Kings extend qualifying offer to Thomas

The Sacramento Kings officially extended a qualifying offer to point guard Isaiah Thomas, making him a restricted free agent, the team announced Wednesday.

The Kings made the $1.1 million qualifying offer to retain refusal rights.

Thomas, a three-year NBA veteran, has accrued averages of 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.03 steals per game through 216 outings (started 153 games) with Sacramento after being selected No. 60 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal with the team for which the player last played.