Curry, Crawford, and Knicks 2010 cap
Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:07 pm
Hi, this is a question about the Knicks attempt to create capspace for the 2010 FA market. I was wondering if there might be a tricky way for the Knicks to shave about 5m off cap, as follows:
1. Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford have opt-outs after this season. Assuming they do not opt out, they count for nearly 21.4m against the Knicks 2010 capspace (11.3 for Curry, 10.1 for Crawford [Hoopshype]). Barring breakout seasons, neither player is expected to opt out, on grounds that they would not make nearly as much in free agency.
2. So I was wondering if the following was legal:
(a) Knicks offer new contracts to Curry and Crawford as incentive to opt out
(b) The new contacts are structured to go DOWN in 2009, and DOWN again in 2010, and then RISE after that (they are basically structured to minimize the amount they count against the 2010 cap).
So the idea would be to offer the following option to Curry and Crawford after this season: "Opt out and we'll give each of you a 5yr/47m deal, structured at around 9m-8m-9m-10m-11m"?
3. If this is legal, and went through, Curry and Crawford would then only count for around 16m (rather than 21.4m) against 2010 cap. This winds up making a big difference -- by my calculations, with Curry and Crawford taking up 21.4m, the Knicks would need to move the very-hard-to-move Zach Randolph and his 17.3m 2010 caphold to clear space for a max FA. But with Curry and Crawford only taking up 16m, the Knicks would no longer need to move Zach. They would only need to move the not-as-hard-to-move Jared Jeffries and his 6.9m 2010 caphold to clear space for a max FA.
So, would this work? Is this legal?
1. Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford have opt-outs after this season. Assuming they do not opt out, they count for nearly 21.4m against the Knicks 2010 capspace (11.3 for Curry, 10.1 for Crawford [Hoopshype]). Barring breakout seasons, neither player is expected to opt out, on grounds that they would not make nearly as much in free agency.
2. So I was wondering if the following was legal:
(a) Knicks offer new contracts to Curry and Crawford as incentive to opt out
(b) The new contacts are structured to go DOWN in 2009, and DOWN again in 2010, and then RISE after that (they are basically structured to minimize the amount they count against the 2010 cap).
So the idea would be to offer the following option to Curry and Crawford after this season: "Opt out and we'll give each of you a 5yr/47m deal, structured at around 9m-8m-9m-10m-11m"?
3. If this is legal, and went through, Curry and Crawford would then only count for around 16m (rather than 21.4m) against 2010 cap. This winds up making a big difference -- by my calculations, with Curry and Crawford taking up 21.4m, the Knicks would need to move the very-hard-to-move Zach Randolph and his 17.3m 2010 caphold to clear space for a max FA. But with Curry and Crawford only taking up 16m, the Knicks would no longer need to move Zach. They would only need to move the not-as-hard-to-move Jared Jeffries and his 6.9m 2010 caphold to clear space for a max FA.
So, would this work? Is this legal?