The Los Angeles Clippers will not extend a qualifying offer to power forward Johnathan Motley, thus making him an unrestricted free agent, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reports.
Los Angeles Clippers did not extend a qualifying offer to Johnathan Motley and now the forward is an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 28, 2019
The Clippers are attempting to maximize as much cap space as possible so they can go big in free agency — with top targets Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in mind. Motley is a victim of the necessary salary creation moves the LA organization is doing.
Motley was acquired by the Clippers in July of 2018 in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, which also sent Renaldas Seibutis’ draft rights to LA for Maarty Leunen’s draft rights and $50,000. Essentially, this move was made to trade Motley and his contract for the much less cash amount, alleviating a cap toll on Dallas.
For the Clippers, this summer is about acquiring one or two premier free agents to push the franchise in a new direction.
Following the end of the “Lob City” era and the Tobias Harris NBA trade deadline deal to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Clippers are rebuilding around breakout guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, shooting guard Landry Shamet, promising big man Montrezl Harrell, and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams.
Under head coach Doc Rivers and team president Lawrence Frank, the Clippers are intending to pitch to Leonard that the Lakers’ rival is in a position to succeed should he pick them.
Motley will enter free agency with no limitations on signing with another team. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in 22 appearances this past season with the Clippers, shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 60 percent from the charity stripe.
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