In Part 1 of our deadline rundown, we parse through the context and conversation surrounding the Spurs' starting center and take a look at what might happen in the weeks ahead.
Matthew, I'm wondering about a particular scenario with Jakob, and I'm hoping you might know if this is within league rules. I've read that the Spurs are limited in extending Jakob's contract to 125% of the current value. Since his value is clearly far more than $12M year (that's $9.4M x 125%), it makes no sense for Jakob to sign that extension. However, it's my understanding that teams under the cap can use that cap space to extend their own players. For example, is it within league rules for the Spurs to agree to, say, a 5-year, $100M extension with Jakob, but pay some of that money up front using current cap space? Specifically, maybe they could raise his current salary by $20M right now in this season, then extend him off that higher number. With $20M paid up front, the remaining $80M would then be due over the next five seasons. Structured as declining salaries like Keldon's contract, combined with the coming cap spike in a few years, that might give San Antonio two above average frontcourt players making bargain money, right as their 2023 lottery pick enters his early prime.
So, again, do you know if this extension maneuver with Jakob would be within league rules?
Revisited this: The reason they cannot renegotiate his deal is because he’s currently on a three-year contract. Only players on four-year deals can renegotiate after the third anniversary of the contract signing. But there is an exception out there that allows for this!
First of all, yeah, the veteran extension is far too limited, and most players coming off their rookie scale extension don’t even consider it if they feel they’re in line for a raise. It really needs to be reworked in the upcoming CBA discussion.
But second, and if I’m understanding you correctly, his current contract can’t be altered. They can front-load the next one, though, and with all the cap space they have now that would certainly be a possibility as it was with Keldon. But they can’t alter his current contract in order to offer an extension ahead of the summer.
Matthew, I'm wondering about a particular scenario with Jakob, and I'm hoping you might know if this is within league rules. I've read that the Spurs are limited in extending Jakob's contract to 125% of the current value. Since his value is clearly far more than $12M year (that's $9.4M x 125%), it makes no sense for Jakob to sign that extension. However, it's my understanding that teams under the cap can use that cap space to extend their own players. For example, is it within league rules for the Spurs to agree to, say, a 5-year, $100M extension with Jakob, but pay some of that money up front using current cap space? Specifically, maybe they could raise his current salary by $20M right now in this season, then extend him off that higher number. With $20M paid up front, the remaining $80M would then be due over the next five seasons. Structured as declining salaries like Keldon's contract, combined with the coming cap spike in a few years, that might give San Antonio two above average frontcourt players making bargain money, right as their 2023 lottery pick enters his early prime.
So, again, do you know if this extension maneuver with Jakob would be within league rules?
Revisited this: The reason they cannot renegotiate his deal is because he’s currently on a three-year contract. Only players on four-year deals can renegotiate after the third anniversary of the contract signing. But there is an exception out there that allows for this!
First of all, yeah, the veteran extension is far too limited, and most players coming off their rookie scale extension don’t even consider it if they feel they’re in line for a raise. It really needs to be reworked in the upcoming CBA discussion.
But second, and if I’m understanding you correctly, his current contract can’t be altered. They can front-load the next one, though, and with all the cap space they have now that would certainly be a possibility as it was with Keldon. But they can’t alter his current contract in order to offer an extension ahead of the summer.