The Cavaliers are reportedly in serious discussion to sign Derrick Rose.
They still have about $2.5 million of the taxpayer mid-level exception left, but don’t expect Rose to get it.
Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
The Cavs are believed to be offering Rose a minimum contract
A minimum salary for Rose is $2,116,955. More importantly for the Cavs, they’d have to pay him – and be taxed at – just $1,471,382. (The NBA covers the difference on one-year minimum deals for veterans.) Regardless of whether they sign Rose, they still have to fill out their roster with at least minimum players.
If they pay him more than the minimum, they’d be on the hook for his full salary and be taxed on it.
So, Rose could push for a little more. But Cleveland has much more incentive to set a hard line.