Joel Bell: About Free Agents in the National Basketball

Association

A leading National Basketball Association (NBA) player agent, Joel Bell has negotiated more than $500 million in client contracts. In representing restricted

free agent clients, he has achieved an offer sheet success rate that exceeds the industry average by 80

percent.

NBA rules divide free agents into two main classes, restricted free agents and unrestricted free agents. The latter includes players with expired contracts who are free to sign with the team of their choice. Restricted free agents, while similar in that their contracts have expired, differ from their unrestricted counterparts in

that their present team may match the offers they receive. Most often, players finishing their rookie

contracts become available as restricted free agents unless they choose to continue their relationship with

their present team.

In the event a team wishes to sign a restricted free agent, that team puts forth an “offer sheet.” The

player’s current team may then match the amount listed on this sheet within three days. If it does not, the

player may then accept the terms as laid out on the offer sheet and switch teams.