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**Storyteller** · 01-31-2004, 12:38 AM

OK, here's an interesting question that came to my mind this afternoon.

It has to do with the Bobcats and the expansion draft. It's been well discussed that Charlotte will select 14-29 players in the expansion draft. But what will be their salary cap when they select players?

I know that their cap will be 2/3 that of every other team's cap. However, the expansion draft will be before the rookie draft - in June. And the new salary cap won't be set until July. So, will they operate under a cap that is 2/3 of the current salary cap (approximately $29.2 million)? Or will they operate under a cap that is 2/3 of a "best guess" cap figure for the other teams?

My first inclination is to say that they'll operate under the $29.2 figure, then have their cap increased when everyone else's is raised (that is if the salary cap increases as everyone expects it to). But I'm not sure. Thus the question.

BTW, this isn't urgent or life-changing or even really important. Just my curiousity at work.

**Petey** · 01-31-2004, 03:07 AM

I think I read NCBullsFan suggested that the cap might actually fall. Perhaps I read his post wrong, but that is what I think remembering.

-Petey

**Dan Rosenbaum** · 01-31-2004, 06:37 AM

No, I am guessing that the salary cap will rise some - my guess is to about $45.3 million.

I don't think the salary cap will apply to Charlotte during the expansion draft; the roster limitation of 15 clearly is not going to apply, so I think it is reasonable that the salary cap won't apply.

This is part of the reason why the League has given Charlotte the option to waive players prior to the start of the season and not have these players count towards their salary cap. (They do, however, still have to pay them.)

**Petey** · 01-31-2004, 04:55 PM

Sorry about the mistake. I thought you had said the cap and MLE might fall...

-Petey

**Storyteller** · 02-01-2004, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NCBullsFan!
No, I am guessing that the salary cap will rise some - my guess is to about $45.3 million.

I don't think the salary cap will apply to Charlotte during the expansion draft; the roster limitation of 15 clearly is not going to apply, so I think it is reasonable that the salary cap won't apply.

This is part of the reason why the League has given Charlotte the option to waive players prior to the start of the season and not have these players count towards their salary cap. (They do, however, still have to pay them.)

Interesting. If you're right, I wonder then when the cap will apply. July 16th? Opening night? Sometime in between?

Just thinking out loud.....Thanks for your iresponse, Dan.

MightyReds2020 · 02-03-2004, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by So Cal Blazer Fan!

Interesting. If you're right, I wonder then when the cap will apply. July 16th? Opening night? Sometime in between?

Just thinking out loud.....Thanks for your iresponse, Dan.

I guess the league has to apply the cap before the free agency begins. That means Charlotte has to make cuts right before July 1st else it is unfair to other teams that Charlotte is working on a favorable condition.

Come to think of it, if no cap has applied prior to July 1st. What will be the limitations in terms of Charlotte signing FAs?

**Dan Rosenbaum** · 02-03-2004, 04:43 PM

It does appear that Charlotte will have the right to cut players selected in the expansion draft and those salaries (will be paid), but will not count in salary cap/luxury tax calculations.

So yes, if Charlotte selects enough high priced players in the expansion draft that they start out on July 16 over the salary cap, they are over the salary cap just like one of the existing teams. The only advantage they would have is that they could cut one of the contracts they held from the expansion draft and not have that salary count.

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