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In a move that was expected, the Nets have declined to make a qualifying offer to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news in a tweet.
After Brooklyn declines to make a qualifying offer, F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN. Hollis-Jefferson, 24, defends multiple positions well. For now, Nets have $46M in cap space.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 17, 2019
RHJ, the longest tenured Net and the only player still left from the Billy King era, had a qualifying offer of $3.94 million. The decision to decline Hollis-Jefferson’s QO doesn’t eliminate the possibility that the Nets could retain him later in free agency,
However, in a tweet, Rondae made it seem like goodbye.
Brooklynnnnn I Love You.. can’t believe it’s been 4 years ha.. Thank you
— R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) June 17, 2019
It was the second cap-clearing move by the Nets in the last two weeks. The Nets traded Allen Crabbe and two first rounders for Taurean Prince and a second rounder on June 6.
Zach Lowe said the 6’7” forward will likely have a market when players can start talking to teams on June 30.
One of my favorite buy-low candidates on the market. RHJ has one huge hole in his game but he can do a lot of dynamic stuff. Can legit switch across almost every position. Worth a look on the right team. https://t.co/TXBBTo6RSC
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 17, 2019
After an injury-plagued rookie season,then a mediocre second season, Hollis-Jefferson excelled in 2017-18, averaging 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 78 games. But this season, he lost minutes to rookie Rodions Kurucs and veteran Ed Davis and finished with averages of 8.9, 5.3 and 1.6 in eight fewer minutes. His shooting percentages also declined, hitting only 41.1 percent overall and 18.4 percent from three.
RHJ missed 94 games (most of which the Nets lost) in his four years with the Nets.
His biggest moment may have been at the end of the Nets historic comeback against the Kings when he hit an impossible over-the-shoulder buzzer beater to seal the deal.
This was one of Rondae’s last big moment in a Nets uniform. One of the biggest wins of the year — a 28-point comeback — that helped propel them into the playoffs.
— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) June 17, 2019
It was almost poetic.pic.twitter.com/r33q1Yz3ng
The Nets also have to decide whether to decline D’Angelo Russell’s qualifying offer and what to do with team options on Treveon Graham and Shabazz Napier.
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tweets out a goodbye after Nets renounce his rights - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Nets free up a little more cap space with Hollis-Jefferson decision - Ethan Sears - New York Post
- Report: Nets don’t give Rondae Hollis-Jefferson a qualifying offer - Greg Logan - Newsday