And why would Denver want to make this trade? It doesn't make any sense fot them, and the salaries don't match.
MLE = Mid-Level Exception. It's about 4.5 m. Teams over the cap can use it for free agents. But only once every summer for every team.
MCE = Mid Class Exception = MLE = Mid Level Exception = League Average Salary ~= $4.5m. It's a lone exception to the salary cap granted to teams over the cap to sign FA's. If you plan on posting here often, it's a good piece of knowledge to understand.
OK, looks like carayip beat me to it. All I can add is that a team under the cap can't double dip by going over the cap and theN using a MCE in the same summer.
Actually I believe this is wrong. Arenas signed a TWO year contract (since he was a second round pick like T-Mo) not three (like a 1st round pick) which would've netted the Warriors his Bird rights. They did not even sign him to a team option for a third year (stupid move since it wouldn't have cost them anything and they would have gotten the bird rights). Since the Warriors are over the cap they can ONLY match Arenas' offer up to their MCE. So if a team swoops in and bids 5 million then the Warriors are out of luck! Tough break! Now, if Arenas signs for one more year with the Warriors then they could obtain his bird rights and sign him to a bigger contract then (even if they are over the cap). This is what the Sonics did with Rashard Lewis. This is why the Warriors have tried feverishly to dump contracts (Fortson, Sura, Mills, Dampier) to get under the salary cap to be able to match offers. I mentioned in another thread that I believe that the Rockets would need a spark plug guard off the bench for the team to get to the next level much like Bobby Jackson in Sac and NVE in Dallas. Arenas would be an interesting option. But I don't see it happening here. Chris
Deuce - I believe I am correct. There are two types of Bird Rights and Early Bird Rights. Arenas has played two years with the same team and has Early Bird Rights. These rights are not dependent on draft postion. If you want the link, I will get it. But we agree on the amount. However there are only a few teams under the cap which he would consider.
Here ya go...from Coon's CBA FAQ'S: EARLY BIRD EXCEPTION -- This is a weaker form of the Larry Bird exception. Players who qualify for this exception are called "Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agents" in the CBA. A player qualifies for this exception after just two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team may re-sign its own free agent for 175% of his salary the previous season or the average player salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons (which limits its usefulness -- it's often better to take a lower salary for one season and then have the full Bird exception available the next season) and no longer than six seasons. A player can receive 12.5% raises using this exception.
Nap! The Bird exception doesn't apply to Arenas since he is a 2nd round player, was signed for two years only. The Warriors cannot offer anything better than the mid exception, which is 4.5 min this year. In another word, Arenas will be playing for anyone but the Warriors next season.
Even we get rid of Cat, we are still over the cap. We still cannot pay him more than GSW. Only teams with cap room can.
No. Please read the section I have listed from the CBA. Arenas has played two years with the Warriors and they have his Early Bird Rights. Please find the section of the CBA which excludes second rounders from these rights. I do not believe it exists.
Gater, I am not disputing the info you posted. However, every place I have read about the Arenas situation (ESPN, Sporting News, CNNSI etc) has said that the Warriors can only match up to their MCE since they are over the cap and Arenas was only signed to a two year contract. I am not sure where that fits in with "early bird rights" but it seems the Warriors are screwed here since someone will offer Arenas more than the MCE. There must be something in the lingo that we are missing or else the Media has been wrong about this scenario. Chris
Deuce - Not sure where the confusion occurred. I never said that GS could bid more than the MCE. What I originally said was "The Warriors have Arenas's Early Bird Rights and the bidding will likely start at the league average salary which I believe is equal the MCE..." IOW, in order to obtain Arenas the Rox would have to outbid GS and since they only have the MCE they can't. That's why I then mentioned the similarity to the Marc Jackson fiasco. As far as the max open market salary Arenas could command, I never went there because I felt the thread only pertained to the Rockets. We both know that the under the cap teams - Nuggets, Jazz, Wiz, & Clipps can all outbid GS. That doesn't mean he's leaving GS. I recall that Cuttino was a 2nd rounder and chose to stay in Houston even though Toronto offered him more $.
Sorry, I saw your response after I posted. No edit again! What I meant was Arenas doesn't qualify the Bird Exception, which you agreed. The Warriors have two options, one is to pay him 175% * 600k(current saraly?), or use the 4.5min mid exception. That means 4.5 min is the highest he can get from the Warriors, that's why he won't be a warrior next season.
Dead meat on the Rox:- Rice, Moochie, Hawkins, Collier. Almost Dead meat:- Griffin,Taylor,Posey,Mobley and Cato. Unknown Quantity but with potential:- Nacbar, Maddox and Morris Best prospects for the future:- Francis and Yao Ming. Arenas and Brand would fit into the Best Prospects catagory. We can't jump to any definite conclusion at this early point but at seasons end, we should have a better picture about Mobley,Taylor and Griffin. We will know if we need to make adjustments.Cato if he works himself this offseason will be just fine as backup Center. The only one we know at this point is that we need a starting Point Guard and that Moochie is not good enough as back up. I think that Maddox should begin to get playing experience with a view to playing backup next season in the 'Star Arena' ( Where the Rockets and Comets play).
daoshi - You and Deuce and I are in agreement. The highest offer from GS is the MCE. And the Rockets can not beat that so are not in the running. However.... I do not remember the particulars but Mobley was also a second round pick and the Rockets kept him in spite of the fact that Toronto offered more money. I wish I could remember the exact details. Can the possibility exist that for offers greater than Golden States, Arenas has a choice of where he signs?
Whats up Gater? I guess to put it in plain English, WE HAVE NO MONEY, RIGHT ? Do you see us getting rid of some of our overpaid not worth the money players, to make some cap space? Obviously we are going to have a hard time going after the big names beacause we are way over the cap, what do you think?
What's up? Insomnia again! OK...in plain English. The only offers which can take Arenas away from the Warriors are offers which exceed (not equal) the maximum GS can offer - $4.5m. Since the Rockets are over the cap, all they have is the Mid Level Expetion of $4.5m. They can't outbid GS for Arenas. Only teams with significant cap space are in the running. According to RealGm, the teams with money for Arenas are - Washington, Utah (final year of Malone & Stockon), San Antonio (final year for Robinson & Steve Smaith) , Orlando, Miami (Zo comes off the cap), Detroit, Denver & Cleveland. Indiana also has some but probably not enough. As far as "getting rid of" players, it's not really possible. An over the cap team must take in exactly what in sends out in salaries. The only recourse is a contract buyout which still hits the cap with the buyout amount amortized over the remaining life of the contract. Not related to Arenas, I see the Rockets heavily shopping Rice as 2003-2004 is the last year of his contract and he will help teams trying to reduce their cap for next summers FA's. I'll bet you're sorry you asked now! Don't stay up too late.
