Salary Cap Question

Sixersfan87 · Post #1 » by **Sixersfan87** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:33 pm

Hypothetically speaking, could a RFA sign a one year deal with a team under the cap (like Memphis) in order to make more money than the qualifying offer by either forcing their current team to match a higher salary and still become unrestricted the next offseason or by successfully signing with the new team for basically a one year rental? For example:

If Memphis decided it had nothing to lose and wanted to sign Okafor to a one year deal at 9-10 mil, and the Bobcats matched, then isn't this the same as taking a Qualifying Offer from his current team but picking up another 3-4 mil in the process. I know many of you are wondering why Memphis would even bother with the paperwork, but worst case scenario they're no worse off, best case the get a starting caliber big man for a year who may or may not resign next summer if he's a great fit and maintain some level of respectability during the season. I know they said they're not just going to spend to spend but I mean what GM doesn't wanna put the best players on the floor. Is Chris Wallace basically saying the Grizz wanna tank before the season even starts?

This applies to guys like JSmoove, Okafor, Deng, Ben Gordon, or anyone who feels like they're being spurned by their current team. Just thought I'd ask if anyone thought this is a possible scenario that could come up.

Post #2 » by **The Guilty Party** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:51 pm

The risk is that if for some reason the player's current team didn't match, the player would then play a 1 year contract and no team would have his Bird Rights next summer which means the player and his agent better be damn sure a team with cap space will sign him to a massive deal. Because there wouldn't be any Bird Rights, the player could be screwed since there couldn't be a sign-and-trade.