What Are What Are Restricted Free Restricted Free Agent Clients?Agent Clients?

By Basketball Agent Joel Bell By Basketball Agent Joel Bell

What Are Restricted Free What Are Restricted Free Agent Clients?Agent Clients?

The president of Bell Sports, Inc., Joel The president of Bell Sports, Inc., Joel Bell has served as a renowned agent for Bell has served as a renowned agent for basketball players for over two decades. basketball players for over two decades. Honored by ESPN as negotiating the Honored by ESPN as negotiating the best National Basketball Association best National Basketball Association contract of the past decade, Bell contract of the past decade, Bell possesses a 100 percent record in possesses a 100 percent record in obtaining offer sheets for his restricted obtaining offer sheets for his restricted free agent clients. free agent clients. 

What Are Restricted Free What Are Restricted Free Agent Clients?Agent Clients?

The term “The term “free agentfree agent” refers to sports players who ” refers to sports players who have already played professionally but are not have already played professionally but are not currently signed to a team. Although previously currently signed to a team. Although previously affiliated with a franchise, their contracts have affiliated with a franchise, their contracts have expired, and they need to acquire a new one, expired, and they need to acquire a new one, either with their earlier team or with a different either with their earlier team or with a different one. Restricted free agents have the opportunity to one. Restricted free agents have the opportunity to sign with any team that offers them a contract, sign with any team that offers them a contract, also known as an “offer sheet.” However, if a new also known as an “offer sheet.” However, if a new team provides them with an offer sheet, the team provides them with an offer sheet, the previous team has the chance to match it within previous team has the chance to match it within three days of the new deal with a contract that is three days of the new deal with a contract that is for at least the same salary and for at least two for at least the same salary and for at least two seasons. Through the Right of First Refusal, it can seasons. Through the Right of First Refusal, it can regain the player without the athlete having a say regain the player without the athlete having a say whether or not to return. whether or not to return.