NBA Free Agency 2013: Restricted Free Agents Worth Signing to an Offer Sheet

With players such as Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala, David West and others hitting unrestricted free agency this summer, there is no doubt that there will be plenty of shakeups across the NBA. Some of those shakeups could come in the form of restricted free agents, too.

Signing a restricted free agent is difficult, as that player's current team has the right to match any offer and retain him. That doesn't stop teams from making offers anyway, as they can put the opposition in difficult positions from a salary-cap perspective at the very least.

This year's crop of restricted free agents is pretty strong, and there is little doubt that some offer sheets will be signed. Here are three restricted free agents in particular who are definitely worth pursuing once free agency begins.

Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee Bucks

While Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA, he also happens to be one of the most talented. Jennings is entering his fifth NBA season, and although he could definitely stand to improve in several areas, the 23-year-old dynamo is improving every year. Many teams out there surely recognize his upward trend, so an offer sheet is almost a given.

As exciting as Jennings and Monta Ellis have been in the Milwaukee backcourt, it's entirely possible that the Bucks will let one or both of them walk. According to Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, the Bucks are reportedly considering re-signing Ellis, who is an unrestricted free agent, and allowing Jennings to sign elsewhere.

The Bucks obviously haven't divulged any such information themselves, but it seems like a distinct possibility, since Jennings is often criticized for not being a team player. He did average a career-high 6.5 assists this season, however, to go along with 17.5 points per contest.

He needs to improve his shot selection, as he has shot under 42 percent from the floor in each of his four NBA seasons, but he could be a great fit on a team with some veterans who will keep him in check.

Nikola Pekovic, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

It's extremely difficult to find quality centers in the NBA these days, and Minnesota Timberwolves big man Nikola Pekovic has quietly developed into one. The 27-year-old Montenegrin put up All-Star-caliber numbers this season with Kevin Love on the shelf for much of it, so essentially every team in need of a center is likely to be in on Pekovic to some degree.

Pekovic has value on both ends of the floor, as he possesses an array of post moves offensively and can hit the boards on defense. He averaged 16.3 points and 8.8. rebounds per game this season while also shooting 52 percent from the field and 74 percent from the line.

It's rare to find those types of peripherals in a 6'11" center, so the market ought to be red hot.

According to Helin, though, T'Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders expects to retain Pekovic.

While that may be the intention, some other team could certainly press the issue with a big offer sheet. There has to be a certain number that will cause Minnesota to bow out, so Pekovic could be on the move if a team offers him the magic number of years and money.

Omer Asik was far less accomplished than Pekovic when the Houston Rockets signed him away from the Chicago Bulls last season, so Pekovic will definitely be a factor.

Tyreke Evans, PG, Sacramento Kings

Point guard Tyreke Evans has had an up-and-down tenure with the Sacramento Kings, and it is quite possible that it will come to an end this offseason. Evans was given the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2010, as he averaged over 20 points, nearly six assists and five rebounds per game. He seemed poised to develop into a constant triple-double threat, but he has fallen off in recent years.

Evans' per-game averages in points, assists and rebounds have actually declined in each of his four seasons. Some of that probably has to do with the fact that he has moved around from point guard to shooting guard and even small forward, but he needs to play more consistently.

Amin Elhassan of ESPN doesn't see that happening in Sacramento, however:

Atlanta and Dallas would certainly be interesting destinations as those teams have needs at both guard spots. Evans is an explosive combo guard who could help both teams immensely. His versatility has probably held him back with the Kings, but it might come in handy elsewhere and it will definitely help him in the marketplace.

Even though Evans has struggled over the past couple years, he is only 23 years old and still has a chance to become a All-Star-type player in the right situation.

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