Signing Free Agents - Salary Cap help

[Silky Johnson]

I am playing as Milwaukee, who are about $6M over the salary cap. Every time I try to sign free agents, even for a small amount (less than $1M) it says I can't because of the cap.

Is it only possible to sign free agents if you're under the cap?

In which case, how do I get under the cap? Do I have to trade players for other players that are about 25% cheaper?

[berdush]

If you are over the cap you can only sign players who wants min. contract...

[Andrew]

Three strategies for freeing up cap space;

1. Trading players to a team with salary cap space and taking on smaller contracts in return.
2. Waiting until the end of the season so that players with expiring contracts come off the books.
3. Trading players you don't want for players with expiring contracts to place yourself in better position to take advantage of method #2.

You can always edit player contracts/salaries and the salary cap if you're playing the PC version but that would be cheating.

[Silky Johnson]

Thanks...I have been trying to trade for players with expiring contracts, so I guess I'll keep going with that...there go my hopes of signing Glenn Robinson from the FA pool.

[mkl]

Hey all, new here...

I've been playing live 06 for a week or so and I've simmed through a cpl seasons of Dynasty mode with the Heat. Shaq's done, i'm in free agency and about 930k over the cap. I was just wondering with players like Kidd, MoPete and Sheed available as FAs and almost EVERY team in my league over the cap... how come after the few weeks of free agency signing are over they can just goto their original teams (Even though their team already $5m+ over the cap), but i can't sign anyone to minimum contracts or any new FAs?

[Andrew]

Thanks...I have been trying to trade for players with expiring contracts, so I guess I'll keep going with that...there go my hopes of signing Glenn Robinson from the FA pool.

Are you in the first year of the Dynasty? If so, you might be able to dump some contracts on the Bobcats and/or Hawks.

[Silky Johnson]

Yep, beginning of the first year. Yeah, have thought of that...I also noticed 80% of Orlandos contracts expire at the end of the 1st year, so maybe I try and offload to them.

[Andrew]

Sounds like a plan. Charlotte and Atlanta can usually provide immediate cap relief if you've got unwanted players to dump so I'd suggest checking that out first; you'd be able to sign Glenn Robinson then.