SO YOU WANT TO BE AN NBA GM?
Simple. Just memorize the league's mind-numbing, 482-page Collective Bargaining Agreement. Think you're ready? Try our quiz ...
1.
Blake Griffin had a "trade kicker" worth 15% of his $29.7 million salary in his contract. How come he was only $860,000 richer after he was traded from the Clippers to the Pistons last season?
AThe trade kicker would have taken his salary past his max allowable salary ($29.9 million), so he received the difference ($215,000 per year over the four remaining years on his deal).
BThe value of the kicker is charged to the team that traded him, and since they were between the so-called "apron" and the luxury tax threshold, the Clippers could pay only 18% of the $4.455 million kicker.
CKia recalls.
2.
How many days off are players guaranteed during the season?
________________
3.
The stretch provision allows teams to do what?
AWaive a player and pay the remainder of his salary over additional years.
BDefer a signing bonus over the life of a contract.
CAdd up to two inches to each player's height in official bios.
4.
In the most recent CBA, the sides agreed to the formation of a committee to study the potential impact of what on the game?
ALegalized marijuana
BWearables
CPost-midnight tweeting
5.
What'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EARLY BIRD RIGHTS AND BIRD RIGHTS?
AEarly Bird rights are earned after two seasons without changing teams as a free agent; Bird rights are earned after three.
BEarly Bird rights allow players to re-sign for four years; Bird rights allow them to re-sign for five and for the full maximum allowable amount.
CBoth A and B.
D[Insert own Dennis Rodman/worm joke here]
6.
A team can't trade away its first-round pick in successive seasons.
TRUE / FALSE
7.
Why can J.J. Redick veto any trade?
AA player on a one-year contract who will gain his Early Bird or Bird rights following the season can block a deal.
BHe is an 11-year vet and has spent two seasons with the same team.
CDuke guys can do whatever they want.
8.
A team cannot trade an off-season free-agent signing before Dec. 15. So how come the Jazz would have been forbidden from trading Derrick Favors on Dec. 16?
ANot only did he re-sign with his previous team last offseason, but he got a raise of at least 20%, his salary is worth more than the minimum, his team was over the cap, and it used Bird or Early Bird rights to sign him.
BNot only did he re-sign with his previous team last offseason, but his salary pushed his team over the cap, and his salary takes up more than 15% of the team's total payroll.
CThat's the date of the commissioner's annual Silver's Bells Winter Holiday Bash.
9.
What's the difference between a non-simultaneous trade and a simultaneous trade?
AIn a simultaneous trade, all the financial requirements are met at the time. In a non-simultaneous trade, they are met in the future thanks to trade exceptions.
BIn a non-simultaneous trade, one or more players remains on the books of the team that is trading him for a period of up to 15 days.
CIn a simultaneous trade, both GMs say, "No, you hang up first" at the same time.
10.
CAN A TRADE BE BOTH SIMULTANEOUS AND NON-SIMULTANEOUS?
AYes
BNo
CDude, you just blew my mind.
11.
The moratorium on signing free agents lasts how long after free agency starts?
A48 hours
BSix days
COh, who are we kidding?
12.
The Grizzlies offer Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Knicks for Mario Hezonja. New York counters with Hezonja and Kevin Knox for Jackson and Justin Holiday. Why can't Memphis make that deal?
AHoliday was acquired in an aggregated trade on Jan. 3, so he cannot be included with another player in a deal for two months; that date falls after the trade deadline.
BThe combined salaries of Hezonja and Knox must be within 125% (plus $250,000) of the salaries of Jackson and Holiday, and they are not.
CSending former Knick Holiday back for a second stint with New York constitutes double jeopardy.
13.
Which of the following activities is prohibited under the standard player contract?
AMountain climbing
BSoftball
CHaving "dinner" with LeBron James when your team plays in L.A.
14.
Teams are penalized an additional "repeater" tax after what?
ASigning a player to a max free-agent contract in consecutive offseasons.
BPaying luxury tax in three of four previous seasons.
CLosing to LeBron in the playoffs three straight times.
15.
The Pelicans can't trade Anthony Davis to the Celtics as long as Kyrie Irving is on the roster because both signed a Designated Rookie Extension. But New Orleans could trade the Brow to the Suns, who have Devin Booker, another Designated Rookie. Why?
AA team can have two Designated Rookies as long as only one was acquired in a trade.
BSince the trade would be occurring between teams in the same conference, the players exchanged don't count against the Designated Rookie limit on their new team.
CPhoenix is a natural pit stop on the way to L.A.
16.
Why can't Trevor Ariza be traded to the Suns this year?
AA team can't reacquire a player it traded during the season.
BA player acquired in a trade can't be dealt again for 90 days.
CDid you see what happened last time the Suns were a party to a trade involving Trevor Ariza?
17.
Which is a prerequisite for draft eligibility?
ATurning at least 18 during the calendar year of the draft.
BBeing one academic year removed from high school graduation.
CProof of ownership of at least one suit of a color that does not occur in nature.
18.
WHAT IS THE FOOD PER DIEM FOR ROAD TRIPS?
19.
The Nuggets arrive back in Denver from a road trip at 5:15 p.m. local time. How much of that day's per diem do players receive?
MATCH THE OFFENSE TO THE FINE:
20Player fails to pay incidentals on hotel bill
21Player blows off league gambling seminar
22Team doesn't arrange for porters to pick up players' bags
23Team negotiates with uncertified agent
24Player positive pot test (first offense)
25Player doesn't submit to obligations of Marijuana Program
26Team enters into "unauthorized agreement" with player (such as a future contract)
27Player enters into "unauthorized agreement" with team
A$0
B$100
C$5,000
D$10,000
E$20,000
F$50,000
G$250,000
H$3,000,000
ANSWER KEY
1. A; 2. 18; 3. A; 4. B; 5. C; 6. False (The Stepien Rule prevents a team from making a trade that leaves it without first-round picks in successive drafts. A team can trade its 2019 draft pick and then deal its 2020 pick after the '19 draft—so long as it still has its 2021 pick.); 7. A (a player has to be an eight-year vet with four seasons with the same team to be eligible for a no-trade clause); 8. A; 9. A; 10. A (one team can consider it a simultaneous trade, and the other can treat is as non-simultaneous); 11. B; 12. A; 13. A; 14. B; 15. B; 16. A; 17. B (the minimum age is 19); 18. $133; 19. $61 (since the flight arrived before 5:30, players aren't entitled to dinner, which is 54% of the per diem); 20. B; 21. E; 22. C; 23. F; 24. A; 25. D; 26. H; 27. G