As expected, the Cleveland Cavaliers extended a qualifying offer to Alonzo Gee, making the 25-year-old small forward a restricted free agent. The Cavs can now match any offers for Gee when the NBA's free agent signing period begins on Sunday.
Gee averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in his third season with Cleveland, playing a utility wing role and starting 31 games. According to GM Chris Grant, Gee is a priority signing for the Cavs.
"Certainly Alonzo is a primary target to return for us and he's a priority," Grant said. "He did a fantastic job for us last year and continues to grow."
Cleveland has to decide by today whether they will extend similar qualifying offers to front court players Luke Harangody and Semih Erden. If not, both players will become unrestricted free agents able to sign with any team. According to SB Nation's Fear The Sword, Harangody is more likely to sign, but signing either player isn't critical.
I'm being completely honest when I say that I do not care what they do with Erden and Harangody. If they make qualifying offers to them, it's not a lot of money and they need bodies anyway. If they don't, that's fine too. You can certainly get other players of their ability in free agency. From what I've heard, the Cavs intend to make the offer to Harangody and aren't sure on Erden yet.
For more on Alonzo Gee and the Cleveland Cavaliers, check out Fear The Sword. More news and analysis on the NBA in general can be found at SB Nation's NBA hub.