Restricted free agents border on impossible to pry away from the incumbent team. These five players could be exceptions for the New York Knicks.
Restricted free agency is one of the most difficult roads to navigate in the Association. Players can accept any offer they receive from the 30 NBA teams, but the incumbent franchise holds the right to match any and all deals.
Thus, many of the Knicks’ most ideal targets under the restricted free agency umbrella will border on impossible to land without a severe overpayment—and even then, the odds are slim.
The good news for New York is that a number of restricted free agents could be signed under the right circumstances. Some are playing for teams that lack the financial flexibility to match a potentially high offer, and others are on a roster with players who are believed to have a higher ceiling at the same position.
In these instances, the Knicks could sign a potential full-time starter for the right price.
This list will exclude some of the more attractive options in restricted free agency. For instance, Andre Drummond is almost certain to receive a maximum contract from the Detroit Pistons, and Harrison Barnes plays the same position as Knicks star Carmelo Anthony—a sign that Phil Jackson will refrain from overpaying for his services.
In these unique instances, however, five restricted free agents are genuinely attainable.
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