Schmoozing the players, strong-arming the agents, blueprinting the strategy -- that was the easy part of the free-agent process. Today, Kevin O'Connor must do something far more difficult:

Nothing.

NBA free agents can sign contracts beginning today, and an All-Star roster of talent -- Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Jermaine O'Neal and Karl Malone among the most notable -- is expected to make official moves that have been discussed for weeks.

But for restricted free agents, putting pen to lucrative offers -- as Clippers guard Corey Maggette is expected to do with the Jazz -- does nothing more than start a clock. Los Angeles has 15 days to decide whether to match Utah's six-year, $45 million offer and keep the 23-year-old guard or allow him to walk away.

And all O'Connor can do is wait. "If you put an offer sheet on the table, you've got no control over it," said O'Connor, careful not to confirm a commitment from Maggette that became public Sunday. "So sure, it's a concern. You worry about it a little bit."

He has plenty of other worries, too, like finding a point guard and a power forward to fill John Stockton and Malone's roles next season. The Jazz have had interest in Warriors guard Gilbert Arenas, but he spent Monday visiting with the Washington Wizards. They have coveted Clippers forward Elton Brand, but he also is a restricted free agent whom L.A. is believed to be committed to keeping.

The door may have reopened on Brand again Tuesday, however, when the NBA established the financial rules for next season, including a 9-percent hike in the salary cap. The $43.84 million salary cap, the highest in NBA history, pushes the Jazz's financial flexibility to more than $20 million.