The Chicago Bulls offered Jimmy Butler a max deal of $90 million over five years on Monday.
If this was any other time, Butler probably would have said yes by now. However, according to ESPN, the Bulls All-Star shooting guard might be mulling whether to ask the franchise for a four-year deal with a player option to opt out after three seasons.
Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is also reportedly heading toward free agency – which begins just past the stroke of midnight on July 1 – shopping for a four-year deal with an option after three seasons as well.
So, why are NBA free agents by the bunches likely to aim for similar four-year deals with an option after three seasons, instead of longterm contracts? The answer is simple. It's in anticipation of the league's new expanded salary cap projections, which could see a growth of $41 million from the 2015-16 season and the 2017-18 campaign.
That means every free agent will be looking for a piece of the new big money that awaits in three years — so the idea is to sign short, get money and in three years... get bigger money. Thus, the popular "four-year with option after three seasons" contract that we'll be hearing plenty about. If LeBron James plays his hand right, he could be in line to net $40 million per season on a $200-million contract over the next few seasons.
Keep it short this summer!
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