statsman wrote:I'm missing the details of why a ROS contract for Knox with a 2nd year option would cost more this season against the hard cap than the 2-yr vet minimum. They are already figuring on the cost of a 2nd year vet minimum (which was the case for Spencer) against the hard cap. Where does the extra cost come from by adding the option year?
Also, are they sure about those 12 days? I had it at 11 days, since they had a 3-day window between Yuri's 10-day expiring and the start of Spencer's ROS contract where they dropped below 14 players. Maybe they only went 13 days below 14 players after the Butler trade rather than the 14 days that was reported.
Asking Grok I got...
Multi-Year Minimum Contracts and Apron Impact:
When a minimum contract includes a second year (e.g., 2025-26), the CBA requires the team to account for the unguaranteed future salary in certain apron calculations during the current season. For 2025-26, the 2-year vet minimum might rise to ~$2.1M (assuming 4-5% cap growth). Prorated or averaged into the current year’s apron hit, this could explain the jump from $408k to $511k—possibly reflecting a blended or precautionary apron charge to ensure compliance with second apron restrictions.
It's Article VII... Section 2 of the CBA, you can access it from this page.
https://nbpa.com/cba/Explaining the Knox Rest-of-Season Deal Under the 2023 CBAA rest-of-season deal for a player (call them Knox) signed tomorrow (March 11, 2025) at $408k, leaving room for a 15th player at $12k on the last day, versus a two-year deal bumping the apron hit to $511k, needing a delay to Wednesday (March 12). Here’s where this lives in the
2023 CBA and how it shakes out.
1. Prorated Minimum Salary Contracts- Where: Article VII, Section 2 (Minimum Player Salary)
- What: Covers minimum deals. For 2024-25, a 3-year vet minimum is ~$1,891,857. Signed March 11 (~35 days left), it prorates to ~$408k ($1,891,857 × 35 ÷ 174). Apron hit caps at the 2-year vet minimum (~$418k prorated), matching the $408k figure.
2. Apron Calculations and Multi-Year Deals- Where: Article VII, Section 4 (Team Salary) & Section 6 (Aprons)
- What: Second apron’s at $188.931M. One-year deal at $408k fits under. Add a 2025-26 year (~$2.1M), and Section 6(f) tacks on ~$103k to the apron hit (now $511k), risking restrictions unless delayed to March 12 when cap space adjusts.
3. Roster Rules- Where: Article II, Section 4 (Roster Size)
- What: 14-player minimum, 15 max. Last-day signing (April 15) at $12k (~$2,019,706 ÷ 174) works with the $408k deal but needs apron room for $511k.
4. Timing- Where: Article VII, Section 8 (Timing Rules)
- What: Daily cap recalculation. March 12 delay might dodge a $511k apron breach if a 10-day deal expires.
Takeaway: $408k tomorrow keeps the 15th spot open. $511k two-year deal waits a day to stay under the second apron.
Full CBA’s at
nbpa.com/cba. Grab the PDF and check those sections—let me know if I missed anything!
