Trail Blazers Will Not Extend Qualifying Offer to Pat Connaughton

The Portland Trail Blazers will not tender guard Pat Connaughton a qualifying offer. The fourth-year player will become an unrestricted free agent when the new NBA fiscal year begins on Sunday. Michael Scotto of The Athletic relayed the news, citing league sources.

Earlier today news broke that the Blazers will not extend a qualifying offer to guard Shabazz Napier either. They did give a qualifying offer to center Jusuf Nurkic on Wednesday. He will remain a restricted free agent.

Connaughton’s qualifying offer would have totaled $1.8 million, an amount which would have been held against Portland’s cap until the guard accepted the contract or signed an offer sheet with another team, which the Blazers would then have the right to match. Failing to make the qualifying offer, the Blazers lose matching rights, essentially setting Connaugton free.

Portland traded for the 6’5 shooting guard in 2015 after he was selected 41st overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets. The Notre Dame alum averaged 5.4 points in 18.1 minutes for the Blazers last season, both career highs. During his three years in Portland, Connaughton averaged 42.1% shooting from the field, 36.4% from the three-point arc over 155 total games.