Cavs make qualifying offer to Gee, 2 others

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cavaliers have extended a $2.7 million qualifying offer to swingman Alonzo Gee, making him a restricted free agent.

The club can now match any offer made during the free agency signing period to Gee, who averaged 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 63 games — 31 starts— last season.

Gee was one of the Cavs’ most improved players and general manager Chris Grant said keeping the former D-League player “is a priority for us.” Gee began the season as a reserve but worked his way into the starting lineup.

Gee is expected to draw interest from other teams.

Also, the Cavs extended a $1 million qualifying offer to forward Luke Harangody and made an undisclosed offer to backup center Semih Erden.

Harangody averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 21 games. Erden averaged 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 28 games.

Knicks eye Nash

NEW YORK

The Knicks are expected to roll out the red carpet for Steve Nash, but they might not have enough green to entice the two-time MVP into calling New York his year-round home.

Nash, who lives in Manhattan in the offseason, will be wined and dined by the Raptors, knows Mark Cuban and the Mavericks would love to have him if they can’t sign Deron Williams — and there is always the Suns, his team the last eight seasons.

All of those teams have much more to offer than the Knicks, who are expected to have the $3-million mini-midlevel. If general manager Glen Grunwald is very creative with his moves, they could have the full $5-million midlevel.

That won’t derail the Knicks’ pursuit of Nash or some of the other top guards available during free agency as of 12:01 a.m. today. Point guards Jason Kidd, Andre Miller and Raymond Felton, combo guards Jason Terry and Randy Foye and shooting guard Ray Allen likely will hear from the Knicks as well.

Beasley a free agent

MINNEAPOLIS

For the second time in four years, Michael Beasley is on the move, hoping another team will be willing to overlook his inconsistency on the court and try to harness the considerable talent that has intrigued and frustrated so many.

The Minnesota Timberwolves declined to make qualifying offers to Beasley and Anthony Randolph, making them both unrestricted free agents.