I think the Salary Cap FAQ is silent on this issue. It does not say for sure whether I am right or wrong. I actually might try to contact Larry Coon (or whoever else operates that site) to get a clarification. Also, I was not directing the "speculation" comment at you, pbthunder. It was directed at others who might chime in without having a clue what they're talking about. I don't want this debate to become uncivil. I just think we are in a disagreement over which there is not currently a clear answer.
http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles.php See: Article VII, Sections 3(f) The amount of "Salary" for vet players signed to a 1-year minimum contract is reduced by the reimbursement acount. Article VII, Section 4(a). For the purpose of calculating "Team Salary," you aggregate the individual "Salary" of each player (and maybe make some other adjustments not relevant to present discussion). Article VII, Section 12(f) Luxury Tax payments is based on "Team Salary." Aslo refer to: Article I definiton items (fff) and (mmm).
I'd agree with Bima's reading. The CBA went through all this to make sure borlderline older vets didn't price themselves out of a job with an artificial floor. The reimbursement helps on the actual dollars, but it has to help on the cap as well or else vets would get cut for young guys to avoid luxury tax. Given all that, Bima makes sense that they'd be worried about offering more than the minimum for luxury tax purposes, given that we're close to the threshold. However, it may make sense to sign Mutombo last and give him more money if there is space under the luxury line to give to him.
Thanks, Carl Herrara. I knew I wasn't crazy to think that. pbthunder, I hope this clears things up on the subject.
I apologize for being a mite surly. The word 'speculation' did set me off. I take pride in being able to back up what I say with Larry Coon's site, as any capologist, even an amateur such as myself, should be. Carl Herrera: reimbursement accounts, eh? As for the LT, if we're so worried about it that we're nickel-and-diming Mutombo, I would imagine releasing Landry might be part of the calculation of the Artest trade. Since Sacramento threw in the filler players, it sounds like BJax and Green's salaries are higher than Artest's, or the same. Releasing those two might actually lower our cap hit. I still would not be surprised if we cut Landry loose, though.
No worries. You were quite reasonable in your disagreement with my initial assumptions, since Larry Coon's site did not explicitly address that issue. Telling me that I was "lost", though, wasn't too cool on your part. Still, all water under the bridge. I have since emailed Larry and hope that he will reply (or, better yet, update the website) to address the issue. That being said, it is good that Carl Herrara could resolve the issue by going straight to the CBA.
No problem... I knew that fancy-ass law degree I spent 3 years of my life getting would be good for one thing or another.
Thanks for that reference, and a special thanks for pointing out the relevant sections. I wouldn't want to read more of that document than absolutely necessary! I read part of it a few years ago, and had to spend two months in therapy... I've thought about taking a mail-order legal course from California, just for the knowledge. If I did, I'd keep it a secret - I wouldn't want anybody to call me a lawyer. What it says is, basically this: The minimum salary is different for different players, depending on the number of years they have been in the league. The cap hit if Mutombo (and certain other categories of players) signs at the minimum salary for his number of years in the league ($1,262,275) will be as if he had been in the league for 2 years ($797,581). I didn't see any reference to the LT, but I did see that they call Compensation and Salary two different things, and I'm sure LT refers to Salary, which would mean the same as my synopsis.
Here is what Article VII Section 12(f) says: Whether you pay tax or not depends upon whether your "Team Salary" exceeds the Tax Level or not. That "Team Salary" is in turn dependent on each players individual "Salary." For the purpose of defining "Salary" for vets on one year minimun contracts, you take account of the "reimbursement" amount from the league.
