In a move that just about everyone expected, the Celtics will be extending qualifying offers to Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller, making them restricted free agents.
According to sources Wednesday, the club has chosen to retain a right of first refusal over both by giving them the offers as prescribed in the language regarding rookie contracts. But it’s possible that neither will be here next season. The qualifying offers would appear to be a no-lose matter for the Celts. Sullinger’s number is $4,433,683; Zeller’s is $3,695,169 — both reasonable figures should either accept the one-year offer, but nothing that will get the C’s in trouble vis-a-vis the new and greatly enlarged cap.