Things to know at the start of the NBA's free agency period where Hawks' restricted free agents Josh Smith and Josh Childress will garner attention.

Key dates

• July 1: Teams can begin negotiating with restricted and unrestricted free agents.

• July 9: Teams can sign free agents.

What's the difference between a restricted and unrestricted free agent?

A restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with any team. However, his current team the right to match any offer made to retain the services of that player.

An unrestricted free agent can sign a contract with any team and their former team has no rights to the player.

How long do the Hawks have to react if their free agents sign an offer sheet from another team?

Seven days, per the rules of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

What is the maximum number of years that can be offered to free agents?

The Hawks can offer a maximum of six years. Other teams can only offer the Hawks' free agents a maximum of five years, per league rules.

What are the sign-and-trade options for the Hawks where Smith and Childress are concerned?

All parties would have to agree to a deal, before any offer sheets or contracts are signed, that would involve the Hawks signing the players and then trading them to another team for some consideration.

Is there a scenario in which a team could still pirate away Smith or Childress without a sign-and-trade?

Certainly. A team under the salary cap, (Philadelphia and Memphis are the only teams with substantial room under the cap to work with), can put a frontloaded offer sheet on the table that the Hawks are simply unable or unwilling to match. The Hawks did the same thing three years ago when they pursued Joe Johnson, who ultimately came to the Hawks as part of a sign-and-trade deal.