Bird Rights and 4 years down the road...

[Diggles]

Here is the definition:

In essence, the Larry Bird exception allows teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents, at an amount up to the maximum salary. To qualify as a Bird free agent, a player must have played three seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent.


So if we move forward years to come..  We have the following bird rights to these players~And can match any offer up to the max... is that correct? 

IT (Maybe)
Bradely
Smart
Jae
KO
TRozier
Hoford
RJ
Young
Mickey
And all this years rookies.....   

So say we trade for Westbrook or Blake and they do not sign an extension.   We would not have their bird rights.   So we would then offer the max to either one I assume and then when the players above become FA we can offer them up to Max deals I assume. 


So if one resigned for the max,  for the next 4 years we could essentially keep that core together and only sign our picks and vet min players.   

If we can ship out JJ and Amir  and get any of these guys I would be down. (Jahil, Westbrook and Blake)   Do it.... 

[jpotter33]

I think you're wrong here. We'd get both Griffin's and Westbrook's Bird Rights in a trade, so we could offer them the full five year max. That's the only reason you'd trade for a max-level free agent in his last year.

[Diggles]

I think you are right....  But could we offer all our core max deals when they expire?   Or match any other teams offers? 

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think you're wrong here. We'd get both Griffin's and Westbrook's Bird Rights in a trade, so we could offer them the full five year max. That's the only reason you'd trade for a max-level free agent in his last year.

Correct, the Bird Rights are indeed traded with them.

Also, don't ignore the scenario in which we would renegotiate + extend either's contract. Even though the max contracts next year will be higher, by giving them MAX this year there are scenarios in which they can potentially make more money at least in a 3 year contract than what they would get waiting for next year. At least with Westbrook who's making much less than Griffin this year.

[The Fawb]

Ok sounds like you are a bit confused but it's ok, the CBA is very complicated.

First off, as others have said, bird rights transfer with the player in a trade, as long as they have 3 consecutive years with the prior team. Any player we would trade for we will be able to offer a 5 year max with 7.5% yearly raises up to 30% of the current salary cap (other teams can only offer 4 years, 4.5% yearly raises at 30% of cap).

As for our own players. If they have 3 years with us, we can offer the same 5 yr offer above to any or all of them. We can also go above the salary cap to do so, up to an unlimited ammount, although above the luxury tax things get quite expensive fast.

One thing you are confused on though is the if we can match any offer. This privilege is only extended to teams with player who are restricted free agents (usually just finished their rookie 4 yr deal but there are some odd exceptions). This would mean only Smart, Rozier, Mickey, RJ Hunter, Young, Olynyk and all our rookies we sign this year will eventually have matching rights. 

Hope this helps!

[Diggles]

I got it.   I did forget about that tax.  But I guess if we are winning its worth it.    Thanks guys. 

[KG Living Legend]

 Thank you Diggler. Tp. For the sweet Name

[Diggles]

haha!  Cheers from AZ!