Post by Dylan (SAC) on Jun 14, 2013 19:21:50 GMT -5
1.0 - Financial Guidelines
Salary, luxury and hard cap levels see league rules. Click here.
1.1 - Salary Cap:
A salary cap is a limit on the amount teams can spend on player contracts, which helps to maintain competitive balance in the league. Without a salary cap, teams with greater rosters can simply outbid the remaining teams for the better free agents. The basic idea is that a team can only sign a free agent if the total payroll for the team will not exceed the salary cap. So an elite team is playing on a level playing field with every other team.
The salary cap is a soft cap, meaning teams can exceed the cap and still increase their team salary using exceptions which are outlined later.
1.2 - Hard Cap:
A hard cap doesn't allow the cap to be exceeded for any reason. When a team has exceeded the hard cap, they cannot increase their team salary by even $1 through trades, the draft or free agent signings. You will forfeit your current 1st round pick immediately. Signing free agents to a one year minimum contract is permitted. Teams over the hard cap may make any move that lowers their salary, regardless of whether it keeps them over the hard cap or not.
A soft cap, like the salary cap, contains exceptions which allow teams to exceed the cap under certain conditions. In fact, very few teams are ever under the cap during a season. The hard cap is implemented to act as a virtual financial constraint. As the CSL is fantasy, money is not real therefore GMs have no real financial obligations. The hard cap restricts teams from abusing this.
1.3 - Luxury Cap:
If a team's total payroll exceeds this value at the end of the regular season, then they will be penalized in the forum of a loss of exceptions and/or draft picks dependent on how far over the luxury cap line they are.
2.0 - Contract Guidelines
2.1 - Maximum/Minimum Salary:
As per DDS3.
The exception to the maximum contract is when a player is resigned using bird years. The bird team can offer a maximum of 105% of the player's previous salary.
2.2 - Length of Contract:
LINE NUMBERS | EXPAND CODE | SELECT ALL
Max Contract Length (Bird Players) - 5 years
Max Contract Length (Non-Bird Players) - 4 Years
Max Contract Length (MLE) - 5 Years
Max Contract Length (LLE/Minimum) - 2 Years
The maximum contract length of a player with bird rights is 5 years. If the team doesn't have the bird rights to a player, the maximum length is 4 years. For teams who are signing a player using a low-level exception or to a minimum contract, the maximum length is 2 years.
2.3 - Raises:
LINE NUMBERS | EXPAND CODE | SELECT ALL
Amount of Maximum Raise (Bird Players) – 7.5%
Amount of Maximum Raise (Non-Bird Players) – 4.5%
The maximum raises of a player with bird rights is 7.5% per season. If the team doesn't have the bird rights to a player, the maximum raises is 4.5% per season. Minimum contracts can have no raises, and the value will remain at the league minimum.
3.0 - Exceptions
3.1 - Larry Bird Exception:
LINE NUMBERS | EXPAND CODE | SELECT ALL
Amount of Maximum Raise (Bird Players) – 7.5%
Max Contract Length (Bird Players) – 5 years
Better known as "bird rights". The exception states that if a team holds at least 3 bird years, then the team can exceed their salary cap up to the player's maximum contract or the hard cap (whichever comes first) in order to resign him.
A bird year is accumulated when a player spends a full season with a team without being waived or changing teams via free agency. When a player is traded, their bird years are traded with them and still apply with the new team. Bird rights are forfeited when the player is renounced.
A player who has bird rights is also able to receive 7.5% raises (instead of the usual 4.5%) and can be signed for a maximum 5 years (instead of the usual 4 years).
3.2 - Mid-Level Exception (MLE):
Once a year, teams can use a mid-level exception (MLE) to sign a player to a contract for a specified maximum amount. The amount of the MLE and its duration depend on the team's cap status. The MLE is $5 million for a duration of four years for teams that are over the cap either before or after the signing, but did not pay a luxury tax in the previous season. Teams without cap room that paid tax in the previous season have an MLE of $3 million with a three-year duration. Teams with cap room, previously ineligible for the MLE, have a new MLE of $2.5 million with a two-year duration.
Over the cap, over the tax
Amount: 3,100,000
Years: 3
Raises: 3%
Over the cap, under the tax
Amount: 5,000,000
Years: 4
Raises: 3%
Under the cap, under the tax, but less than 2.5 in cap space.
Amount: 2,500,000
Years: 2
Raises: 3%
3.3 - Low-Level Exception (LLE):
The LLE, or bi-annual exception, is an exception similar to the MLE however it can only be used once every two years. The LLE cannot be split and given to multiple players. The contract can start at a maximum of 100% of the LLE value for a maximum of 2 years with up to 3% raises per season. It is only rewarded to teams that are over the salary cap, but under the tax.
Over the cap, under the tax
Amount: 1,900,000
Years: 2
Raises: 3%
3.4 - Rookie Exception:
Teams are forced to sign their first round draft picks to rookie "scale" contracts even if they will be over the cap as a result. This is for 2 years, however there is a 3rd and 4th year team option to extend a first round rookie to a maximum of 4 years. The 3rd year option must be exercised prior to the conclusion of the postseason of their rookie season, and the 4th option prior to the same date of the following year. Second round rookie contracts are not guaranteed and, unless signed to a 1-3 year deal during the signing period following the draft, will be waived with no financial burden to the team salary.
3.5 - Minimum Contract Exception:
A player may be signed to a minimum contract by any team regardless of their financial situation. Teams over the hard cap can only sign players to minimum contracts. The maximum length of a minimum contract is 2 years with no raises. The value of the second year is the minimum contract value of that season. All players signed via free agency throughout the regular season are signed to minimum contracts.
Years of Experience Minimum Salary Maximum Salary
0 473,604 13,668,750
1 762,195 13,668,750
2 854,389 13,668,750
3 885,120 13,668,750
4 915,852 13,668,750
5 992,680 13,668,750
6 1,069,509 13,668,750
7 1,146,337 16,402,500
8 1,223,166 16,402,500
9 1,229,255 16,402,500
10 1,352,181 19,136,250
4.0 - Expired Contract Liabilities
4.1 - Free Agent Liabilities:
Upon the expiration of a player's contract, their salary will still count towards the team's payroll, unless they are renounced (see 4.2), re-signed, or sign with another team. For bird players, at least 150% of their previous salary will count against the team's payroll. For non-bird players, at least 120% of their previous salary will count against the team's payroll.
4.2 - Renouncement:
If a player is renounced at the end of the contract, the team has no contract liabilities on their payroll and can increase their available cap room. If renounced, all bird rights are forfeited. This cannot be undone.
4.3 - Retired Players:
If a player retires whilst still under contract, the total contract will still be paid out against the team's salary for the duration of the contract. If the player is entitled to any player options or early termination options (ETO's), these can also still be exercised while a player is retired. Any team options on retired players are automatically accepted.
5.0 - In-Season Free Agency
5.1 - In-Season Free Agency:
See sign, cut and recall rules. Click here.
The traditional waiver rule does not apply. If a player is cut from a team, that team must pay out the remainder of the players deal, including all player options and/or early termination options (ETO's) (see 5.2 - Contract Liabilities), regardless of whether the player is signed to a new team or not. Due to this, all players signed in-season will be for the minimum contract for one season, and will never pick up the player's former contract. Bird years will reset to zero.
5.2 - Contract Liabilities:
When released by a team, the player's full contract will continue to count against that team's payroll until the time it is due to expire. By definition, the full contract includes any and all player options and/or ETO's, so these will be automatically exercised by the player. Team options will be rescinded upon the release of the player by default. In the event of a player retiring, the released salary will continue to count against the team's cap (see 4.3 - Retired Players).
6.0 - Restricted Free Agency
6.1 - Restricted Free Agency:
A free agent is unrestricted (free to sign anywhere) unless they are coming off their 4th year first-round rookie option. If the option is not picked up, they will become an unrestricted free agent after 2-3 seasons.
As a restricted free agent, the player must receive an initial offer, or qualifying offer, of a length of at least 1 year at 125% of their previous salary from their former team by a pre-determined deadline. If they miss this deadline, the right to match an offer is forfeited. When offered, the player must accept the offer before another pre-determined deadline. If the deadline passes, the player is still a restricted free agent, however they can no longer accept the qualifying offer, unless it is the minimum offer permitted.
As well as the qualifying offer, a player can receive a maximum qualifying offer which follows the bird exception. This can be up to the maximum salary for a maximum of 5 years at 7.5% raises.
If another team wishes to sign a restricted free agent they must submit an offer sheet. This must be for a minimum of 2 years and be within the salary rules. If a player accepts and signs an offer sheet, the mother team has to then match the offer sheet which will then be the player's new contract.
The player can also renegotiate a new contract with their new team independent of the qualifying offer at any time during the offseason.
Restricted Free Agents cannot be signed and traded under the traditional sign-and-trade rules, if the mother team retains the player by way of matching an offer sheet.
A team cannot offer a qualifying offer to a player if they are over the hard cap at the time regardless if renouncements will bring them under.
7.0 - Contract Clauses
7.1 - Team Option Clause (TO):
A team option clause allows a GM to choose if a contract is to be extended for one additional season after the date it is scheduled to end. For example, a four-year contract with an option for the fifth year means that if the option is exercised, then the contract extends through the fifth season, but if the option is not exercised, then the contract ends after the fourth season.
Contract options can only occur at the final year of a contract. If a contract is for 4 years, then there may be a 5th year option. The option year also has to be of an equal or greater value of the season prior.
Rookie "scale" contracts for first round picks contain team options for a 3rd or 4th year. These are known as rookie options (see 3.4 - Rookie Exception).
7.2 - Player Option Clause (PO):
A player option clause allows a player agent to choose if a contract is to be extended for one additional season after the date it is scheduled to end on behalf of their client. For example, a four-year contract with an option for the fifth year means that if the option is exercised, then the contract extends through the fifth season, but if the option is not exercised, then the contract ends after the fourth season.
Contract options can only occur at the final year of a contract. If a contract is for 4 years, then there may be a 5th year option. The option year also has to be of an equal or greater value of the season prior.
7.3 - Early Termination Option (ETO):
Player Early Termination Options (ETOs) give the player the right to terminate the contract early. An ETO can only occur prior to the end of the fourth season of the contract (which means that the contract must be for at least five seasons). If a player exercises an ETO, they cannot be extended by the former team, unlike contract options.
8.0 - Contract Extensions
8.1 - Contract Extensions:
Contracts can be extended when a player is in the final year of their contract and have at least 3 bird years.
When extending players, the maximum value of the first year is 110% of their final year salary, however this cannot exceed the league maximum for that player. This excludes players coming off their rookie scale contracts, where the first year value can be up to the league maximum.
Extended contracts can only be for a maximum of four (4) years, as opposed to the five (5) which can normally be offered to Bird-eligible players in the offseason.
8.2 - Hard Cap vs. Real Cap:
Teams over the hard cap may only extend players given their expiring contracts in the coming offseason bring their total salary below the hard cap. Extensions may be signed up to the hard cap, but not over. Unrenounced salary is not accounted for in this instance, as hard cap space will not change and teams will not be able to sign any other free agents.
9.0 - Sign and Trades
9.1 - Sign and Trades:
Under no circumstances can a team sign and then trade another team's free agent. But there is a rule that allows teams to re-sign their own free agents for trading purposes, called the Sign-and-Trade rule. Under the Sign-and-Trade rule, the player is re-signed and immediately traded to another team. This is done by adding a clause to the contract which stipulates that the contract is invalid if the player's rights are not traded to the specific team within 48 hours. If not followed out within the 48 hours, the player remains with the team and is locked into his 90 day restricted status.
A sign-and-trade deal requires the team to have at least three (3) bird years of the player to be signed and traded, but cannot be made when the player is signed using the Mid-Level or Low-Level exceptions. Sign-and-trade contracts must be for three years or longer, however they do not have to be all guaranteed (options and ETO's can be utilized). The three year minimum (even though the last two seasons may be non-guaranteed) ensures that the new team will not acquire Bird rights to the player any sooner than if they had signed him directly.
Restricted Free Agents cannot be signed and traded under the traditional sign-and-trade rules, if the mother team retains the player by way of matching an offer sheet.
10.0 - Trading Restrictions