How do the NBA salary cap rules really work?

[Vermont Green]

I believe that a player on a two-way, becomes an RFA after the season.  So if the Celtics had done this before mid March, and signed on another two-way to replace Queta, they would have some beneficial control over that player, I believe.

[Vermont Green]

Some questions for C21 or anybody else that knows:

1.  What type of contract are we allowed to sign Queta to, particularly in terms of how many years?  Since we can't use the MLE, is it limited to a two-year vet minimum, or is there another exception under the new CBA?

2.  Is there any benefit in terms of retention rights to signing somebody to a two-way contract for the last few games?  Obviously they could become acclimated with the team, but are there two-year two-way contracts?  Are there any sort of restricted free agency rights, and how do those work?

Regarding #1, I don’t think there is anything available other than the minimum.  I expect it to look similar to Hauser’s contract when he was promoted two years ago (team option for second year, partial guarantee if picked up) and that the Celtics decline the option and re-sign him using non-Bird rights this summer, depending who they pick up in the draft.

Regarding #2, players can’t be signed to two-way contracts at this point in the season (the deadline is sometime in early or mid-March), so the Celtics will not be able to fill their open 2-way spot.

Michael Scotto: The Boston Celtics have signed Neemias Queta to a two-year deal, which includes a team option for the 2024-25 season, league sources told @hoopshype. 3 hours ago – via Twitter MikeAScotto

[ozgod]

I decided to post up the new apron restrictions and tax penalties from the new CBA that go into effect this season. They will affect the Celtics as a second apron team.

(click to enlarge)


(click to enlarge)

[Kernewek]

Is it possible to sticky a post? V. good summary Oz.

[otherdave]

Since we are above the 2nd apron we can't not send more salary than we take in.

But which salary figure is applicable: the cap hit or the real cash salary outlay?

For example:

Daniel Theis (NOP) cap hit is 2,087,519, but his real salary is 2,800,834
Xavier Tillman        cap hit is 2,237,691, same as his salary   2,237,691

So Tillman's cap hit is higher, but his real salary is lower.

Can C's trade the X man for Theis??

[Celtics2021]

Since we are above the 2nd apron we can't not send more salary than we take in.

But which salary figure is applicable: the cap hit or the real cash salary outlay?

For example:

Daniel Theis (NOP) cap hit is 2,087,519, but his real salary is 2,800,834
Xavier Tillman        cap hit is 2,237,691, same as his salary   2,237,691

So Tillman's cap hit is higher, but his real salary is lower.

Can C's trade the X man for Theis??

The cap hit is what?s relevant.  Also, Theis is a minimum-salary player, so we can trade for him without matching (we wouldn?t, but we could).  Teams over the second apron are still allowed all the minimum players they want, only teams actually subject to a hard cap need to keep an eye on minimum-salary contracts with regard to trade restrictions.

[otherdave]

new question:

J Springer just traded to Houston,

so J Springer is a RFA at the end of this season.....theoretically are the C's eligible to offer him a contract this summer?

[Roy H.]

new question:

J Springer just traded to Houston,

so J Springer is a RFA at the end of this season.....theoretically are the C's eligible to offer him a contract this summer?

We could offer him the minimum salary.  He'll be a restricted free agent if Houston offers him a qualifying offer (I can't imagine they will), and an unrestricted free agent otherwise.

That said, I don't see him deciding to come back here.  It's already clear that the coach won't give him minutes.  He's better off trying his chances elsewhere.

[otherdave]

True Roy.  I was only asking if new (or current) owners want to shave more $ off their luxury tax bill (going to higher repeater status next season), they may trade away T Holiday. Springer could be a very cheap alternative - tough defense (maybe better than aging Holiday at this point), offense meh.  Let's face it - more and more teams are disrespecting Holiday when he sets up beyond the 3 pt line on offense (they are not guarding him - same as what they do with Springer).  I feel like with Holiday gone and perhaps Peyton starting, Springer could get regular minutes backing up, with regular minutes I feel like his offense could/should improve.

Which raises a larger question - is it easier to improve offensively or defensively?  I feel like you can't teach what Springer has on the defensive side, but that if Horford can pick up the 3 pt shot in the second half of his career anyone can.

Thoughts?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

[Roy H.]

A question probably for C21:

Why did the Springer trade include the Celtics sending out a heavily protected 2nd rounder?

Michael Scotto: The Houston Rockets acquired guard Jaden Springer from the Boston Celtics along with a 2030 second-round pick and a protected 2027 second-round pick in exchange for a protected 2031 second-round pick. ? via Bluesky

I understand that Houston had to trade one, because they had to send out something in the deal.  But why did we, since we're already sending a pick and a player?

[otherdave]

The first and second apron thresholds where put in the current CBA to prevent creating super teams (see Durant going to Warriors).

But I feel like the CBA does not restrict keeping your current team together, as long as owners are willingly to pay luxury taxes, (I admit being over

2nd apron long term has a very harsh penalty - getting your 1st rd pick moved to 30th place).

So here's my question:

Can the Celtics re- sign their own UFAs with Bird rights at competitive pay rates or can they only offer their UFAs vet min deals?

Specificallly I am thinking of Luke Kornet and Al Horford.  I think the C's can offer either guy a fair market contract (if the owners don't mind the taxes, etc.), but I want to hear from the experts.......

[Vermont Green]

Things are complicated, and I usually don't know every aspect, but if a team has a players "Bird Rights", which should be the case for both Horford and Kornet, they can exceed the salary cap or other thresholds to resign their players.  Some teams are hard capped and this would not apply to them.  For example, if a team used the non-tax MLE to sign a player, that could result in a hard cap for a year.  If there is a hard cap, the team cannot exceed that.  The Celtics are not hard capped.

For Horford and Kornet, it comes down to what other teams would be able to pay, more than what they might want to pay.  Most contending teams are over the salary cap so they would have to use an exception to pay more than the minimum.  If teams are over the 1st apron, they can't even use the exemptions.  I don't think either Kornet or Horford are going to see big offers from other teams but Kornet in particular is likely to have offers above the minimum that he is making now.  The Celtics are very likely going to have to give Kornet a raise to keep him.  Horford is at $9.5M, which is pretty good for a 38'ish year old who only plays 60 or so games per year.  I could see him accepting a little less per year moving forward.

Again, the key is that a team must be under the 1st apron in order to be able to use their MLE.  A tax paying team can only use $5.7 of the MLE and if they use it, they would then be hard capped at the first apron.  This is why I expect that the market value for Kornet or Horford would probably be around $5M.  This is the most that most teams would be able to offer.  And even with that, most teams are not going to want to hard cap themselves for Kornet or even Horford.