Our good pal Tom Moore has the scoop:
Team president Rod Thorn said Thursday night that the Sixers will extend the 2011-12 qualifying offers for starting center Spencer Hawes ($4.05 million), sixth man Thaddeus Young ($3.99 million) and exercise an $884,000 option on shooting guard Jodie Meeks.
By qualifying, the Sixers would have seven days to match another team's contract offer. The Sixers could try to work out long-term deals with either or both players, though that can't happen during a lockout that's expected to begin July 1.
No surprises here. Although I don't believe the front office sees Spencer Hawes as a part of the future – at least as a starter – they have little to lose by retaining him for one more season. The looming lockout obviously leaves much uncertainty regarding the roster. If and when free agency occurs both Thad and Spence will be restricted free agents. Teams can sign them to an offer sheet, but as Tom stated the Sixers would have seven days to match. The Sixers will also have the opportunity to sign both players to a long-term extension, if they chose to go that route. If neither happens both will become unrestricted free agents next summer.