The 2008-09 NBA regular season is only about a quarter complete and talk is already focusing on the 2010 off-season, actually July 1, 2010, when some of the biggest names in the NBA will become free agents.
This promises to be one of the biggest groups of superstar free agents in the history of the NBA. And many teams are already making moves to clear salary cap space to sign one or more of the players.
The heads on the list are LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Yao Ming, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, and Michael Redd, all of whom can become unrestricted free agents in 2010.
Restricted Vs Unrestricted Free Agent
An unrestricted free agent can sign with any team. But a restricted free agent is subject to his current team's Right of First Refusal. That means the player can be signed to an offer sheet by another team, but his current club reserves the right to match the offer and keep the player. The player's current club has 7 days to match the offer or loses the player to the new team.
Here a breakdown of the NBA teams and which players will be restricted or unrestricted free agents. Abbreviations at ETO = Early Termination Option; P = Player Option; T = Team Option
Atlanta Hawks:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Speedy Claxton
Maurice Evans (P)
Joe Johnson
Randolph Morris
Boston Celtics:
Restricted
Gabe Pruitt
Rajon Rondo
Unrestricted
Ray Allen
Tony Allen
Patrick O'Bryant
Paul Pierce (ETO)
Brian Scalabrine
Charlotte Bobcats:
Restricted
Adam Morrison
Unrestricted
Nazr Mohammed (ETO)
Chicago Bulls:
Restricted
Thabo Sefolosha
Tyrus Thomas
Unrestricted
Larry Hughes
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Restricted
Tarence Kinsey
Jawad Williams
Unrestricted
LeBron James (P)
Sasha Pavlovic
Ben Wallace
Dallas Mavericks:
Restricted
Shawne Williams
Unrestricted
J.J. Barea (T)
Josh Howard (T)
Dirk Nowitzki (ETO)
Jerry Stackhouse
Antoine Wright
Denver Nuggets:
Restricted
Renaldo Balkman
Unrestricted
Chucky Atkins
Kenyon Martin (ETO)
Detroit Pistons:
Restricted
Walter Sharpe
Unrestricted
Amir Johnson
Golden State Warriors:
Restricted
Anthony Morrow
DeMarcus Nelson
Unrestricted
Kelenna Azubuike (P)
Houston Rockets:
Restricted
Carl Landry (T)
Luis Scola
Unrestricted
Rafer Alston
Brent Barry
Chuck Hayes (T)
Tracy McGrady
Yao Ming (ETO)
Indiana Pacers:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
T.J. Ford (P)
Los Angeles Clippers:
Restricted
Mardy Collins
Unrestricted
Marcus Camby
Los Angeles Lakers:
Restricted
Sun Yue
Jordan Farmar
Unrestricted
Derek Fisher
D.J. Mbenga
Josh Powell
Vladimir Radmanovic (ETO)
Memphis Grizzlies:
Restricted
Rudy Gay
Kyle Lowry
Unrestricted
Greg Buckner (P)
Darko Milicic
Miami Heat:
Restricted
Mario Chalmers (T)
Unrestricted
Udonis Haslem
Shaun Livingston
Dwyane Wade (P)
Dorell Wright
Milwaukee Bucks:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Richard Jefferson (ETO)
Michael Redd (ETO)
Luke Ridnour
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Restricted
Randy Foye
Unrestricted
Mike Miller
Brian Cardinal
Mark Madsen
Craig Smith
Sebastian Telfair (P)
New Jersey Nets:
Restricted
Josh Boone
Chris Douglas-Roberts (T)
Unrestricted
Bobby Simmons
New Orleans Hornets:
Restricted
Hilton Armstrong
Unrestricted
Rasual Butler
Tyson Chandler (ETO)
Peja Stojakovic (ETO)
New York Knicks:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Chris Duhon
Jared Jeffries (ETO)
Cuttino Mobley
Anthony Roberson
Tim Thomas
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Earl Watson
Orlando Magic:
Restricted
J.J. Redick
Unrestricted
Tony Battie
Philadelphia 76ers:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Willie Green (ETO)
Phoenix Suns:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Raja Bell
Steve Nash
Shaquille O'Neal
Amare Stoudemire (ETO)
Portland Trail Blazers:
Restricted
LaMarcus Aldridge
Sergio Rodriguez
Brandon Roy
Unrestricted
Steve Blake
Travis Outlaw
Joel Przybilla (ETO)
Sacramento Kings:
Restricted
None
Unrestricted
Brad Miller
Mikki Moore
John Salmons (ETO)
Kenny Thomas
San Antonio Spurs:
Restricted
Blake Ahearn
Anthony Tolliver
Unrestricted
Matt Bonner
Bruce Bowen
Manu Ginobili
Roger Mason
Fabricio Oberto
Kurt Thomas
Toronto Raptors:
Restricted
Andrea Bargnani
Nathan Jawai
Roko Ukic (P)
Unrestricted
Chris Bosh (P)
Kris Humphries (P)
Jason Kapono (P)
Utah Jazz:
Restricted
Ronnie Brewer
Unrestricted
Matt Harpring
Washington Wizards:
Restricted
Dee Brown
Dominic McGuire
Unrestricted
Antonio Daniels
Brendan Haywood
Darius Songaila (ETO)
DeShawn Stevenson (P)
