As the first year without a salary cap since the salary cap was applied seventeen years ago approaches, many details need to be considered.
And with Thursday being the first day that the franchise tag may be applied to unrestricted free agents, one important facet of the uncapped year must be kept in mind.
In the uncapped year, teams may use both a franchise tag and a transition tag.
The transition tag has been used far less frequently since adoption of the current labor deal in 2006, given that the 2006 deal made the full amount of the transition tender (based on the average salary of the ten highest-paid players at the position) fully guaranteed once accepted by the player.
Because the transition tag gives the team only a right to match any offer that is made -- and no compensation if the offer isn’t matched -- it makes far more sense to simply apply the franchise tag and pay the difference between the average of the ten highest-paid players at the position and the five highest-paid players at the position.
But with the ability in 2010 to use both, there’s a chance that some teams will consider using the franchise tag on one player, and the transition tag on another. If the team is willing to keep the player for one more year at a guaranteed salary equal to the average pay of the top ten players at his position, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
Alternatively, teams can use two transition tags in the uncapped year, but not two franchise tags.
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