wing Matt Ryan are among several players on two-way contracts who received qualifying offers on Wednesday, according to the official transaction log at RealGM.com.
Besides Garza and Ryan, the following two-way players were issued qualifying offers, making them restricted free agents:
- Isaiah Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Jared Rhoden (Pistons)
- Nico Mannion (Warriors)
- Lester Quinones (Warriors)
- A.J. Green (Bucks)
The default qualifying offer for a player on a two-way contract is another one-year, two-way deal, with a small partial guarantee.
A player who has four years of experience or who has spent the last two seasons on a two-way contract with the same time becomes eligible for a QO equivalent to a standard, minimum-salary deal. However, none of these seven players fit that bill.
These two-way restricted free agents will have the option of accepting their qualifying offers or trying to negotiate new contracts. They’re all technically eligible to sign offer sheets with new teams, which their current clubs would have the ability to match. However, that outcome has been a rarity for players coming off two-way deals.
While Garza, Ryan, Mobley, Rhoden, Quinones, and Green all finished the 2022/23 season under contract with their respective teams, Mannion has been out of the NBA since 2021 and recently signed with Baskonia in Spain. Having issued him a qualifying offer in each of the last three seasons, Golden State continues to retain Mannion’s RFA rights in the event that he eventually returns stateside.
According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, the Warriors aren’t expected to tender qualifying offers to Anthony Lamb and Ty Jerome (two-way). The team still has some level of interest in re-signing one or both players, but that interest may hinge on how the free agent market plays out, Slater explains.
Sign Nico and Lester. Trade Paul for a center. Capela and Brodgon for Paul and Kuminga. Paul, Kuminga and a first for Towns or gobert and Kyle Anderson. For Myles Turner and McConnell. Trade Paul and Kuminga for Burks and Duren. Paul and Kuminga for N Vuch and Caruso.
Not sure why most of the non-Warriors teams would do these deals, especially the Timberwolves. Why would they sell low on Gobert a year after doing the deal (or essentially give away KAT) for a PG basically performing at the same level as their current starter?
Capela and Brogdon for Paul and Kuminga? Uhh… Capela and Brogdon are not on the same team. It doesn’t matter though because none of those hallucinated trades are going to happen.
Bogdon SG
Plays on Atlanta
Garza is decent
Ty Jerome has 4 years of NBA experience. Is he still eligible for restricted free agency (and a qualifying offer)?
He’s eligible — the QO would just have to be a standard contract rather than a two-way.
Thanks. My misunderstanding. I thought RFA is only for players finishing their rookie scale contracts or players with 3 or less years of experience. I must be wrong.
Yeah, two-way guys are an exception to a few of the rules related to years of service. That’s one of them. (They also always earn half the rookie minimum even if they have 2-3 years of experience).
The Cavaliers should upgrade Isaiah Mobley to a standard contract. They need a backup to little brother Evan & Jarrett Allen. A back up with Isaiahs skills is outside their price range. Right now an injury to Evan or Jarrett could cost tank the entire season. Not saying Isaiah could fill their shoes but he could prevent the team from overusing them & causing an injury.