Cap "Save if Release" question

[aston217]

Is there some point during which a player's current year salary is guaranteed?

I'm sitting here in the Late FA period with a bunch of players I'm cutting. These are players signed to minimum salary and zero or minimum bonus (10k). Their current year cap cost is clearly counting against the salary cap. However, cutting them does not increase the cap room.

This makes no sense to me at all, so I'd appreciate some enlightenment!

Case A: Save 5.17mm if Released
Salary: 6mm, Bonus: 5mm, Years Left: 1

Case B: Save -0.01mm if Released
Salary: 1.1mm, Bonus: 0.01mm, Years Left: 1

Case C: Save 0.77mm if Released
Salary: 1.6mm, Bonus: 0mm, Years Left: 1

Case D: Save 0.00 if Released
Salary: 0.82mm, Bonus: 0mm, Years Left: 1

What's going on here?

[QuikSand]

Only your 53 highest paid players count against the cap - sounds like that might be at least part of your issue here.

[aston217]

Ah, that's it. Thank you! So those no-bonus players, I still do effectively hold them for free right now.