[Scott42444Participant]

Players that are free agents, most notably players like Ben Gordon and David Lee, are not currently under contract. The NBA Draft is on June 25, 2009. The Free Agent signing period begins on July 1, 2009. Now, unless I am mistaken, according to NBA rules a player cannot be involved in a sign-and-trade deal for a 2009 draft pick if he is an unrestricted free agent. So, all of the trade scenarios involving David Lee going here in a trade, or Ben Gordon being shipped off for some guy, are all completely impossible.

Am I wrong on this? Does anybody know? I am getting tired of seeing trade scenarios involving people who aren’t able to be traded, unless I am wrong. Could we please get an official ruling? Because I am VERY certain that UFA players cannot be dealt for draft picks in the 2009 draft. Who’s got the collective bargaining agreement handy?

[johnecoParticipant]

While technically you are correct that an UFA cannot be traded, it is not unheard of for a handshake trade agreement to be made, and a team to draft a player for another team, and complete the trade later in the summer once the other team signs their free agent.

So we can all continue to post our stupid trade scenarios involving UFA, they are not impossible – it’s just impossible to officially consumate them on draft day.

[RicoParticipant]

johneco’s scenario is very unlikely

It is too much of a gamble for a team to draft a player they don’t want in hope to get a sign and trade deal done later. What if the free-agent player does not want to play for that team, what if they get a better offer from another team, what if the free-agent player is asking for more cash than what the team wanted to sign him for. A deal like this can break down very easy and the drafting team can be left with a draft pick they did not want.

[GreenLanternParticipant]

I’m pretty sure David Lee is an restricted FA, not unrestricted. Can someone post a link about rules regarding restricted FAs as far as trades go?

[ucantcheckmejdj3Participant]

teams can agree in principle to a sign and trade involving restricted FA’s on draft night

[GreenLanternParticipant]

that’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure.

[johnecoParticipant]

Lee and Robinson _are_ both restricted.

[13kavak]

team 1 agrees with team 2 in principle to trade a draft pick that team 2 normally wouldnt pick team 1 with there first round pick should draft a player team 2 wants even if the plan isnt too swap picks also team 2 should ask for a backup trade with team 1 that both partys can agree too in case the ufa doesnt sign. with this plan neither team loses

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