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Lakers have decisions to make on potential restricted free agents

Lakers guard Darius Morris averaged four points and 1.6 assists in 14.2 minutes per game last season.
(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
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The Lakers have four potential restricted free agents this summer: Darius Morris, Robert Sacre, Andrew Goudelock and Devin Ebanks.

Once the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat wrap up, the Lakers have until June 30 to tender qualifying offers to make any of the four restricted.

The team is not likely to give an offer of $1.3 million to Ebanks, who underperformed in his third year with the Lakers.

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To restrict Morris, who progressed in his second season, the Lakers need to make an offer of $1.2 million.

Goudelock, who was signed for the last couple of regular-season games after Kobe Bryant’s Achilles injury, would need a qualifying offer of $1.1 million.

Center Robert Sacre’s offer would fall just under $1 million.

With a qualifying offer, the Lakers gain a right of first refusal by making their player restricted. The team can still look to re-sign the player if it doesn’t give the offer, perhaps at a lower salary, but as an unrestricted free agent.

For instance, if Morris received his offer, he can simply accept and return to the Lakers on a single-year deal. He can also look instead to negotiate long-term deals with the Lakers -- or solicit an offer sheet from another team.

If Morris did get an offer from another franchise, the Lakers would have three days to match.

The Lakers can also decline to give Morris an offer sheet and try to sign him for the league minimum at about $1 million, but then he might find a better opportunity with another franchise.

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For an additional $200,000, the Lakers gain all the leverage they likely need to keep Morris -- unless another team decides to make him a more substantial offer.

An educated guess would see Sacre and Morris back next season -- Goudelock is a reasonable possibility, but Ebanks won’t return.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.

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