Post#7 » by DBoys » Mon Nov 6, 2023 2:23 pm
The difference in structure is that an NG has a year on paper, but the team can pay less than that salary (or in many cases, nothing), if they waive the player by a certain date. The do-nothing result is the player plays for that amount. When teams intend to keep the player, the NG issue becomes a nothing burger - no anticipation, no drama, no announcement that "we didn't waive him" because of course you don't waive players with contracts.
With an option, the team has not yet committed to anything, but can do so and add another year (at a salary already written) if they exercise that option by a specified date. The do-nothing result is the player becomes a free agent. In this situation, "we exercised player X's option (or, we did not)" does become a drama with comments, anticipation, announcement, etc.
Some other comparisons I can think of, there may be more
1 SAME - Both allow a team to end a contract with no further obligation.
2 DIFFERENT - BIRD RIGHTS - The team option (when declined) does keep Bird rights intact, aiding a team in cap flexibility for resigning the player if they wish to make an offer. The NG contract, when ended (by waiver), erases all Bird rights.
Applying this to the CP3 situation, if GS does not want him at that NG number and ends the contract, but wants him to return, they can only offer him a exception salary such as minimum or MLE, BAE if they have one to offer.
3 DIFFERENT - TRADE USE IN JUNE BEFORE OPTION OR NG YEAR - A trade of the player in June after the season can be done with the NG contract as is, but it is tricky because the salary counts for matching one way but not the other, to the extent it is guaranteed. The guarantee can be increased to facilitate the trade match, if needed. In comparison, the option contract cannot be traded with an option (but can be traded if the option is exercised beforehand).
4 DIFFERENT - TRADE BONUS - In earlier trades before the timing in item 3 above, a trade kicker is applied differently in regard to NG vs option.