Let’s say some foreign player, for whatever reason (because of age, or lack of competition) falls under the radar of recruiters, and doesnt get drafted. After signing a one-year deal with a team, he immediately shows out and wins the ROTY, and looks to be a perennial all-star
So can a player like that, be offered a max contract under NBA regulations? If not, what’s the maximum that a free agent can be offered, ahead of his second season?
The original team could sign him to the max if they have the cap space because they don’t have Bird rights to exceed the cap. Playing for less than 3 years makes the player a RFA. The max another team could offer is the non-tax MLE in year 1, a 5% raise in year 2, 25% of the cap in year 3, a 5% raise over year 3 in year 4
Is the Gilbert Arenas rule still in play? Cause I thought that was basically designed for this.
0-6 years is 25% of cap max. All NBA, DPOY, or MVP would raise that to 30%. Only players with 7+ years of experience can get up to 35%, if DPOY, MVP, All NBA. 10+ years is 35%.
If a player is an RFA, that’s when the Arenas rule would apply. That player can make no more than the NTMLE in the first year, +5% the second year, then up to their max in year 3, plus 5% in year 4.
If a player is an RFA, that’s when the Arenas rule would apply
But they can still be offered the max by their own team?
Up to the max that specific player can be offered…
If the #1 pick makes the equivalent of a NTMLE, over four years of team control - That’s about the “max” any player could potentially make, with max contracts/extensions, up to that 6+ years of service, potential max vet range.