Restricted vs Unrestricted Free Agents

Text from www.nba.com

"There are two types of free agents -- restricted and unrestricted free agents. An unrestricted free agent is free to join whichever team he chooses. Conversely, in the case of a restricted free agent, the team he last played for has the right to match any contract offer sheet he signs. If the 15 days pass and the offer sheet is not matched, the restricted free agent can officially join the opposing club. "

Now my questions are:

1. Say a restricted free agent get a 20 million for 3 years from another club, and the team he last played for put 25 million for 3 years on the table, could the restricted free agent reject that last offer and take the 20 million/3 years because he doesn't want to play for the team he played last season. Is this possible? Is it up to the player to choose which team/offer he wants to go to? or is there a rule not allowing this to happened. Meaning once the offer is matched, the restricted free agent has got to accept it and sign.

No. The team that puts the "restricted tag" gets to keep him. They don't even have to put a higher deal to keep the player. They just need to match the qualifying offer.

Thanks for the response. I wonder why players allowed this such resctricted tag because he definitely works against them.

They probably get a better contract like more money or something

It's probably a clause the player's union agreed to in return for some other benefits. Players can always use it to their advantage.

Hey, you can always demand a trade. The easy way out.

That's also true. Though players cannot be traded to a team they signed an offer sheet with for one year.

I don't really know the rules about that sort of stuff, I was mostly being sarcastic. But hey, it worked for Vince Carter, why not jump on the bandwagon!

because then you miss out on a spot on the all nba third team because everyone hates you

You can always sign a 1 year tender which is a 1 year contract that puts them out of restricted free agency after that one year.

Also, I believe you have to match the offer, not just get the qualifying offer since there was no way Brand was getting 10+ M if they just had to pay the qualifying offer.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm

Thanks for the response. I wonder why players allowed this such resctricted tag because he definitely works against them.

Because many players assume their performance will improve (not all of them do) and so use the restricted free agency to achieve their real market value, but they still stay with the same team.

It works in the favour of the team as well, so it's likely part of free agency as a trade-off for something else in the CBA (division of revenue perhaps).