i was wondering....can we trade our exception for Indiana's and then both teams get the cap space?? that would be great for both teams..... ------------------
All we have to do to get the cap space is let the exception expire. Next year we would then be $4.5 million more under the cap than we would be otherwise. ------------------
Since the Rockets are well over the cap, we had better use the exception somehow before it expires. ------------------
The exception doesn't actually count against the cap. If we use it to acquire a player who has a value of $4.4mill THEN we count that against the cap. So by not using the exception we will not free up any cap space, we will just not acquire MORE to count against the cap. ------------------
Next year Houston will be under the cap -- once Hakeem retires. If we don't use the exception, we will be under by that much more. ------------------
DrN is correct. There was vagueness in an earlier version of the CBA FAQ maintained by LCoon that made it sound like trade exception count against the cap until they expire. I asked him about that, and he has clarified the matter to say only minimum, mid-level and medical exception count against the cap (used or not). Trade exceptions never count. Note: this fact makes the trade exception even more valuable than I once imagined. This is quite a commodity. To let it expire is foolish, imo, because as Jeff stated, few teams have such a powerful tool to use in complicate BYC trades. Think about all the 3 team trades out there. If you have this exception, you never need that third team to make your trade work. Either the Rockets use this exception out right, or they pilfer another team who wants this to use in the future. I think this is a very powerful exception, nearly as powerful as cap room. And when you think of how few teams have cap room, you realize how powerful it really is.
HP, Told ya so! ------------------ Rockets Draft Obligations Summary http://www.gaffordstudios.cjb.net/