TripleThreat wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Lebron signed with Cleveland as a FA this season.So, no vested bird rights or other exceptions apply. If he opts out, wouldn't Cleveland have to renounce pretty much all the players they have to get under the cap enough to re-sign him? They can't go over the cap to re-sign him without Bird Rights, right? He's just a regular free agent, no?

LBJ signed for two years with Cleveland, with the 2nd year being an option year which he will decline. My guess is the option year was a safety value for injury this season. He will likely sign yet another two year deal with the 2nd year as an option year ( again, to hedge for injury) Since LBJ played for one year in his 2nd tour with Cleveland, he qualifies for the Non Early Bird exception, meaning this contract, he can get a raise of up to 120 percent of his last annual salary. When he opts out again for 2016, by then, the 25 billion dollar TV contract will kick in, thus skyrocketing the cap ( in theory, there are still issues about a smoothing option or the reality of a labor war ) LBJ can then sign for four years as an Early Bird (because he will have two years of service time during his 2nd tour in Cleveland), thus Cleveland can go over the cap to sign him and IIRC, up to a 175 percent raise over his last contract spread across the four years.

This offseason, the usage will be the Non Bird Exception.

Next offseason, barring catastrophic injury, the usage will be the Early Bird Exception.

Thanks -- that's a great answer.