J.R. Smith Declines Player Option
2012/06/jr-smith-to-opt-out-of-contract.htmlEven if the NBPA's Bird Rights victory stands, Smith won't be affected as much by the ruling as teammates Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak. … The Knicks could only offer Smith a deal starting at about $2.8MM with his Non-Bird rights, or $3MM with their mid-level exception.
Knicks Extend Qualifying Offers To Lin, Fields
2012/06/knicks-extend-qualifying-offers-to-lin-fields.htmlIf the NBPA's victory in the Bird Rights ruling stands, the Knicks will have the cap flexibility to retain both players using their Early Bird rights. … However, should the league win its appeal of the decision, there's a chance New York will have to use its mid-level exception to retain Lin -- Fields will still have his Early Bird rights.
NBPA Wins Bird Rights Ruling
2012/06/nbpa-wins-bird-rights-ruling.htmlThe most likely outcome will allow players claimed off waivers to retain some form of Bird rights, Beck says. … June, 22, 1:37pm: Kenneth Dam, the arbitrator tasked with making a decision on last week's Bird Rights hearing, has sided with the NBPA, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times.
League, Union Reach Bird Rights Settlement
2012/06/league-union-reach-bird-rights-settlement.htmlThe league and the National Basketball Players Association have reached a settlement that will extend Bird rights to four players claimed off waivers this season, but will limit the retention of Bird rights for players claimed off waivers in the future, according to Howard Beck of The New York Times (Twitter links). … From now on, full Bird rights will only be retained if the player is claimed off amnesty waivers.
Blazers Don’t Give Qualifying Offer To J.J. Hickson
2012/06/blazers-dont-give-qualifying-offer-to-jj-hickson.htmlBut since the Blazers have full Bird rights on Hickson, thanks to today's settlement between the union and the league about Bird rights for players claimed off waivers, they could sign him later in the summer, even if they're over the cap at that point.
2012 NBA Free Agency Primer
2012/06/2012-nba-free-agency-primer.htmlAmong them: Bird Rights, Early Bird Rights, Mid-Level Exception, Cap Holds, Gilbert Arenas Provision, and Maximum Salary.
Heat To Aggressively Pursue Ray Allen
2012/06/heat-to-aggressively-pursue-ray-allen.htmlThe Celtics hold Allen's Bird rights and the Suns could have a ton of cap space, so both teams could make substantial offers.
Celtics Targeting Shooting Guards
2012/07/celtics-targeting-shooting-guards.htmlAllen is at the top of the Grizzlies' and Heat's lists of offseason targets, and while the Celtics hold the sharpshooter's Bird rights, he doesn't appear to be a priority for the C's at the moment. … If they were to renounce their rights to some free agents, the Celtics could carve out some cap space, but it's probably more likely that they'll use their mid-level exception in their pursuit of a shooting guard.
Week In Review: 6/25/12 – 7/1/12
2012/07/week-in-review-62512-7112.htmlThe league and the players' union agreed to a compromise on the Bird Rights ruling, which will allow Jeremy Lin, Steve Novak, and other players claimed off waivers to retain some form of Bird Rights. … The Pacers also made front office changes, as Donnie Walsh replaced Larry Bird as team president while Kevin Pritchard took over from David Morway as GM.
Ainge: Ray Allen Is “Our Number One Priority”
2012/07/ainge-ray-allen-is-our-number-one-priority.htmlHowever, while those teams are limited to their mid-levels ($3.09MM for Miami and $5MM for Memphis), the Celtics hold Allen's Bird Rights and can make him a more substantial offer.
Courtney Lee Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent
2012/07/rockets-make-lee-unrestricted-free-agent.htmlThe Rockets made the move as a strategy to keep their eye on their future cap situation, but still have…
The Nets And The Salary Cap
2012/07/the-nets-and-the-salary-cap.htmlThat would mean losing Bird Rights for those players, so the Nets won't be doing that.
Ersan Ilyasova Has Five-Year Offer From Bucks
2012/07/ersan-ilyasova-has-five-year-offer-from-bucks.htmlBecause the Bucks hold Ilaysova's Bird Rights, they are the only team that can make a five-year offer to the 25-year-old.
Free Agent Rumors: Hill, Dragic, McGee, Shved
2012/07/free-agent-rumors-stiemsma-pietrus-grizzlies.htmlHowever, Kyler notes that the Rockets, who still hold Lee's Bird Rights, may have the framework in place for a five-year, $32MM deal.
The Suns And The Salary Cap
2012/07/the-suns-and-the-salary-cap.htmlIf the Suns were to renounce Lopez, Brooks, and their other free agents (including Shannon Brown), they'd probably be okay, but that would mean losing Bird Rights for those guys, and reducing their chances of re-signing them.
Jerryd Bayless Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent
2012/07/jerryd-bayless-becomes-unrestricted-free-agent.htmlThe move doesn't necessarily mean Bayless won't be back in Toronto or that the team has given up his Bird Rights. … If the Raps decide to renounce Bayless, they would give up his Bird Rights, greatly reducing their chances of re-signing him.
Celtics Rumors: Stiemsma, Bradley, Cap
2012/07/celtics-rumors-stiemsma-pierce-sgs.htmlThe length of the non-Bird deal can be four years, with 4.5% annual raises, and the bi-annual exception allows two years with a 4.5% raise in the second year.
Nenad Krstic Signs With CSKA Moscow
2012/07/nenad-krstic-signs-with-cska-moscow.htmlWhile the Celtics hold his Bird Rights (and a cap hold worth over $8.3MM), the team isn't permitted to include him a sign-and-trade deal, since he's spent a year away from the NBA.
Knicks Re-Sign J.R. Smith
2012/07/knicks-to-re-sign-jr-smith.htmlBecause Smith just signed with the Knicks in February after returning from China, he only had Non-Bird Rights, which meant a maximum raise of 120%. … Since Smith re-signed in New York though, his Bird clock will keep ticking, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him opt out again in search of a larger raise when he earns Early Bird rights next summer.
Spurs Re-Sign Boris Diaw
2012/07/spurs-agree-to-re-sign-boris-diaw.htmlBecause the Spurs only hold Diaw's Non-Bird rights, the team will have to use its mid-level exception to bring him back.
Knicks Re-Sign Steve Novak
2012/07/knicks-to-re-sign-steve-novak.htmlHeading into the offseason, there was speculation that the Knicks wouldn't have the means to retain Novak, but an arbitrator's ruling allowed Novak to retain Early Bird rights, making it easier for New York to make him a competitive offer and bring him back.
King: Nets Close To Re-Signing Kris Humphries
2012/07/king-nets-close-to-re-signing-kris-humphries.htmlFor Brooklyn, re-signing Humphries makes some sense, since the team holds his Bird rights and could only sign outside free agents to minimum-salary deals.
Spurs Re-Sign Patty Mills
2012/07/spurs-re-sign-patty-mills.html"He gives us some added depth at the guard position and we are excited to have him back in San Antonio." Terms of the deal aren't known, but because Mills signed with the Spurs midway through last season, the team only held his Non-Bird rights. … As an over-the-cap club, I would assume the Spurs used the Non-Bird exception to re-sign the 23-year-old, which means his first-year salary will likely be just $1,085,120, a nice bargain for the team.
Clippers Sign Jamal Crawford, Chauncey Billups
2012/07/clippers-to-sign-crawford-billups-out-on-allen.htmlCrawford's deal figures to use up the Clippers' full $5MM mid-level exception, while the team was able to to over the cap to re-sign Billups using his Bird Rights.
Landry Fields Signs Raptors’ Offer Sheet
2012/07/landry-fields-raptors-agree-to-offer-sheet.htmlThe Knicks have Fields' Early Bird rights and can match any offer for the restricted free agent, but the Gilbert Arenas provision allows for a significant third-year raise.