JImmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard

[Denny Crane]

I keep seeing people saying the Blazers have the cap space to go after these two. I really don't see how it's possible, and really, any offer made to either one only helps their current teams retain them longer by a year.

There's a clause in the CBA that will gain a lot of attention soon:

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q44

If the player is coming off the fourth year of his rookie scale contract, then in addition to a qualifying offer, his team can also submit a maximum qualifying offer. A maximum qualifying offer is for five seasons at the maximum salary with 7.5% annual raises. It can contain no options, ETOs or bonuses of any kind, and must be fully guaranteed. When a team submits a maximum qualifying offer (in essence "stepping up" with a maximum contract offer before the player hits the free agent market), it places a more stringent requirement on other teams' offer sheets (see below).

A player can elect to accept his qualifying offer and play the following season under its terms. This is sometimes done in order to become an unrestricted free agent the following summer (see question number 46).

When a restricted free agent wants to sign with another team, the player and team sign an offer sheet, the principal terms of which the original team is given three days to match.4 The offer sheet must be for at least two seasons (not including option years). If the player's prior team also submitted a maximum qualifying offer, then the offer sheet must be for at least three seasons (not including option years). If the player's original team exercises its right of first refusal within three days, the player is then under contract to his original team, at the principal terms of the offer sheet (but not the non-principal terms). If the player's original team does not exercise its right of first refusal within three days (or provides written notice that it is declining its right of first refusal), the offer sheet becomes an official contract with the new team.

What this means is that the Bulls and Spurs are certain to extend maximum qualifying offers to Butler and Leonard. The player has 3 options: sign the regular QO and become a UFA next summer, sign the max QO and stick with the current team for 5 years, or sign an offer sheet with another team.

Any team that makes an offer to either has to make at least a 3 year contract offer with no options for the first 3 years. The Spurs or Bulls can match that offer and keep the player for at least 3 years.

There is no poison pill that would deter the teams from exercising their right of refusal. In fact, if either player actually signs an offer from another team, they are doing the Bulls or Spurs a huge favor. Why? Because without the maximum qualifying offer in place, a team could offer a 3 year contract with a player option for the 3rd season; you're giving the current team a chance to match something way less than the max offer and allow them to keep the player for more than the 1 year (with option).

Plus, the Spurs or Bulls get to keep their guy on a cheaper deal than a MAX deal starting next summer. Again, doing them a favor with zero chance of not exercising their right of refusal.

The only way you get one of these guys is via trade. Or next year if they go the regular QO route.

I think Butler may go the regular QO route. Maybe Leonard does, too. By betting on themselves and signing a max contract under next year's cap, they actually make more money ($7M more):

http://www.blogabull.com/2015/3/20/8263541/jimmy-butlers-next-contract-and-the-future-nba-salary-cap