When trading, do the "Total" contract amount have to match or the remaining. Like if Spree makes 15 million and it expires next season, can he be traded for someone who has a 3 year contract for 5 million each year? Or if Nick Van Exel makes 65 million and is in the first year of his 5 year contract could he be traded for player A (40 million - 2years) and player B (25 - million for 3 years)?
I think what has to match is what the players make in the current season (or upcoming season during offseason). E.g. a trade between Spre and Hill is possible because they both make roughly 14.5 Million$ but I'm pretty sure that the total contract amount and remaining is unequal, Hill has another two seasons after this while Spre is a free agent after this. Just check out the trade simulator on www.realgm.com
contracts the contracts for the year have to match not the total contract. So if spree is making 15 million a year (just enough to feed his family) he cant be traded for a player with a three year deal worth 5 per year. Unless of course both teams are enough under the cap but ussually u wont see that happening.
Yeah like Jwohl said, they yearly contracts have to match, so say Marbury gets 12 mil this year, and Baron Davis gets 12 mil (or near it), they can be traded for each other, or they could have like 2 players who get 6 mil this year traded for just one player or what ever.
If both teams are over the salary cap it has to match. But if both are under pretty much anything goes.