sp18614 wrote:The NBA Salary Cap is the limit to the total amount of money that National Basketball Association teams are allowed to pay their players. While this seems simple enough in concept, the salary cap is in actuality extremely complex, and contains many obscure rules and loopholes.
The amount that is actually the cap varies on a year-to-year basis, and is calculated as a percentage of the League's revenue from the previous season; for instance, in 2006-07, the NBA's salary cap was approximately US$53.135 million per team, while for the 2007-2008 season it is $55.63 million[1]. Like many professional sports leagues, the NBA has a salary cap to keep teams in larger markets (with more revenue) from buying all of the top players and extending their advantage over smaller-market franchises.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Salary_CapUnder the above mentioned explanation it would appear that we would hold Ronny's Bird rights as he has had a 3 yr contract with the Lakers from 2004-2007. Although, with Sasha, he has had two contracts from 2 contracts surpassing the 3 years from 2003-2006 & 2007. Last year would have been Sasha's bird rights year. It would also appear that Ronny will sign for alot less and that the both of them are just trying to get other teams to offer a substantial offer sheet to take back to the Lakers. Since the Lakers offered them qualifying offers they have the right to match any offer any other team makes.
Other question does anyone know if we have the bi-annual exception this year?
thanks
I am not sure what you are trying to say, but I will clarify each players status for you.
Sasha has just completed his rookie scale contract and has been with the Lakers for 4 years without changing teams as a free agent. Therefore the Lakers have full "Bird-Rights" to him. Also, they tendered him a qualifying offer (as is allowed for rookie scale contracts), which makes him a restricted free agent. So essentially Sasha is a "Full-Bird Restricted Free Agent" and the Lakers have the right to match any offer to him or sign him outright without using the MLE or BAE.
Ronny Turiaf has been with the Lakers for 3 years and is coming off his minimum salary 3 year contract. As with Sasha, since Ronny has not changed teams as a free agent, the Lakers have full "Bird Rights" to him. Since Ronny has been in the league less than 4 years, the Lakers were allowed to tender him a qualifying offer, which they did, making him a restricted free agent. Bottom line on Ronny is that he is a "Full-Bird Restricted Free Agent" and the Lakers have the right to match any offer to him or sign him outright without using the MLE or BAE.
The Lakers did not use the Bi-Annual Exception last season so they do have it this year to use.