det, this isn't an argument. to answer your question...for how long has the real, full CBA text be published on the Internet??
The Indianapolis Star cites a GS source that GS would not match a $4.5 million base year offer to Marc Jackson. http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/pacers01.html If true, you would think GS would be interested in a sign and trade at 4.5 million, in exchange for the Rockets' trade exception (allowing Jackson annual raises of 12.5% per year). That is, if GS is allowed to do a sign and trade with its own free agent using a mid-level exception.
GS can't give him 12.5% increases. He's not a Larry Bird free agent. Even on early bird, it's a max 10%. The only gain on either side would be the Rockets maintain their capspace for this year (in a hypothetical Walt for MJax), and the Warriors could get something in return. Signing and Trading for Jackson via TPE rather than outright signing him makes no sense-we can actually give him more money, with the same raises. Unless we can convince GS to a S/T by sweetening with a pick, and getting Jackson for a lower base, there'd be no gain for Jackson or the Rockets. I need to go back and check on Jackson-the league made a ruling on him making him restricted, but they didn't give GS EBR did they? Wouldn't make sense, he's only in the league 1 year. I agree with crispee, based on the CBA excepts, he sounds correct. It seems as if the exceptions go away once we pass the 12 mill threshold, but at the same time, we can't use capspace without giving them up.
Can they not use the big 5.1 million dollar exception to absorb the cap space of a lesser paid player (i.e. the $4.5m that GS could pay)?
Thanks NIKEstrad for the info on the 10% raises. You would think the Rockets wouldn't offer MJ more than $4.59 million first year (or whatever amount it is that is just over the mid-level, so that GS couldn't match), because they would be in line for a lot of criticism that they offered more per year to MJ than to Hakeem. If they didn't have extra money for Hakeem and were "trying to find more money" (i.e. salary dumps), would they look bad if they found this money for MJ?
Jeff, A trade exception can be broken up. It represents unused salary cap space from another team. Chicago - $5.1 -----> Toronto for Oakley --------> Houston to Hakeem. In this case it is a direct hit against our cap. $4.5 mil can be used to mathc the Indy offer if the Rocks so choose.
Well, since no one has said this yet, thank you: Nikestrand, Aelliot, Rockit!!!, and Crispeetreats for clearing up this salary cap stuff. Y'all should email the chronicle so they could get their info straight.
RealGM has an explanation for a lot of salary cap questions. Traded Player Exception is #64. http://www.members.home.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm
