The state of restricted free agency

I saw the following when I was reading about the Bucks matching Charlie Bell</p>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Bell was only the second restricted free agent to receive an offer sheet this summer. In July, Indiana declined to match an offer made by Toronto for forward Maceo Baston.</p>

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Why do you think this is happening?</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Why do you think this is happening?</p></div>

I think its simply because of the nature of a restricted free agent. Most restricted free agents enter that limbo between being locked into a contract and unrestricted free agency in the early years of a contract, before either their potential is fully realized or before they've fulfilled the expectations that were formed when the initial contract was signed. </p>

So in most of those cases, any offer sheet they do sign will be matched. I'm sure there's an oral understanding between agents and front offices that this will occur, months before it is even possible for these restricted free agents to sign offer sheets. Therefore, signing an offer sheet that will simply be matched by the team is a complete waste of time, for the player, the agent, and for both teams involved. Better not to even initiate the trouble than to go through it needlessly.</p>

The exceptions are if there's a discrepancy in the worth of a player at this time, either due to their stock falling with their original team or because some other team sees some potential in them that no one else does. This is a rarity, obviously, because who usually knows a player better than the last team that he's played for?</p>

Therefore I think its more of a surprise when a player does sign an offer sheet. In the Charlie Bell incident(I feel like I'm watching A Few Good Men, substitute Curtis for Charlie), I think he was sending a message to the Bucks that he doesn't want to be there. Obviously, his offer sheet with the Heat was reasonable enough that the Bucks wouldn't have any problem matching it, if they thought it was worth their while. As I mentioned before, a team may not match an offer sheet if they feel the stock of the player has fallen. This doesn't happen solely b/c of play, as Bell's play last year resulted in career highs(a classic contract year). Sometimes it can be stuff done off the court, such as legal trouble or rumblings of discontent. I think the latter was the case here, where Bell voiced his displeasure and desire to play elsewhere, even overseas. The Bucks probably just pegged Bell as a lockerroom cancer for the upcoming year, and I'm sure they'll let him walk.</p>

 

Actually, the Bucks matched Bell's offer sheet.</p>

Now back to RFA. The same situation has existed in previous season and there was more activity, so what is different this summer?</p>