The Golden State Warriors have extended qualifying offers to forward Harrison Barnes and center Festus Ezeli, the team announced today.
By extending a qualifying offer prior to the June 30 deadline, Barnes and Ezeli will become restricted free agents and Golden State owns the right to match any offer sheet they may sign with another team. The Warriors did not extend qualifying offers to guard Ian Clark and forward James Michael McAdoo, who will become unrestricted free agents.
Barnes, 24, appeared in 66 games (59 starts) in 2015-16 and averaged a career-best 11.7 points to go with 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.9 minutes. The fourth-year forward, who was selected seventh overall by Golden State in the 2012 NBA Draft, tallied a single-season career-best six games with at least 20 points during the Warriors’ 73-win campaign.
Ezeli, 26, appeared in 46 games (13 starts) in 2015-16 and set career-highs of 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 16.7 minutes. The fourth-year center, who was selected 30th overall by Golden State in the 2012 NBA Draft, scored in double figures 13 times and recorded six double-doubles during the 2015-16 regular season, both single-season career-bests.