Thanks a bunch! I think that helps a lot
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Let's see if I understand it.
Let's say my team has a 48 million left in cap in 2014 and 30 million in open funds. I sign a player to a 4-year contract for 8 million base salary / 12 million in bonus. The 12 million bonus is deducted from my open funds immediately (leaving me 18 million open funds). For 2014, my available-to-cap is then lowered from 48 million to 43 million (2 million base salary per year and 3 million bonus per year).
Now we enter 2015 (his second year) and I cut him from the team. For 2015, my available-to-cap will remain 43 million like in 2014 (assuming no other changes on team). The cut will free up the 2 million base salary from my cap. However, he had two years left on his bonus. So, at 3 million per year bonus, I take a one-time hit of 6 million to my available cap in 2016. So my available cap is actually at 42 million for 2016 (the original 48 million minus the 6 million cap hit for remaining bonus for the cut player). Then in 2017, it would be back to 48 million.
Does that sound right? If so, that helps me a TON. Now to just to go do some research on scouting and the draft
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