SPORT BLOG

In the latest revelation about how the Nets manipulated the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks write that the team inserted bonuses in both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant’s new contracts. As a result, Brooklyn was able to squeeze out just enough cap space to sign DeAndre Jordan and rookie Nic Claxton.

According to “contract data” obtained by ESPN, Irving’s bonuses are deemed “unlikely” while Durant’s are seen as likely. The differentiation is critical since “unlikely” bonuses are not included in a player’s cap hit … while “likely” bonuses are. The distinction is based on a player’s history.

Lowe and Marks write Irving’s contract is especially interesting in that it includes eight separate incentives — $125,000 each. Irving’s initial salary for 2019-20, they note, is $31,720,000 — exactly $1 million short of his maximum. Hitting all eight bonuses would make up the difference.