2017 NBA Offseason Thread

[Gman]

Andrew Perloff‏Verified account @andrewperloff 3m3 minutes ago
Mark Cuban says that social media has made young players more responsible because they're constantly accountable. @NBATV

Deep.

 

[DJ]

Deep.

For a billionaire.....he's pretty much a moron. Kind of like Trump.

 

[bksballer89]

Maybe.

I guess that was the problem though. I am pretty sure Russ never viewed himself as number 2 with KD.

Probably but I think George know this is russ team and expects to be option number 2.

 

[DJ]

David Aldridge‏Verified account @daldridgetnt 1m1 minute ago
Woukd think Arron Afflalo will be swooped up soon. Wolves looked at him hard before going for Jamal Crawford. Shot 41% on threes last year.

 

[bksballer89]

Nice move by Boston to sign Baynes

 

[Gman]

Nice move by Boston to sign Baynes

They needed a big guy with muscle in their lineup... I don't think they could have done much better than Baynes to fill out their roster at this point.

 

[trojanfan12]

That's me getting defensive about the 76ers? His reasoning is stupid, so yeah, I'll present my objections to it.

No, your assumption is stupid. You think star players want to play with a guy who doesn't share the ball. If star players want to play with guys like that...

How come the Knicks have never been able to find a star to pair with Carmelo?

Where was the line of FA's kicking down OKC's door to play with Westbrook?

And making up shit that no one said isn't you stating your objections...it's you making up shit no one said.

 

[trojanfan12]

Half of the Lakers fans on this site aren't really Laker fans. Most of them pretend to root for them because Lavar hooked 'em up w/ free BBB sneakers.

Those are some nice kicks doe.

 

[knowyourenemy]

No, your assumption is stupid. You think star players want to play with a guy who doesn't share the ball. If star players want to play with guys like that...

How come the Knicks have never been able to find a star to pair with Carmelo?

Where was the line of FA's kicking down OKC's door to play with Westbrook?

And making up shit that no one said isn't you stating your objections...it's you making up shit no one said.

I never made anything up. I'm not the one who turned a conversation about Lonzo Ball into a conversation about whether a star would rather play with Westbrook or Jason Kidd. And then people want to claim that no one compared Lonzo to Kidd.

I never said star players want to play with Westbrook. I said star players would choose Westbrook over a second year Lonzo Ball.

It's not that hard of a concept. If you want to argue Lonzo Ball in year 2 over Westbrook in his prime, be my guest -- but that's what the conversation has been about -- attracting star players in 2018.

You're really having a hard time today. Maybe you should take a break and come back refreshed tomorrow.

 

[knowyourenemy]

Watching the MIN/DEN game on ESPN. The announcers said that Fultz is done for the summer and will be watched carefully when Philly starts to practice for the real season. They sort of admitted that everyone (them included) were thinking the worst last night.

Doesn't surprise me that they'd totally shut him down. Hopefully he can get healthy for the season, though I'll miss getting to see him play this summer.

 

[trojanfan12]

You've got to wonder if the Warriors are afraid of the 76ers.

 

[trojanfan12]

I never made anything up.

Yes you did.

 

[trojanfan12]

I am Mecca Stormborn.

Is that like one of those Indian names?

 

[trojanfan12]

He has a docuseries coming up...lol

Like for real.

Report: LaVar Ball and family to star in Facebook documentary series

This is how the world ends.

Not with a bang. But with a Lavar Ball docuseries.

 

[trojanfan12]

See? Contrary to popular belief, 76ers fans and Lakers fans can share a laugh together.

Well played.

 

[msgkings322]

For a billionaire.....he's pretty much a moron. Kind of like Trump.

So you think you are smarter than a tech billionaire who made his own fortune? Trump I'll give you.

 

[Bolts]

It's only 2 summer league games, but I think it's safe to say the Kings will go 1-81 this upcoming season.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

So how did the Heat manage to create an extra $2.1 million of cap room?

By cleverly leveraging a tool they tend to only rarely ever utilize – the performance bonus.

Performance bonuses are exactly what they sound like – bonuses that a player can earn if he achieves certain performance-related milestones (e.g., games played, points per game, rebounds per game, etc.). But how they are treated for salary cap purposes has the potential to create intricate opportunities.

Performance bonuses are classified by the NBA as either “likely to be achieved” or “unlikely to be achieved.” The distinction is critical because likely bonuses are included in the player’s salary (and thus count toward a team’s maximum available cap space), but unlikely bonuses are not.

With a bit of creativity, the Heat could therefore potentially increase its total cap space beyond the limits of the $99 million salary cap by offering players contracts that contains bonuses which are deemed by the NBA as “unlikely to be achieved.” In such a case, the bonus portion of the contract could potentially not count against the salary cap (but still be paid out if it is ultimately earned), freeing up that cap space to be spent elsewhere!

The NBA determines whether a bonus is deemed likely or unlikely to be achieved based on whether the criterion was achieved in the previous season. For example, if a player averaged 7.0 assists per game in 2016-17, then a performance bonus for 2017-18 based on 7.0 assists per game would be classified as “likely to be achieved” (and included in the player’s cap hit), but a bonus based on 8.0 assists per game would be classified as “unlikely to be achieved” (and not included in the player’s cap hit). Therefore, it’s rather easy to structure a bonus for a guy like Waiters, who played just 46 games last season, which might be considered unlikely to be achieved but, in reality, seem imminently achievable.

Bonuses deemed unlikely to be achieved are limited to 15% of the base salary in each season of the contract at the time of signing. All bonuses are re-evaluated at the end of each season, to determine whether they should be reclassified as likely or unlikely.

This type of maneuverability would seem too good to be true, as if the Heat would be perpetrating a scheme that would effectively be bending (if not outright breaking) the salary cap rules. But would it be?

Absolutely not!

Despite the fact that this is rarely used in NBA circles (for various, practical reasons), it is perfectly legal.

The CBA contains detailed and explicit rules specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of this very thing. But the rules only reduce the possibility, not eliminate it. It is this weakness that the Heat exploited!

Follow the following explanation closely: NBA rules state that when a new contract is submitted to the league office for approval, the entire potential payout – including the base salary, any likely bonuses, and any unlikely bonuses – must fit within the team’s available cap room (or available exception, as the case may be). Not only that, when determining the team’s available cap room, the unlikely bonuses from all contracts signed that season are subtracted. Which, seemingly, eliminates the possibility.

But here’s the thing: the rule only applies at the point the incentive-laden contract is signed.

As long as the first-year salary – including both likely and unlikely bonuses — in any new contract(s) fits within the team’s cap room at the point the contract is officially executed, the contract is legal. The first-year salary thereafter excludes the amount of the unlikely bonus.

The Heat manipulated these rules with each of Waiters, Olynyk and Johnson:

• Dion Waiters’ contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $52 million, but that’s not technically how it is structured. Waiters will actually receive $47.3 million in base salary, plus up to another $4.7 million in bonus money. All of that bonus money has been deemed unlikely to be achieved. Which means that after the contract was approved, only the first-year base salary was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $11.0 million, without the $1.1 million in bonus money.

• Kelly Olynyk’s contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $50 million (with a player option on the final year), but that’s not technically how it was structured. He will actually receive $45.6 million in base salary, plus up to another $5.6 million in bonus money. All of that bonus money has been deemed unlikely to be achieved. (He also has a trade bonus equal to the lesser of 5% of the remaining value of the contract and $2 million.) Which means that after the contract was approved, only the first-year base salary was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $10.6 million, without the $1.4 million in bonus money.

• James Johnson’s contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $60 million (with a player option on the final year), but that’s not technically how it was structured. He will actually receive $59.1 million in base salary, plus up to another $946K in bonus money(1). That bonus money, unlike the others, does count against the salary cap. Which means that after the contract was approved, the $13.7 million first-year salary, and the $220K bonus, was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $14.0 million.

So, with that, let’s retrace our steps.

The Heat started with $34.1 million of cap space. Swapping McRoberts for Hammons increased it to $35.6 million.

Waiters was signed first. His $11.0 million base salary AND his $1.1 million in unlikely bonus money had to fit within the team’s available cap space. They did. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $11.0 million of cap room, reducing it to $24.6 million.

Olynyk was signed second. His $10.6 million base salary AND his $1.4 million in unlikely bonus money had to fit within the team’s available cap space (as reduced by Waiters’ bonus money). They did. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $10.6 million of cap room, reducing it to $14.0 million.

Johnson’s contract came last. It had to, because it contained no unlikely bonus money. His full $14.0 million salary, including his bonus, had to fit within the team’s available cap space. The Heat used up every last penny of cap space, but they did fit it. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $14.0 million of cap room, reducing it to $0.

(The Heat was very careful and strategic about how the reports of the signings were leaked to the press. It most certainly wanted to avoid this most notorious team vs. commissioner battle in NBA history.)

So here we are… Ellington is safe. The Heat fit each of Waiters, Olynyk and Johnson within the confines of the salary cap (with no cap space remaining).







@bksballer89 @Heatles84
I know it's a lot to read, but it shows just how good Riley and Andy are.

 

[Black Adam]

So how did the Heat manage to create an extra $2.1 million of cap room?

By cleverly leveraging a tool they tend to only rarely ever utilize – the performance bonus.

Performance bonuses are exactly what they sound like – bonuses that a player can earn if he achieves certain performance-related milestones (e.g., games played, points per game, rebounds per game, etc.). But how they are treated for salary cap purposes has the potential to create intricate opportunities.

Performance bonuses are classified by the NBA as either “likely to be achieved” or “unlikely to be achieved.” The distinction is critical because likely bonuses are included in the player’s salary (and thus count toward a team’s maximum available cap space), but unlikely bonuses are not.

With a bit of creativity, the Heat could therefore potentially increase its total cap space beyond the limits of the $99 million salary cap by offering players contracts that contains bonuses which are deemed by the NBA as “unlikely to be achieved.” In such a case, the bonus portion of the contract could potentially not count against the salary cap (but still be paid out if it is ultimately earned), freeing up that cap space to be spent elsewhere!

The NBA determines whether a bonus is deemed likely or unlikely to be achieved based on whether the criterion was achieved in the previous season. For example, if a player averaged 7.0 assists per game in 2016-17, then a performance bonus for 2017-18 based on 7.0 assists per game would be classified as “likely to be achieved” (and included in the player’s cap hit), but a bonus based on 8.0 assists per game would be classified as “unlikely to be achieved” (and not included in the player’s cap hit). Therefore, it’s rather easy to structure a bonus for a guy like Waiters, who played just 46 games last season, which might be considered unlikely to be achieved but, in reality, seem imminently achievable.

Bonuses deemed unlikely to be achieved are limited to 15% of the base salary in each season of the contract at the time of signing. All bonuses are re-evaluated at the end of each season, to determine whether they should be reclassified as likely or unlikely.

This type of maneuverability would seem too good to be true, as if the Heat would be perpetrating a scheme that would effectively be bending (if not outright breaking) the salary cap rules. But would it be?

Absolutely not!

Despite the fact that this is rarely used in NBA circles (for various, practical reasons), it is perfectly legal.

The CBA contains detailed and explicit rules specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of this very thing. But the rules only reduce the possibility, not eliminate it. It is this weakness that the Heat exploited!

Follow the following explanation closely: NBA rules state that when a new contract is submitted to the league office for approval, the entire potential payout – including the base salary, any likely bonuses, and any unlikely bonuses – must fit within the team’s available cap room (or available exception, as the case may be). Not only that, when determining the team’s available cap room, the unlikely bonuses from all contracts signed that season are subtracted. Which, seemingly, eliminates the possibility.

But here’s the thing: the rule only applies at the point the incentive-laden contract is signed.

As long as the first-year salary – including both likely and unlikely bonuses — in any new contract(s) fits within the team’s cap room at the point the contract is officially executed, the contract is legal. The first-year salary thereafter excludes the amount of the unlikely bonus.

The Heat manipulated these rules with each of Waiters, Olynyk and Johnson:

• Dion Waiters’ contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $52 million, but that’s not technically how it is structured. Waiters will actually receive $47.3 million in base salary, plus up to another $4.7 million in bonus money. All of that bonus money has been deemed unlikely to be achieved. Which means that after the contract was approved, only the first-year base salary was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $11.0 million, without the $1.1 million in bonus money.

• Kelly Olynyk’s contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $50 million (with a player option on the final year), but that’s not technically how it was structured. He will actually receive $45.6 million in base salary, plus up to another $5.6 million in bonus money. All of that bonus money has been deemed unlikely to be achieved. (He also has a trade bonus equal to the lesser of 5% of the remaining value of the contract and $2 million.) Which means that after the contract was approved, only the first-year base salary was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $10.6 million, without the $1.4 million in bonus money.

• James Johnson’s contract was publicly reported as 4-years, $60 million (with a player option on the final year), but that’s not technically how it was structured. He will actually receive $59.1 million in base salary, plus up to another $946K in bonus money(1). That bonus money, unlike the others, does count against the salary cap. Which means that after the contract was approved, the $13.7 million first-year salary, and the $220K bonus, was charged against the cap for this season; that’s $14.0 million.

So, with that, let’s retrace our steps.

The Heat started with $34.1 million of cap space. Swapping McRoberts for Hammons increased it to $35.6 million.

Waiters was signed first. His $11.0 million base salary AND his $1.1 million in unlikely bonus money had to fit within the team’s available cap space. They did. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $11.0 million of cap room, reducing it to $24.6 million.

Olynyk was signed second. His $10.6 million base salary AND his $1.4 million in unlikely bonus money had to fit within the team’s available cap space (as reduced by Waiters’ bonus money). They did. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $10.6 million of cap room, reducing it to $14.0 million.

Johnson’s contract came last. It had to, because it contained no unlikely bonus money. His full $14.0 million salary, including his bonus, had to fit within the team’s available cap space. The Heat used up every last penny of cap space, but they did fit it. So, after the contract was approved, the Heat lost $14.0 million of cap room, reducing it to $0.

(The Heat was very careful and strategic about how the reports of the signings were leaked to the press. It most certainly wanted to avoid this most notorious team vs. commissioner battle in NBA history.)

So here we are… Ellington is safe. The Heat fit each of Waiters, Olynyk and Johnson within the confines of the salary cap (with no cap space remaining).







@bksballer89 @Heatles84
I know it's a lot to read, but it shows just how good Riley and Andy are.

k, lengthwise that's a serious Wiggy post right there...

 

[knowyourenemy]

Random but -- Jameer Nelson averaged 27 minutes per game last year? Wow. I thought his career was over like 4-5 years ago.