What if a restricted free agent has no interest in staying with his original team? How can he force the issue?
If the player is a first-round draft pick who just finished his fourth (option) season, his original team can use their Bird rights to match any offer. For other players, it may be possible for another team to make an offer that the original team cannot match (see question number 35 ). Most teams won’t even bother signing first round picks coming off their fourth season to offer sheets, because it is often a given that the offer will be matched by the original team. So if the player really wants to leave, he can accept his original team’s qualifying offer, which constitutes a one-year contract at a scale salary. The player must play with his original team for one more season, but following that season he will be an unrestricted free agent, and can then sign with any other team. For example, Michael Olowokandi accepted the LA Clippers’ qualifying offer prior to the 02-03 season.
