Restricted free agents can negotiate with other teams but their team gets to keep them as long as they match the terms.
Restricted player contracts are for players who have been under a W contract for less than three seasons. They may negotiate only with their own team, and as long as they receive a qualifying offer, they have to take it or sit out the season. If they don't receive a qualifying offer, they become a free agent on Feb. 1.
Players end up on restricted player contracts two ways: (1) they were previously waived while on a rookie contract and then signed a full season contract with a new team; or (2) a lot of European players end up on restricted player contracts because they sit out seasons to play overseas and often come in having been undrafted.
On the Valkyries, we have both: Chen and Amihere are the first category, and Salaun and Rupert are the second.
