How many times can a player be a Restricted Free Agent?

lakerfan10770 · Post #1 » by **lakerfan10770** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:40 pm

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but the search function doesn't seem to work and I am too lazy to go through all of the pages of this forum to find the answer. Anyways, I am working on updating my spreadsheet for next season now that the trade deadline has passed and came upon this issue regarding Restricted Free Agency. According to Larry Coon's Faq's:

"Restricted free agency exists only on a limited basis. It is allowed following the fourth year of rookie "scale" contracts for first-round draft picks (see question number 41). It is also allowed for all veteran free agents who have been in the league three or fewer seasons."

So if a player signs a QO after his 1st or 2nd season would he still be eligible to get another QO and remain a RFA? An example of this would be CJ Miles, he accepted a QO from Utah last summer and under normal circumstances he would be an unrestricted free agent this summer. But since CJ will only be completing his 3rd season in the league, it seems that Utah could tender him another QO and make him restricted again.

Also, if a 1 or 2 year player is QO'd then signs a 1yr deal irregardless of the QO, does the same logic apply? I don't have a specific example of that, but I am sure it has happened.

Macedonianbull · Post #2 » by **Macedonianbull** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:27 am

Well sure. It means if a rookie signs three consecutive one-year deals in his first three seasons (regardless for which team he plays for), he will be a restricted free agent for the last time after that last one-year deal is over. After that he is an unrestricted free agent in every scenario.
The exception is of course, a rookie who comes of the forth-year of the rookie contract and was tendered a qualifying offer.

lakerfan10770 · Post #3 » by **lakerfan10770** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:53 am

That is what I figured, but I just wanted to be sure. Thanks.

Dunkenstein · Post #4 » by **Dunkenstein** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:10 am

In fact, if CJ were to be waived before the season was over and was picked up by the Clippers, he would be a restricted free agent of the Clippers this season as long as they tendered him a QO this spring.