CBA question

[Kolo]

Since it's looking like McDyess might be worth keeping, I'm wondering whether we can sign him to a contract which exceeds the cap. For example, say we end up w/ $9 million in cap space and use all of it on Brent Barry and Gary Trent (which wouldn't be all that bad, in my opinion). Couldn't we then sign McDyess to a contract because we have his Bird-Rights? I'm thinking no team in its right mind would give McDyess the MLE, and I'd guess a 2 yr, $5 million contract might be agreeable to both sides (unless, of course, his kneecap splits in two again sometime in the next few weeks).

I could be totally wrong.

 

[elindholm]

Good question. If the Suns enter the free-agency period under the cap, they don't get their exceptions -- but does that apply to retaining their own free agents? I have a hazy memory that a player's "Bird rights" are kept when he gets traded, which means that his team can go over the cap to re-sign him. But this could be wrong.

 

[George O'Brien]

Good question. If the Suns enter the free-agency period under the cap, they don't get their exceptions -- but does that apply to retaining their own free agents? I have a hazy memory that a player's "Bird rights" are kept when he gets traded, which means that his team can go over the cap to re-sign him. But this could be wrong.

It is my understanding that the Suns cannot get the benefit of McDyess's expiring contract unless they renounced his Bird rights. They can still sign him, but only as a free agent subject to the cap rules.

The one exception to the cap that is relevant is that the Suns could sign Dice to the Veteran Minimum. This is always available even if they used up their cap space on draft picks, Vujanic and an FA like Kobe. But to offer more, the Suns would have use cap space.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It is my understanding that the Suns cannot get the benefit of McDyess's expiring contract unless they renounced his Bird rights. They can still sign him, but only as a free agent subject to the cap rules.

The one exception to the cap that is relevant is that the Suns could sign Dice to the Veteran Minimum. This is always available even if they used up their cap space on draft picks, Vujanic and an FA like Kobe. But to offer more, the Suns would have use cap space.

This is my understanding as well. Even if he is a FA, he counts against the cap, unless the Suns renounce his rights. At that point they do not retain Bird rights for him.

Its a good thing that the draft is first. It seems to me that Okafor and Dice would be somewhat redundant. Knowing who we get in the draft will help us know whether we want to keep Dice or not.

 

[Kolo]

I forgot about having to renounce his rights. I now remember that was an issue the first time we had McDyess, and we didn't renounce him b/c we thought we'd re-sign him--and not renouncing him tied up cap space for a while which we could have used on others (I recall Pippen was talked about, at least in the press). Then, he bails to Denver and we panic and we all know the rest.

Another question, why is everybody talking about having to use cap space to sign Vujanic? He was a second round pick, and I believe we can sign him after we fill up our cap space to the standard second round contract. Do some anticipate we'll have to sign him to a contract different than the standard second a la Lampe and the Knicks to facilitate a buyout? It'd be nice if we didn't have to, just sign him to a three year deal, and we'll have his Bird rights after three years and we can match any offer he gets if we want to.

Again, I could be totally wrong.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Vujanic was a second round pick because he was not coming over immediately. It is widely thought if he were to enter this years draft, he would have been lottery material.

From what I have read, his current contract has a buyout clause to allow him to play in the NBA. However, just likely lampe, he will have to pay most of that cash (we are limited to paying something like 300k).

Also, I am pretty sure he makes around 2 mil a season already over in Europe.

 

[slinslin]

I would heavily doubt that Vujanic would be a top 14 pick in this draft.

A 22 years old PG who averages merely over 1 apg in europe isn't going to be drafted over Sebastian Telfair, Chris Paul, Devin Harris, Shaun Livingston and probably Jameer Nelson.

And I am pretty sure he makes 2M$ over 3 years not in a season.

 

[F-Dog]

Edit--LOL, that's what I get for taking my time to answer...

Another question, why is everybody talking about having to use cap space to sign Vujanic? He was a second round pick, and I believe we can sign him after we fill up our cap space to the standard second round contract. Do some anticipate we'll have to sign him to a contract different than the standard second a la Lampe and the Knicks to facilitate a buyout? It'd be nice if we didn't have to, just sign him to a three year deal, and we'll have his Bird rights after three years and we can match any offer he gets if we want to.

Again, I could be totally wrong.

IIRC, the problem with Vujanic is that he's already making $2 million a year with his Euro team, and he'd have to pay a buyout to leave that team.

That doesn't automatically mean that the Suns couldn't sign Vujanic cheap; I believe that most of Lampe's salary over the next three years will be used to pay off his buyout, but he was willing to do that because he really wanted to get into the NBA. Vujanic has been ambivalent about making the move, though.

I believe the Suns will need to offer $6m-$7m over three years to get Vujanic to come over, which means the Suns would have to save about $2m in cap room if they want to sign him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I would heavily doubt that Vujanic would be a top 14 pick in this draft.

A 22 years old PG who averages merely over 1 apg in europe isn't going to be drafted over Sebastian Telfair, Chris Paul, Devin Harris, Shaun Livingston and probably Jameer Nelson.

And I am pretty sure he makes 2M$ over 3 years not in a season.

You could defintiely be right, I barely follow Euro ball. However, I know I have read that he would have been a lottery pick had he come over right away. Maybe that was for the year he was drafted??

 

[George O'Brien]

I have always assumed the Suns would need about $2 million to get Vujanic. Buy the Suns can wait until after the Kobe situation is resolved. If the they lack the cap space because of Kobe, they just let Vujanic wait another year in Europe.

BTW, this issue of whether Vujanic is really PG or an SG may be moot if JJ emerges as the Suns main PG. I expect Vujanic would be more of Dwayn Wade type player rather than a straight PG.