As I mentioned on the front page, I think the Herald got this one wrong (which wouldn't be the first time). As far as I know, the CBA doesn’t limit extensions to a “20% raise”. Rather, as Larry Coon notes, “the salary in the first year of the extension is limited to 110.5% of the salary in the last year of the existing contract.” Then, after that first year value is established, Perk could receive raises equal to 10.5% of that last year value every year.)
$5,127,429.84 (10.5% raise over last year of contract)
$5,614,650.97 (raise of $487,221.13, equal to 10.5% of prior contract’s last year value)
$6,101,872.10 (raise of $487,221.13, equal to 10.5% of prior contract’s last year value)
$6,589,093.23 (raise of $487,221.13, equal to 10.5% of prior contract’s last year value)
Total: 4 years, $23,433,046.14 (which is quite a bit less than the MLE)
Just to make sure, I reviewed the actual CBA, and it’s in line with the above:
http://www.bizofbasketball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=677&Itemid=89If those numbers are accurate, it’s pretty easy to see why Perk turned the extension down. He’s better off waiting until the summer, when the Celtics will have a lot fewer restrictions regarding his first year value.
If for some reason I'm calculating that wrong, let me know.