Matt Steinmetz reports Warriors GM Larry Riley has started his free-agency moves by deciding to give qualifying offers to guards Anthony Morrow and C.J. Watson. He will not do the same for big men Chris Hunter or Anthony Tolliver, which will make both players unrestricted free agents on July 1st. Steinmetz explains:
What that means is that Morrow and Watson are officially restricted free agents, giving the Warriors the right of first refusal when it comes to re-signing them. Hunter and Tolliver will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Hunter and Tolliver were D-League call-ups who helped round out an injury-depleted Warriors roster. But as Steinmetz explains, the Warriors don't need either player now:
The Warriors have 14 players under contract, including Morrow and Watson. If the Warriors were to extend a qualifying offer to Tolliver, it would mean their roster would stand at 15, which would take away a little flexibility if a two-for-one deal were to come up.
In addition, with the selection of power forward Ekpe Udoh in last Thursday’s draft, the Warriors now have a plethora of frontcourt players. Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Dan Gadzuric, Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright and Udoh are all considered centers or power forwards.