SmartWentCrazy wrote:
From what I've read, the RFA cap hold change will begin in the 2018-19 season, not this off-season. Noel's cap hold will still be 250% of his current salary, not 300%.
Does rookie scale go up 15% of 45%? According to Ryan Bernadoni below, it's up 15% over previous season. I've seen 45% elsewhere??
Rookie Scale Exception
What Has Been ReportedRookie scale will increase by 15% over the previous schedules for next season
Scale contracts will increase by 5% in year two, then 30% in year 3, and 45% more in year 4
Unsigned, non-stashed rookies will carry a cap hold of 120% of scale, equal to their maximum salary amount
Rookie scale will be defined as a percentage of the salary cap in future seasons
Players signed to rookie scale deals from the current CBA will receive raises that do not count against the salary cap
Teams will now have two “designated player” slots to use on players coming off their rookie scale deals
What We Don’t Know
What are the percentages that will be used in the future?
Will the guaranteed scale contracts of “stashed” first round picks from prior drafts be adjusted to the new scale amounts or to some lower figure?
Is anything being done to increase the options for signing second round picks, beyond the “2-Way” D-League contract (see below)?
Big Picture
As with the other exceptions, rookie scale had simply fallen out of historic alignment with the massive increase in the salary cap. This was a necessary correction, and tying it to the cap for future seasons will keep the misalignment from developing again.
The salary increase was originally reported to be 45%. A 15% increase still results in a smaller salary in relation to the cap than rookies used to. Any increase could be looked at as a punishment against future picks, but this is such a modest increase compared to what has happened with the salary cap that it’s very hard to see it that way. Rookie scale contracts will continue to be a great deal for the team, as long as the player can contribute.
