Aloha,
There has been talk of just letting DFS walk. That would allow us to use a non tax payer MLE. But there is a problem with that. We would be hard capped at the first tax apron. That is 195 mil. We are currently sitting at 191 mil and that is without our Rookies salary. Could we find a quality replacement for him and two centers with basically 16 mil. Not sure if we could. If we bring him back at about the same salary, we can go up to the 207 mil 2nd apron. We would have around 14 mil for a center and fill out the roster. That is probably the best plan.
Michael, thanks again for the solid comment with regard to the salary caps/aprons. Solid….as I said “”You Might Be A Genius….If You Understand The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement””….and I know you’re the authority here!
Thanks. Not a genius, I just have way too much time on my hands. Lol.
Here are the moves that a team whose salary is above the first tax apron – but below the second apron – is prohibited from making in 2024/25 and beyond:
Acquiring a player via sign-and-trade.
Using any portion of the bi-annual exception for any transaction.
Using any portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to acquire a player via trade or waiver claim.
Using more than the taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception to sign a player.
Signing a player who was waived during the current season if his pre-waiver salary for that season exceeded the amount of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Using one or more outgoing players in a trade for matching purposes to take back more than 100% of the outgoing salary.
Using a traded player exception generated during the prior year (ie. between the end of the previous regular season and the end of the most recent regular season).
It’s worth clarifying a few points related to these restrictions.
A team operating above the first apron doesn’t have access to the bi-annual exception or non-taxpayer mid-level exception, both of which can be used to sign a player or to acquire a player via trade or waiver claim. First-apron teams can use the taxpayer mid-level exception, but it can only be used to sign a player, not to acquire one via trade or waiver claim.