Following up on that HORSE trophy. . .

     So, for winning the HORSE contest Kevin Durant won a trophy, he was expecting a better trophy. Let's hope he also was awarded $35K too.

In Honor of All-Star Weekend. . .

     Did you know that any player selected to play in the All-Star Game is required "to attend and participate in one (1) All-Star Skills Competition," conducted during the All-Star weekend? NBA CBA Article XXI, Section 1(a). Of course, the language is poorly drafted as it is impossible for each player selected to play in the All-Star Game to participate in a Skills Competition because there are less than twenty-four Skills Competition participants. Ostensibly, the intent is that any player selected to play in the All-Star Game is required to participate in a Skills Competition if selected to participate in a Skills Competition.

     Also, it should be noted that there are four exceptions to this interesting requirement of players selected to play in the All-Star Game. First, this requirement does not apply to the Slam Dunk Competition. Second, players who are officers or representatives of the Players Association shall not be precluded from attending the Players Association's annual meeting during All-Star Weekend. Third, no player can be precluded from attending the Players Association's All-Star party. And finally, a player is not required to participate in a Skills Competition if he is excused from participation by the Commissioner who has broad discretion in such a decision.

     Now, on the lighter side, how much the NBA value the performance of the players during All-Star Weekend? Here is the amount of money awarded to players for their participation or performance:

     Players on the winning team in the All-Star Game- $35K
     Players on the losing team in the All-Star Game- 15K
     
     Players on the winning team in the Rookie-Sophomore Game- 15K
     Players on the losing team in the Rookie-Sophomore Game- 5K

     1st Place in the Slam Dunk Competition- 35K
     2nd Place in the Slam Dunk Competition- 22.5K
     3rd Place in the Slam Dunk Competition- 16.125K
     4th Place in the Slam Dunk Competition- 16.125K

     1st Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 35K
     2nd Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 22.5K
     3rd Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 16K
     4th Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 4.5K
     5th Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 4.5K
     6th Place in the Three-Point Shootout- 4.5K

     1st Place in the Skills Competition- 35K
     2nd Place in the Skills Competition- 22.5K
     3rd Place in the Skills Competition- 9K
     4th Place in the Skills Competition- 9K

     Winning team in the Shooting Stars- 45K
     2nd place team in the Shooting Stars- 33.75K
     3rd place team in the Shooting Stars- 16.875K
     4th place team in the Shooting Stars- 16.875K

I do not know what Kevin Durant was awarded for winning HORSE, but I am guessing 35K.

Miami-Toronto

Miami
In: Jermaine O'Neal ($21.3525 M) and Jamario Moon (.711517*)
Out: Shawn Marion (17.18) and Marcus Banks (4.176)

Toronto
In: Shawn Marion (17.18*) and Marcus Banks (4.176)
Out: Jermaine O'Neal ($21.3525 M) and Jamario Moon (.711517)

*- expiring contracts

     First, both teams are over the salary cap and require a trade exception to complete this trade. The most commonly used trade exception is the simultaneous traded player exception. The simultaneous traded player exception is codified in Article VII, Section 6, subsection h(1)(i), of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Under this exception, a team may simultaneously acquire post-assignment salaries that are no more than an amount equal to 125% plus $100,000 of the team's pre-trade salary. 

    However, determining whether a trade fits within the simultaneous traded player exception is simpler than interpreting the CBA's language may sound. In the vast majority of trades, one team will acquire more salary than it is assigning and the other team will assign more salary than it acquires. In this situation, the team that assigns more salary than it acquires will fit within the simultaneous traded player exception because it is acquiring less than 100% of its pre-trade salary, let alone an amount no more than equal to 125% plus $100,000 of the team's pre-trade salary. To determine whether the team that acquires more salary than it assigns fits within the simultaneous traded player exception requires a calculation. Take the amount of salary that the team is assigning and multiply this number by 1.25 and then add 100,000. If this number is equal to or exceeds the amount of salary which the team is acquiring in the trade, then the simultaneous traded player exception applies. This inquiry will resolve most trades that involve teams whose total salaries exceed the salary cap.

     In this trade, Toronto is assigning more salary than it is acquiring. Therefore, Toronto fits within the simultaneous traded player exception. Miami is acquiring more salary than it is assigning. So, a further calculation is required to determine if Miami also fits within the simultaneous traded player exception. Miami is assigning $21.356 M in salary and is acquiring $22.064017 M in salary. 21,356,000 multiplied by 1.25 plus 100,000 equals 26,795,000. Because 26,795,000 exceeds 22,064,017, Miami also fits within the simultaneous traded player exception. Because both teams fit within an exception this is a legal trade.