Lakers extend qualifying offer to former Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams
The Los Angeles Lakers extended a qualifying offer to former Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams, the NBA team announced.
The move means Williams will be a restricted free agent on Sunday. If Williams accepts the offer, he becomes a two-way contract player. Two-way players can spend up to 45 days with an NBA team while splitting time with the franchise’s G League squad.
Williams, operating on a two-way deal as a rookie, provided quality minutes off the Lakers’ bench last season. He took on a bigger role in the final month with the roster limited by injuries and the team opting to shut down LeBron James in late March.
The 6-foot-9, 228-pound Williams played in 24 games, contributing 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.5 minutes. He made 59% of his field-goal attempts and scored a season-high 18 points against Boston on March 9.
Williams posted three double-doubles, two in his last four games when his minutes climbed into the mid-20s. Los Angeles was 10-14 in games when Williams saw playing time.
Williams averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in 36 games with the G League South Bay Lakers.
Former GU player Zach Norvell Jr. agreed to a two-way deal June 21 with the Lakers.