NBA Free Agency: RFA Most Likely To Move On
Apr 16, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe (10) drives to the basket against Oklahoma City Thunder forward
Serge Ibaka(9) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Editors Note: This article was written before Ed Davis and Ekpe Udoh were allowed to become unrestricted free agents by their respective teams.
When NBA free agency arrives, players are set under two different categories. They are either unrestricted free agents or restricted free agents. The difference between the two is substantial in which team the player gets to sign with.
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An unrestricted free agent is a player that can sign with any team. He has the freedom to talk, negotiate and sign with any of the 30 teams in the NBA. With a restricted free agent, the rights are limited. A restricted free agent is subject to his current team’s “Right of First Refusal.” That means any team outside of his current team can make an offer, but it is placed on an offer sheet. When it is placed on the offer sheet, his current team has 7 days to match that offer before losing their rights to the player.
When a player becomes a restricted free agent, it is very rare for them to switch teams. Although it is obviously possible, it isn’t probable. This summer, there are a lot of talented players listed as restricted free agents. Those are the players I am going to focus on in determining which ones are most likely to sign with a team other than their current team.