Nets extend qualifying offer to Nenad Krstic

The New Jersey Nets have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Nenad Krstic, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.  The qualifying offer allows the Nets to retain the right of first refusal in regards to Krstic.  As a restricted free agent, Krstic is able to sign an offer sheet with any team, however the Nets will have the right to match the offer.

Krstic, a four-year NBA veteran from Serbia, was the Nets’ first round selection (24th overall) in the 2002 NBA Draft.  Since joining the Nets in 2004, Krstic has played 226 games over four seasons with New Jersey, posting averages of 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.  In 2007-08, Krstic appeared in 45 games, averaging 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Nuggets make qualifying offer to J.R. Smith

The Denver Nuggets have made a qualifying offer to restricted free agent J.R. Smith, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the offer were not released.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.

Smith, 6-6, 220, has averaged 12.6 ppg while shooting .396 (306-772) from three-point range in his two seasons with the Nuggets since being acquired in a trade with Chicago on July 20, 2006. This past season, he averaged 12.3 ppg in 19.2 minutes in 74 regular season contests and 18.3 ppg in 27.0 minutes in four playoff games.