Three+ year vet minimum and the luxury tax apron

[statsman]

It is my understanding that if a team signs a player with three or more years in the NBA and is signed at minimum salary, the league reimburses the team for part of his salary -- any amount above the minimum salary level for a two-year veteran. Only the two-year minimum salary is included in the team salary, not the player's full salary. For 2013-14, the minimum salary level for a two-year veteran will be $884,293.

How does that work if a team is restricted by the luxury tax apron (received a S&T player, used the full Mid-Level exception, or used the Bi-Annual exception)? Does only the two-year veteran amount count towards the apron or does the full minimum salary being received? It appears that a team could spend more than the apron, but based on what is included in the team's salary, be below the apron.

Reference: http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q16

[answerthink]

As long as the player meets the criteria, only the two-year minimum salary would count.

There are numerous ways in which what a team is actually spending can differ from its “team salary” (which may be calculated differently for various purposes). Q14 has a detailed explanation.

[DBoys]

Statsman, keep in mind that even though the salary is larger, the team itself is only spending the 2-year-veteran-minimum amount. So for purposes of a limit or "cap" on their spending, that would logically be the appropriate number to use in determining if they have exceeded a limit or not.