Chi town wrote:From GB
The problem for most teams, though, is that under what is known as the “Gilbert Arenas rule,” the Lakers will be in position to give Horton-Tucker a bigger deal, starting around $10.5 million. Opposing teams, though, will be limited by the mid-level exception which, if it comes in at about what it was this year, will be a bit more than $9 million. Advantage, Lakers.
But there is a quirk in the rules that allows for a third-year balloon payment worth as much as the maximum salary, with a raise in the fourth year. So a team could potentially pay Horton-Tucker $9 million in the first year, $10 million in the second year, then jump to more than $30 million in the third year and about $32 million in the fourth year.
Would AK pay 4/83M? You'd have to think Lebron would force Lakers to match.
What could Bulls do after that with the rest of their money?
Bring home the Chicago kid... THT!
If the Lakers match, it would be extremely costly to them.
Even if THT is only making $10 million the first two years, that could easily be $20 million per year or more after Luxury tax is accounted for. And then in years 3/4, they'd have to pay him $30 million+ per year before even accounting for lux tax.
Hey maybe they will match, but we should absolutely offer it to THT. He's a starting caliber 20 year old that projects as plus on both ends.