Lakers News: Alex Caruso, Johnathan Williams Receive Qualifying Offers
June 26, 2019
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Wednesday that they have extended qualifying offers to guard Alex Caruso and forward Johnathan Williams, making them restricted free agents.
Both players have spent extensive time in the G League.
Caruso, 25, averaged 9.2 points, 3.1 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game while knocking down 48.0 percent of his threes in 25 games with the Lakers. He could wind up filling a backup point guard role if the team does not bring back Rajon Rondo.
Williams, 24, averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds on 59.1 percent shooting while making 24 appearances last season.
Both Caruso and Williams come with minimum cap holds, so this doesn't change the Lakers' outlook in regards to cap room. They could always renounce their rights if the difference between signing a max-level player is around $1 million, but neither has a hold much above the incomplete roster spot charge.
Caruso in particular looked like he could be a legit NBA rotation piece toward the end of last season, and the Lakers are going to need all the help they can get filling out the roster. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma are essentially the only players on the roster at this point.
Mo Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jermerrio Jones are all considered expendable pieces the Lakers will move if they need extra money for a high-profile free agent.
