NBA Institutes Its New Policy on Free Agents

The National Basketball Assn. officially committed to unrestricted free agency Friday as a group of players, including Moses Malone, Tom Chambers and the Lakers’ Kurt Rambis, became free to begin contract talks with any team.

The new collective bargaining agreement gave free-agent status to any player who has been in the league for seven years or more and whose second contract has expired. Clubs losing players are no longer due compensation or the right to match a contract offer.

Earl Cureton, Larry Drew and Mike Woodson of the Clippers are also unrestricted free agents, as are James Edwards of Detroit, Bill Walton of Boston, Tree Rollins of Atlanta, Danny Schayes of Denver, John Lucas of Milwaukee, Allen Leavell of Houston and Orlando Woolridge of New Jersey.