Center and guard will enter free agency as restricted free agents after the Clippers extended qualifying offers to both, according to a source with knowledge of the offers but not authorized to speak publicly.
The offers were expected, as the Clippers have expressed their interest in keeping both players since acquiring them late last season. The team felt it upgraded at center immediately after acquiring Zubac from the Lakers via a February trade. It also valued McGruder’s toughness, experience — he has 112 career starts — and versatility to guard the perimeter.
With NBA free agency opening Sunday at 3 p.