A restricted free agent (RFA) is a player whose contract has ended but whose old team keeps the right to match any offer they sign elsewhere, a right created by making a qualifying offer.
In HoopSim a player becomes a restricted free agent when their team issues a qualifying offer as their deal ends with three or fewer years in the league, or as their first-round rookie deal ends. Other teams, human or AI, bid with an offer sheet of two to five years, paid from cap room or the mid-level exception. The old team has 3 real days to match or let them walk; matching needs only room under the hard cap, and if the clock runs out the capologist decides. An unsigned restricted free agent takes the qualifying offer for one year.
| Restricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| Old team can match | Yes, 3 days | No |
| Others sign with | Offer sheet | Normal bid |
| Cap hold | The QO amount | None |
Rulebook: Restricted FA. Related: qualifying offer, unrestricted free agent.