Nope, they always had the 2 year team options on the rookie scale contracts. Here are links for Durant and Lebron, their career salaries are near the bottom, both of them made 4-6 million their 1st 4yrs in the league then their max extensions kicked in in year 5 and they started making real money. That's just how it works, like I said I think you're getting the way NFL deals or maybe MLB deals (although I know shit about MLB) mixed up with the NBA, 1st round NBA rookies are just super restricted in what it is they get salary wise until year 5. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duranke01.html http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html And Boozer was a 2nd round pick with a minimum contract for 2yrs with a 3rd year minimum option, not a 1st round pick making the rookie scale for 4yrs.
I'm almost positive Lillard will get the same treatment Russell Westbrook got, while being eligible for the Durant/Rose "supermax" contract. He will finish out his rookie contract. Technically, he's on a 2yr contract guaranteed $6.267M ($3.065 and $3.202M). By October 31, 2013 the team will pick up his 3rd year ($3.34M guaranteed) and by Oct 31 of 2014 they will pick up his 4th (2015-16) year for $4.24M. By October 31 2015 he will (I imagine) be eligible for the "supermax" contract (To qualify for the bigger extension, a player needs to be named league MVP, selected as All-NBA First, Second or Third Team in two seasons, or voted in as All-Star twice.) That allows him to get a salary of 30% of salary cap and a 5-year deal. You can decline it (Westbrook did the "normal max" of 25%). I think that's what Dame will get.
Pretty sure the Cavs let Boozer out of his deal because he said he wanted to renegotiate and then he left for a bigger deal with Utah. It was a pretty big deal because the Cavs were furious. Edited: yup here's the article http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1836318
Lakers want Lillard? I want an end to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, reproductive choice, marriage equality, a mimosa and for my damn knees to stop aching. Except for the last, I'll have everything else on the list before the Lakers get Lillard.
Arenas. He was a 2nd round pick and was able to leave because GSW didn't have an option and his 2-year deal did not give them Bird rights to match. That said, Lillard will get the MAX if the Blazers want to pay him. Using his Bird rights, they can go over the cap and over the LT to sign him.
Another thing to add to novoodoo's comments, our owner is the richest owner in the nba, we can spend our cap this year and resign lillard to the max when his contract expires and Paul wouldnt blink'twice. Paul is willing to pay, especially for teams with potential to win. our gm will have Paul on board moneywise
Novoodoo, you are incorrect on the way rookie contracts work. Revisit what happened with guys like rose, westbrook, harden, etc. Recently.
