Raptors extend qualifying offers to Jerryd Bayless and Sonny Weems

jerryd bayless

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents guard Jerryd Bayless and guard-forward Sonny Weems.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its rights of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent it 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 in favour of the NBA team for which the player last played.

Bayless averaged career highs of 11.4 points, 3.8 assists and 22.7 minutes in 31 games last season. In 11 starts, he upped his averages to 17.8 points, 5.3 assists and 34.5 minutes. He contributed  21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 37.6 minutes in a stretch of five consecutive starts from March 11-17, shooting .543 (38-70) from the field.

Bayless was acquired from New Orleans on November 20, 2010. In 91 appearances with Toronto, he has averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 assists and 22.6 minutes.

Weems spent the 2011-12 season with Zalgiris in the Lithuanian league. He averaged 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16 VTB League outings and 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in five Euroleague contests.

Weems averaged career highs in points (9.2) and minutes (23.9) in 59 games with the Raptors in 2010-11. In a career-best 28 starts, he posted averages of 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 29.8 minutes. He scored in double figures 27 times.

Weems has appeared in 140 games with Denver and Toronto in his three NBA campaigns, averaging 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 20.3 minutes. He joined the Raptors in a trade from Milwaukee on August 18, 2009.

The team also announced it will not tender a qualifying offer to centre Solomon Alabi.

Author: Inside Hoops

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