Isn't Mobley a 2nd Year player? I don't think he will be available for the Larry Bird Exception. So how in the world can we keep him and pick up a True 4. Kenny is a great player, but he is undersized for a 4.
Yes, Mobley is only a second year player and as such does not qualify for the Bird Exception. He DOES qualify for the early Bird exception, but that would only allow him to be paid 175% of his previous salary (which would be approximately $500,000) or the league average (around $2million). The catch is this form of contract must be for a minimum of 2 years, which would mean Mobley would have to wait an extra year before qualifying for full "Bird" status. A more likely scenario would be signing him using the "Mid Level Exception" which would pay him the same average NBA salary, but could be for just one year. One thing that has been troubling me is the "Right of first refusal" we have on Mobley. I don't know if the right of first refusal is valid on second round draft picks (it is valid on first round picks like Francis). Hence, another team which has cap space can offer mobley whatever they want, and the rockets, while potentially having the right of first refusal to retain Mobley, could not match the offer as we would not have cap space, or an appropriate exception to allow it. If anyone knows the answer, please let me know. PS -I don't think it will be an issue in the end because I think Mobley will do the loyalty thing and sign for less (temporarily) to stay with the rockets.
My understanding of the Right of First Refusal was that we could go over and above our salary cap to match any other offer for a player. But I wasn't able to find any literature on it, so I can to write an email to the CBA FAQ people and see if I can't get a definitive answer on that.
Here's the explanation of restricted free agence (aka right of first refusal) from the Salary Cap FAQ: The current CBA provides restricted free agency on a very limited basis. It is allowed following the fourth year of rookie "scale" contracts for first-round draft picks (see question number 33). It is also allowed for all veteran free agents who entered the NBA in 98-99 or later, up until their third year in the league. All other free agency is limited to unrestricted free agency. Since Mobley is a "veteran free agents who entered the NBA in 98-99 or later" and he's been in the league less than 3 years, then the Rockets would indeed have right of first refusal on him.
I agree with you Juan - the whole idea behind the CBA was to encourage player retention, so I would be surprised if you could not exceed the salary cap with a matching right of first refusal offer. OK, thanks aelliot,now I know who qualifies for the "right of first refusal" but can you answer the question above? [This message has been edited by davo (edited February 02, 2000).]
If you're asking whether or not a team can exceed the cap in order to retain a restricted free agent, the answer is yes. What would be the point of having restricted free agency if you couldn't exceed the cap? Then the player would simply go to the highest bidder and it wouldn't be much different than unrestricted free agency.
Davo, here is the entire section on restricted free agency. However, it does not discuss the relationship of the cap. I sent an email to Mr. Coon asking about it and I am currently awaiting a response. 31. What is restricted free agency? There are two types of free agency: restricted and unrestricted. An unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any other team, and there's nothing the player's original team can do about it. Restricted free agency gives the player's original team the right to match an offer sheet the player signs with another team and keep the player. One example is following Magic Johnson's retirement, the Lakers signed restricted free agent Sherman Douglas (who was unable to come to terms with Miami and holding out) to a contract. Miami matched the contract and retained him. Restricted free agency was an option for all contracts two CBA's ago. The previous CBA eliminated restricted free agency altogether (and made all restricted free agents unrestricted free agents. This is how Orlando lost Shaquille O'Neal, whose contract called for restricted, not unrestricted free agency). The current CBA provides restricted free agency on a very limited basis. It is allowed following the fourth year of rookie "scale" contracts for first-round draft picks (see question number 33). It is also allowed for all veteran free agents who entered the NBA in 98-99 or later, up until their third year in the league. All other free agency is limited to unrestricted free agency. In order to secure their right of first refusal (and make their free agent a restricted free agent) a team must submit a qualifying offer to their free agent by June 30. When another team wants to sign a restricted free agent, it submits an offer sheet, the principal terms of which the original team is given 15 days to match. The principal terms of the offer sheet cannot include non-cash forms of compensation. For example, it doesn't work to offer Denver's free agent a house on the beach within 15 minutes of the arena, knowing that it's impossible for Denver to match those terms. If the player's original team does not exercise its right of first refusal within 15 days, the offer sheet becomes an official contract.
If Mobley wants $72m for 6 years, then I think we would have to cut him loose. He's simply not worth that kind of money... few players are. I think of Mobley as a $5-7m per year player. Anything above 10, to me, seems restricted for franchise players. Cat, while important, is certainly not a superstar.
Are not the "Mid level Exceptions" Only good on players not on your own team? I agree with Have. 6/72 million is way out of line for what Mobley does. Even with the good last two games he's put forth.
Heck... Cato got a nice contract for one preseason game, and Cat must have at LEAST 5 good games!... sorry, couldn't resist
Mobley will only get better.. When was the last time you have heard of a coach kicking a player out of the gym?
Wasn't restricted free agency involved in the Tyrone Nesby situation where he tried to sign with the Spurs but the Clippers matched it?
Outlaw, Yes - Nesby was the result of the "Right of first refusal" that the Clippers had on him. Dreamshake - I think the Mid Level can be applied to anyone, including your own free agents. No way Mobley is worth 6/72. He will be lucky to get 4 or 5 per year in my opinion.
Here's a link to an old Garrett Okamoto (he's one of the contributors to the Salary Cap FAQ) article about the new CBA. He mentions that LA used the Middle Class Exception to resign Rick Fox, so you must be allowed to use it to sign your own players. Lakers Analysis: The Lakers were able to keep a starter from last season,Rick Fox, by using the middle-class exception. They had all but given up on Fox and he received another offer that was for more money, but the $1.75 million exception was enough to keep him. http://www.totk.com/35col-19990131.html [This message has been edited by aelliott (edited February 03, 2000).]
