New TV Deal's Impact on Free Agency

[mufan2003]

"For the agents of maximum-salary contract players who are plotting their upcoming 2015 free agency, the optimal course is to execute a breakout strategy -- an untraditional yet clear choice: Signing a two-year contract with a player option for the second season so the player can return to free agency in 2016.

This summer's salary cap number projects at just over $67 million. With the new television deal's revenues kicking in and starting to impact BRI, the 2016 salary cap projects to jump to approximately $89 million."

http://basketball.realgm.com/analysis/237906/Risk-Benefit-Dictates-2015-Max-Players-Return-To-2016-Free-Agency

[Goose85]

If I am an owner and a player wants the option I say fine, but I'll pay you more without the option than I will with the option.
Will players take less money to get the second season option? Worked for Jimmy Butler to bet on himself.

[mufan2003]

Basically makes it a 1-year deal. Opt out after year 1, and sign a max 5-year deal in summer 2016 under a larger salary cap. Teams will have to trust that their own player will resign next summer, otherwise teams risk losing a great player for nothing. Should be interesting.

Overall, the new CBA agreed to late in 2011 shortened guaranteed max contracts. Michael Redd was a perfect example of how guaranteed contracts had become too lengthy in years. It previously was 7 years I believe, now 5 with a team retaining their own and 4 years for a team signing a player not previously on the roster.

[IWB]

Michael Redd - Signed a deal with the Bucks for $90,100,000 for 6 years. Averaged a little over 43 games per year. ($338,722 per game)

Jason Williams - Signed a deal with New Jersey for $86,000,000 for 7 years. Played a total of 30 games before a career ending injury. ($2,866,667 per game)

[mufan2003]

A good resource for questions on the current CBA (10 year deal) agreed to in 2011:

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm