[外絮] 新CBA將如何影響尼克隊？

原標題：How could NBA’s new CBA affect Knicks this summer and beyond?
(NBA 的新版勞資協議在今年夏季如何影響尼克隊？)

來源：https://theathletic.com/4596744/ (付費媒體)

作者：Fred Katz

原文＋翻譯：

The New York Knicks will need a new strategy soon. After all, the rules are
about to change.

紐約尼克隊將需要一個新的策略，畢竟規則將會發生改變。

The NBA and the players’ association agreed this spring on a new collective
bargaining agreement, which will kick in July 1 at the start of free agency.
The Knicks, along with the rest of the league, will have to tweak their
approach to handing out contracts, making trades, valuing draft picks and
more.

聯盟和球員工會在今年春季，已就新版勞資協議達成共識，預定於七月一日自由市場開啟時開始生效。和聯盟內其他球團一樣，尼克隊將必須調整他們在派發合約、進行交易、評估選秀籤等方面的作法。

There is nothing glamorous about long, complicated legal documents, but if
you see the Knicks or anyone else do something funky this summer, it may justbe because of this agamic CBA.

對於冗長、繁雜的法律文件，並沒有什麼值得奇怪的，但如果看到尼克或其他球隊在今夏作出古怪動作的話，這可能是因為新版勞資協議所造成的。

With the start of free agency only three weeks away, here are six ways the
new CBA could affect the Knicks this offseason and beyond:

距離自由市場開啟還有三個星期的時間，以下是新版薪資協議在休賽季期間，對尼克造成的影響：

Matching salaries

薪資配對

All we hear about in Knicksland is the team’s chase for a star. Well, the
team is in an even more advantageous position under the new CBA, which will
make it more difficult for teams with expensive payrolls to deal not just forstar players but for any players at all. Meanwhile, the Knicks are below the
luxury-tax line and should remain in that territory for the 2023-24 season.

一直從尼克隊聽聞到的，是對於球星的追逐。在將導致薪資支出高的球隊更難進行交易的新版勞資協議下，該隊將處於更有利的競爭優勢。與此同時，尼克隊目前處於豪華稅門檻之下，預計2023-24 賽季也是如此。

Some of the new restrictive rules are being phased in, but here is a summary
of them:

一些新的限制性條款將獲得實施，其中摘要如下：

The NBA is adding a “second apron,” which will be $17.5 million above the
luxury-tax threshold and will hurt high-payroll teams on the trade market.

聯盟將增加「第二層硬上限」，在原有的豪華稅門檻上，還要多出一千七百五十萬美元
，在自由市場上將傷到高支出的球團。

The Knicks, as constructed, could make a hypothetical star trade using
players whose salaries come within 125 percent of the salary they’re trading
for — referred to as “matching salaries.” But during the 2023-24 season,
which begins July 1, teams who are above the second apron can match salaries
up to only 110 percent, according to league sources, making any sort of tradefar more difficult.

按照預想的結構，尼克隊可以利用工資在他們要交易的工資125%以內的球員進行假設的明星交易——被稱為「薪資配對」。但是在七月一日開始的2023-24 賽季，根據聯盟的消息
，在第二層硬上限以上的球隊最多只能配對110%的工資，這使得任何形式的交易變得更加困難。

New York, which is not in the tax, won’t have to deal with this. But more
expensive teams could be wiped out of the conversation for a star, or even
for just a regular old role player because they can’t make the money work.

目前無需繳付豪華稅的尼克隊，將不需要應付這問題。但其他支出高的球隊可能會被排除在球星交易的談判之外，甚至連普通球員也不行，因為他們無法「讓錢工作」。

The rules become even more restrictive once the 2023-24 regular season ends.
From that point on, teams above the second apron cannot aggregate players in
trades at all, meaning they can deal only one player at a time, and
salary-matching rules become as prohibitive as possible. If two teams both
above the first apron are making a trade, they can do the swap only with
players who make identical salaries, down to the cent. Essentially, starting
next summer, the only realistic way a team over either apron can make a tradeis if it flips one player who signed a max, midlevel or minimum deal for
another player who signed the same contract in the same season.

在2023-24 賽季例行賽結束後，規則會變得更加嚴格。從那時起，高於第二層硬上限的球隊完全不能在交易中匯總球員，這意味著他們一次只能交易一名球員，而且薪資配對規則將受限更多。如果兩支都在第一層硬上限之上的球隊進行交易，他們只能用薪資相同的球員進行交換，精確到分。基本上，從明年夏天開始，超過任何一層上限的球隊可以進行交易的唯一現實方式是，用一位簽署了高薪、中產或低薪合約的球員，換取另一位在同一賽季簽署相同合約的球員。

How often do we see trades like that?

類似交易會否變得更頻繁？

If the Knicks trade for a star, whether it’s this summer or the next one,
they will have to maneuver around these measures. If it’s a particularly
expensive household name and they manage to hold onto Jalen Brunson, Julius
Randle and RJ Barrett in the process, then they’re talking about the tax or
maybe even the second apron, and that’s without considering new salaries for
upcoming free agent Josh Hart or up-and-comers Immanuel Quickley and Obi
Toppin, who could be included in a star trade but are also only one year awayfrom free agency.

如果尼克斯隊要交易一位球星，無論是在今年夏天還是明年夏天，他們將不得不圍繞這些措施進行交易。如果這是一個特別昂貴的家喻戶曉的名字，而且他們在這個過程中成功留下Jalen Brunson、Julius Randle 和 RJ Barrett，他們即是在談著豪華稅，甚至可能是第二層硬上限。這一切還沒有考量即將成為自由球員的 Josh Hart 或後起之秀 ImmanuelQuickley 和Obi Toppin 的新工資，他們可能包括在一個球星交易中，但距離進入自由市場也僅有一年之隔。

There was never a good time to part with lots of picks and young players for
a star who does not work, but it’s possible, given the punitive tax rules,
that it’s more harmful now than ever to give up the kitchen sink for the
wrong star. If a team has a player who doesn’t fit and underperforms because
of it, then that team has fewer ways to improve around him and could be stuck.

在放棄大量選秀權和年輕球員及換取一個不工作的球星之間，從來沒有這樣剛好，但鑑於懲罰性的稅收規則，如果要為選錯的球星而放棄廚房水槽（編按：指「普通球員」），現在有可能比以往任何時候都更有害。如果一支球隊有一個不適合的球員，且因此而表現不佳，這支球隊在他周圍改進的方法就變得更少，甚至可能會被困住。

Teams above the second apron are restricted in how they can build out their
rosters, too. They lose access to the taxpayer midlevel exception.
Essentially, if a team is above the second apron, it can only sign players
with minimum contracts or by using Bird rights, which allows organizations toexceed the salary cap to re-sign their players.

超過第二層硬上限的球隊，在建立球員陣容方面也受到限制。他們失去了使用付稅中產特例的機會。基本上，如果一支球隊在第二層硬上限之上，它只能以低薪合約或通過使用允許球隊以超過薪資帽的方式重簽的「鳥權」簽下球員。

Player-friendly extension rules

對球員友善的續約規則

Extensions for players coming off rookie contracts can now be five years for
everyone — not just for designated top prospects, as was the case during the
previous CBA — which means Quickley and Toppin will be eligible for
five-year deals this summer. The extensions would kick in for the 2024-25
season. Next summer, Quentin Grimes would be eligible for a five-year
extension, which would start for the 2025-26 season.

如今新秀合約約滿的球員，續約期間都可以是五年，而不是在舊制度下只能提供給指定的頂級潛力球員。這意味著 Quickley 和 Toppin 今年夏天都可以簽一份長達五年合約，將從2024-25 賽季開始生效。而在明年夏天，Quentin Grimes 也將符合該資格，從2025-26賽季開始生效。

But the young players aren’t the only ones who could benefit. There’s also
Hart, an anticipated free agent who isn’t guaranteed to become one, even if
Hart returning to New York remains the most likely outcome this summer.

但年輕球員不是可以受益的唯一群體。還有預計不一定能成為自由球員的 Hart ，畢竟回到紐約將是較為可能出現的結果。

Hart has a unique contract structure: a $13 million player option for the
2023-24 season that becomes non-guaranteed if he picks it up. The assumption
all along was that he would go into free agency since he’s worth more than
$13 million. But with the new rules, he has another option.

Hart 有一個獨特的合約結構： 2023-24 賽季時的一千三百萬美元球員選擇權，執行的話將成為不受保障球員。一直以來的假設是，因為價值比選擇權本身還要更高的關係，他將會進入自由市場。但有了新規則後，他將有別的選擇。

Veterans can now extend for up to 140 percent of their previous season’s
salary. That figure used to be 120 percent. It means leading into June 24,
the deadline for Hart to pick up or decline his player option, he and the
Knicks could negotiate a 2024-25 salary for up to $18.1 million (140 percent
of $13 million). If both sides agreed, Hart could pick up the player option,
the Knicks could guarantee it and he could then sign an extension, which
would begin in 2024-25, worth up to about $81 million over four years.

老將現在可以領取他們上賽季工資的140%。這個數字過去是120%。這意味著在六月廿四日之後，也就是 Hart 接受或拒絕履行球員選擇權的最後期限，他和尼克可以就2024-25 年的工資進行談判，最高可達一千八百一十萬美元（一千三百萬美元的140%）。如果雙方同意，哈特可以接受球員選擇權、尼克隊可以作擔保，然後他可以簽署一份續約合同，這將在2024-25 年開始，價值高達約八千一百萬美元，為期四年。

The extension route would accomplish two things for New York.

這種續約方式將讓尼克隊能達成兩件事。

First, it would keep Hart around for an extra season — five years instead of
the max of four he’d get as a free agent. Second, it would keep his 2023-24
salary down, giving the team a little more financial flexibility in the
upcoming season.

首先，這將使 Hart 多留一個賽季、直達五年，而不是他作為自由球員時，至多的五年。其次，這將使他2023-24 年的薪資下降，讓球隊在新賽季有更多的財政靈活性。

The frozen pick

被冷凍的選秀籤

There is one more way the trade market could dampen if a star becomes
available.

如果有球星進入自由市場，還有一種可以冷卻（抑制）的方式。

When a team is above the second apron at the end of the season, then “the
frozen pick,” unquestionably the coolest new term to come out of this CBA,
comes into play. Here’s what it means: If a team is above the second apron,
then its first-round pick seven years into the future cannot be traded.

如果球團在賽季結束時處於第二層硬上限，「被冷凍的選秀籤」——毫無疑問地是新勞資
協議中最酷的新條款——將會發揮作用。這個意思是：如果球隊處於第二層硬上限之上，
該隊將無法把未來七年的首輪籤交易出去。

For example, if a team were above the second apron right now, then that meansit can’t trade its 2030 first-rounder.

打個比方，如果球團在本賽季已超出第二層硬上限，該隊將無法把二零三零年的首輪籤交易出去。

Since teams cannot go consecutive seasons without first-round picks and sincethey can trade first-rounders as far as only seven years into the future,
this means ones above the second apron can deal as many as three of their
first-rounders, while teams below the second apron can trade up to four of
their own firsts.

由於球隊不能連續多個賽季沒有首輪選秀籤，而且他們最遠的選秀籤交易只能是在未來七年內，這意味著高於第二層硬上限的球隊可以交易至多三個他們的首輪選秀權，而低於第二層硬上限的球隊最多可以交易四個首輪選秀籤。

This could give the Knicks another slight advantage on the trade market if
they’re bidding against a second-apron team for a player they want.

如果尼克在交易市場上與接近第二層硬上限的球隊競逐他們想要的球員，這可能會讓他們在交易市場上稍有優勢。

All-NBA likelihoods

前三隊的可能性

Brunson and Randle, who don’t sit out many games, may be more likely to make
All-NBA teams than ever before, which could make Brunson eligible for a lot
of dough.

未曾缺賽過多場次的 Brunson 和 Randle，如今更有可能進入前三隊的陣容之內。這將讓Brunson 有資格領取更多獎金。

Players must compete in at least 65 games to be eligible for All-NBA teams
now. If those rules applied to this season, five of the 15 players who made
them would not have been on the ballot, clearing the way for Brunson, who
missed it narrowly. Randle has been All-NBA twice in three years.

如今要進入前三隊，球員必須在單一賽季中上陣六十五場次。如果此條款在本賽季生效，其中五位球員將不再具備資格。這將讓先前差點上榜的Brunson 更有機會出現；而Randle則在過去三年中，進入前三隊兩次。

But let’s concentrate on Brunson because this could affect how much money he
makes.

但現階段先專注在 Brunson，因為這將影響他的收入。

The point guard can become a free agent in 2025. And if he enters the market
coming off an All-NBA campaign, he will be supermax eligible — meaning his
contract could start at 35 percent of the salary cap instead of 30 percent ofit.

這位控球後衛將在二零二五年成為自由球員。而如果他在成功進入前三隊後，才進入自由市場，他將有資格領取頂薪——意味著他的合約可以比薪資帽高出至多百分之三十五，而
不是百分之三十。

In this situation, his starting salary on a max deal would jump from a
projected $44.3 million to a projected $51.7 million. A five-year supermax
contract in 2025 would make 1990s Wall Street CEOs jealous: $299.9 million.

在這情況下，他的頂薪合約之起薪將從預計的四千四百三十萬美元，跳到預計的五千一百七十萬美元。二零二五年的五年頂薪合約，將讓九十年代的的華爾街首席執行官們感到嫉妒：約三億美元。

The games-played initiative isn’t the only new All-NBA rule that’s friendly
to Randle and Brunson, who veer away from sitting out games during the age ofload management. All-NBA teams also will become positionless, which could
help Brunson, since point guard is the deepest position in the league.

出賽措施的舉措並不是唯一對 Randle 和Brunson 友善的前三隊新規則，他們在負荷管理的時代下鮮少缺賽。前三隊陣容也將不按位置分類，這可能幫到 Brunson，因為控球後衛是聯盟中最深的位置。

For what it’s worth, Randle would not need the supermax provision. By 2025,
he’ll already be a 10-year veteran, meaning he’d be automatically eligible
for the 35 percent max.

值得一提的是，Randle 將不需要頂薪條款。到了二零二五年時，他已經是一個十年老將，這意味著他將有資格自動獲得三成五的最高限額。

Managing the midlevel

中產合約管理

The Knicks are likely to operate as an above-the-cap team this summer, which
means they can use the midlevel exception, worth a little more than $12
million in starting salary.

尼克隊今年夏天很可能作為一支超出上限的球隊運作，這意味著他們可以使用中產特例，起薪可略高於一千二百萬美元。

But they, along with the rest of the league, could be less likely to use the
midlevel exception to sign someone.

但是，他們和聯盟其他球隊一樣，不太可能使用中產特例簽下球員。

Starting in 2024-25, teams can use the midlevel, if untouched, as a trade
exception, according to league sources. That means organizations above the
salary cap can use the midlevel exception to sign a player, claim someone on
waivers or trade for someone who makes up to $12 million without having to
match salaries in that deal. Whether the midlevel can always be used as a
trade exception or if it turns into a trade exception after the offseason
remains unclear. At this point, the league office is yet to give a final copyof the new CBA to the 30 teams. Instead, it has sent a detailed summary of
the changes. But there are still tiny details that front offices are unsure
about.

據聯盟消息人士的說法，從2024-25 賽季開始，在未被觸及的情況下，球隊可以使用中層交易特例。這意味著高於薪資帽的球團可以使用中層特例來簽下一名球員，在裁掉後面認領球員，或交易薪資至多一千二百萬美元的人，而不必在該交易中進行薪資配對。中產球員是否可以一直作為交易特例使用，或者在休賽季後變成交易特例，目前還不清楚。在這一點上，聯盟辦公室還沒有將新版薪資協議的最終副本交給三十支球隊。相反，它已經發放了一份詳細的變化摘要。但仍有一些微小的細節是前台人員所不確定的。

I recently spoke with another league source who predicted that the new rule
could hurt the NBA’s middle class. “Unless teams see someone as a clear
upgrade, I think they’ll hold (the midlevel),” he said.

我曾與另一聯盟消息人士討論過，他預測新規則可能會傷害到領中產薪的球員。他說：「球隊能找到明確的球員升級，我覺得他們會留住中產合約。」

Derrick Rose situation

飆風玫瑰的處境

Rose has a $15.6 million team option for next season. Considering he never
plays, save for when the Madison Square Garden fans chant loud enough to
convince Tom Thibodeau to insert him at the end of games, declining it seems
like a no-brainer.

飆風玫瑰下賽季有一千五百六十萬美元的球團選擇權。考量到除非麥迪遜廣場花園的球迷大聲呼喊，足以說服Tom Thibodeau 在比賽結束時讓他上場，否則就會很少出戰的情況下，拒絕執行似乎是不用多想就能下決定的事。

But that’s only on the surface. The Knicks could justify picking up Rose’s
lavish team option.

但這只是表面上可見的。尼克隊可以就執行飆風玫瑰奢華的球團選擇權站穩立場。

Leading into this past trade deadline, league sources told The Athletic that
the Knicks communicated to other teams they were considering picking up Rose'steam option if they felt his salary could help with a swap for a big-time
player. Remember, the Knicks have to match salaries in trades, and Rose’s
expiring deal along with Evan Fournier’s expiring $18.9 million is enough to
land the Knicks a big-time player — as long as they package those guys with
draft picks and young talent.

在過去的交易截止日，聯盟的消息來源告訴《運動家》，尼克曾與其他球隊溝通，如果他們認為飆風玫瑰的薪資可以協助換來一個大牌球員，他們會考慮執行他的球隊選擇權。記住，尼克必須在交易中配對薪資，而玫瑰即將到期的合約和Evan Fournier 即將到期的一千八百九十萬美元合約足以讓尼斯得到一個大牌球員——只要他們把這些人與選秀權和年
輕人才加入交易包裹。

But the new rules give the Knicks another reason to keep Rose if they choose
to do it.

但是，如果尼克想要留下飆風玫瑰，新的規則將會給予該隊另一個理由。

At least some of the league’s most-expensive teams (particularly the ones
who are concerned about exceeding the second apron in 2024-25, when all thoseregulations mentioned up top become far more punishing) will try to dump
future salaries this upcoming summer. For those organizations, flipping
someone with two years remaining on his contract for someone with only one isa victory.

至少聯盟中一些支出高的球隊（尤其是擔心在2024-25 年將超出第二層硬上限的球隊，屆時上面提到的規定會變得更嚴）會在即將到來的夏天嘗試甩掉未來的薪資。對於這些球團來說，把合約還剩兩年的人換成只剩一年的人是一種勝利。

My prediction: expiring contracts will make a comeback. And Rose — who’s at
a nice, middling salary — could provide one.

個人推測：合約屆效的球員將會回鍋。而位於中產薪資的飆風玫瑰，將可提供一部分。

The Knicks could use his money to trade for someone who makes a similar
amount as him. They could pair him with Fournier to bring back someone who
earns more than $40 million.

尼克隊可以用他去換取一個薪資和他差不多的人。該隊可以把他和 Fournier 配對，換回一個薪資超過四千萬美元的球員。

It would be unconventional (and if the Knicks picked up Rose’s option, it
could signal that they felt good about their chances of dealing him for
someone worthwhile) but no one can guarantee the best way to operate in this
new environment, because no one has lived through it yet. This is the time tobe creative.

這將是非常規的（如果尼克執行飆風玫瑰的選擇權，這可能預示著他們對於用他換取一個有價值的球員的可能性感覺良好），但沒有人可以保證在這個新環境下的最佳操作方式，因為還沒有人經歷過。現在是發揮創造力的時候了。

短評：

休賽季期間，什麼事都有可能發生，因此還是拭目以待吧！

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