I want To hear The Ways LeBron Could Be A Celtic!

[Greenbean]

I know Michael Jordan was pretty underpaid for alot of the championship years in Chicago. I think his last two years there he made 30 million but beside those years, he didnt have a max deal. Anyone think Lebron would ever settle for less and go to whatever team he wants. Hes going to be beyond rich with endorsments regardless. So why not take a pay cut to sign with a team that cant offer a max but can offer a good fit and a good coach. I still dont think the celts would be that team for Lebron, but Im just sayin...

MJ Salary (from bball reference)

1984-85 Chicago Bulls NBA $550,000
1985-86 Chicago Bulls NBA $630,000
1986-87 Chicago Bulls NBA *$737,500
1987-88 Chicago Bulls NBA $845,000
1988-89 Chicago Bulls NBA $2,000,000
1989-90 Chicago Bulls NBA *$2,250,000
1990-91 Chicago Bulls NBA $2,500,000
1991-92 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,250,000
1992-93 Chicago Bulls NBA $4,000,000
1993-94 Chicago Bulls NBA $4,000,000
1994-95 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,850,000
1995-96 Chicago Bulls NBA $3,850,000
1996-97 Chicago Bulls NBA $30,140,000
1997-98 Chicago Bulls NBA $33,140,000
2001-02 Washington Wizards NBA $1,000,000
2002-03 Washington Wizards NBA $1,030,000

[ScoobyDoo]

What I have never understand about these conversations about the cap is...if we're under the cap, can't we go over and just pay the luxury? I mean, the Lakers were already well over at the time they inked Lamar Odom to his $10 Mil a year contract. I think they were at $81 million "when they signed him". Therefore, if Paul walked and Ray came off, along with TAllen, Scal, House, Sheldon and Marquis...which is about what:
Paul: $17 Mil
Ray: $17 Mil
TA: $2.5 Mil
Scal:$3.5 Mil
Sheldon: $1 Mil
Marquis: $1 Mil

$42 Mil...shouldn't we be in the game to sign LeBron, Wade or Joe Johnson, and then still re-sign Pierce for decetn money and Ray at medium money? Sure it would put us up back around $80-90 mil, but we're not far from that now and the Lakers are there.

So, isn't it more a matter of ownership being willing to eat it on the luxuray tax than us technically "not being able to do it?" I mean is there a law within the Cap agreement that restricts us from doing it legally? Or are people just saying we can't becasue they figure there is no way our ownership would do it? Or is the hitch that the Lakers were able to re-sign Lamar becasue of his bird rights?

Pls explain Roy, thanks. 

[Roy Hobbs]

What I have never understand about these conversations about the cap is...if we're under the cap, can't we go over and just pay the luxury? I mean, the Lakers were already well over at the time they inked Lamar Odom to his $10 Mil a year contract. I think they were at $81 million "when they signed him". Therefore, if Paul walked and Ray came off, along with TAllen, Scal, House, Sheldon and Marquis...which is about what:
Paul: $17 Mil
Ray: $17 Mil
TA: $2.5 Mil
Scal:$3.5 Mil
Sheldon: $1 Mil
Marquis: $1 Mil

$42 Mil...shouldn't we be in the game to sign LeBron, Wade or Joe Johnson, and then still re-sign Pierce for decetn money and Ray at medium money? Sure it would put us up back around $80-90 mil, but we're not far from that now and the Lakers are there.

So, isn't it more a matter of ownership being willing to eat it on the luxuray tax than us technically "not being able to do it?" I mean is there a law within the Cap agreement that restricts us from doing it legally? Or are people just saying we can't becasue they figure there is no way our ownership would do it? Or is the hitch that the Lakers were able to re-sign Lamar becasue of his bird rights?

Pls explain Roy, thanks. 

I'd refer you to the FAQ for more detail, but basically teams above the cap can only sign players in the following ways:

1) They're using the MLE (roughly $5.5 million in the first season);

2) They're using the LLE (bi-annual exception, roughly $2.0 in the first season);

3) They're using the minimum contract except (it varies, from around $400k to $825k, in terms of cost to the team);

4) The team is re-signing its own free agent.  Players who have played continuously for one year without being waived, traded, or signing a contract with a new team can get a 20% raise on their previous salary (subject to certain limits); players with two years can sign for up to the amount of the MLE or for 175% of their previous salary (subject to certain limits), and players with three years or more (those with "Bird rights") can sign for any amount up to the "maximum salary" (between $13.5 million and $18.9 million, depending upon service time, and subject to some other technicalities).

For teams trying to sign *another* team's free agents, they need to use one of the exceptions above, or fit the player's contract within their existing cap space.  Thus, with a $53 million cap and $40 million in payroll, a team can sign another team's player to a maximum of $13 million.

As mentioned, it's all in here:  http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=28668.0

[celticsclay]

What was all this one in a million talk?