RealGM

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-o ... -the-spurs

"Initially reported as a five-year deal, the four-year makes a lot more sense because it reserves San Antonio's five-year offer for Kawhi Leonard."

Is this erroneous reporting?

Looking at this:

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q43

"He can negotiate a new contract with his prior team that is independent of the qualifying offer or maximum qualifying offer."

Is the new contract limited to a maximum of four years or else the player becomes the team's designated player?

If so it would follow that using the maximum qualifying offer also means that the player has designated status.

Finally i assume that any contract that is negotiated independently of the qualifying offer can contain 7.5% raises (a team may wish to offer 4yr/7.5% rather than face matching an offer sheet for 4yr/4.5% with a PO).

It is true that rookie scale contract extension are a max of four years in length, save for one per team which can be designated as a fivefer. However, Splitter is not signing an extension, but re-signing as a free agent. He can thus sign for five years under the Larry Bird exception irrespective of what happens with Leonard.