The Lakers made qualifying offers to three players Thursday, officially making them restricted free agents: guards Jordan Clarkson and Marcelo Huertas as well as center Tarik Black.
Clarkson was the least surprising move among the three players, an easy decision for the Lakers after he became a starter midway through his rookie season.
He can still sign an offer sheet with another team but the Lakers have the right to match. Clarkson, 24, can also accept his one-year qualifying deal of $2.7 million next season with the Lakers and become an unrestricted free agent in 2017.