After some digging around in the actual CBA, I think Aldrige is partially right.
According to Article 5, section 8:
](e)
(1) A Veteran Free Agent and his Prior Team may enter into a Player Contract pursuant to an agreement between the Prior Team and another Team concerning the signing and subsequent trade of such Contract, but only if (i) the Contract is for three (3) or more Seasons (excluding any Option Year), (ii) the Contract is not signed pursuant to the Mid-Level Salary Exception or the Disabled Player Exception, (iii) the first Season of the Contract is fully protected for lack of skill, and (iv) the acquiring Team has Room for the player’s Salary plus any Unlikely Bonuses provided for in the first Season of the Contract.
So, the way I read this, based on the Wizards situation and the C's, the Wizards could complete the deal but the C's can't. According to paragraph e, sec. 5: the aquiring team must have room under the cap for the player salary. This fact seems to be missing from Larry Coon's explanation. The C's don't have any room under the salary cap, thus preventing us from completing the deal.
But the trade proposed would fit in the 125% + $100K rule. My understanding of what you're reading is that the trade muct fall under cap rules, which this does...
I guess it depends on what your interpretation of the term "Room" means.
I saw it as meaning we would need to have room under the cap. I'm guessing you're interpreting it as just needing to fit under the traded player exception. The wording isn't exactly clear, so I interpreted it as it read, not what it might be implying.
If, we only need to fit Howard's salary into the traded player exception, then we;re good. If it has to fit unde the cap, it's a no go.
It would definetly be better if you're right, just offering an explanation for why Aldridge is saying there is a hold up in the deal.