New Orleans Pelicans Sign Clippers’ Restricted Free Agent Tyrone Wallace to Offer Sheet

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Clippers restricted free agent guard Tyrone Wallace has signed an offer sheet with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers now have 48 hours to exercise their right of first refusal and match the Pelicans’ offer. If they choose to match, Ty will remain a Clipper, and if they don’t, he’ll join the Pelicans.

The Clippers extended Ty’s qualifying offer to raise the floor on his price in free agency, which is why Ty didn’t sign until September. If he hadn’t gotten an offer sheet, he would have likely had to play for the Clippers on a two-way contract again, and be a restricted free agent again next summer, which would have been a real steal for the team. As it is, Ty got the NBA offer that he certainly deserves after his play last season, and now the only question is which team he’ll play for.

Currently, LAC has 16 players on their roster, meaning that they need to cut someone by opening night. If they choose to match New Orleans’ offer for Ty, that increases to two players on the chopping block. Given the Clippers’ recent addition of rookie guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson, and a seeming preference for second-year wing defender Sindarius Thornwell, I consider it unlikely that the Clippers would match Wallace’s offer sheet.