Hoops Rumors has created a glossary of terms related to trades, free agency, and other areas of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you’re confused about our use of phrases like “Bird rights,” “mid-level exception,” or “cap holds,” this reference tool should help clear things up.
We’ll continue to add entries to this glossary, which can be found anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.” If there’s a specific concept you’d like us to cover, please let us know. Here’s what we have so far:
New or updated entries for 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement:
- 10-Day Contract
- 65-Game Rule
- Affiliate Players
- Base Year Compensation
- Bi-Annual Exception
- Bird Rights
- Buyouts
- Cap Holds
- Derrick Rose Rule
- Designated Veteran Contract
- Disabled Player Exception
- Draft Lottery
- Early Bird Rights
- Exhibit 9 Contract
- Exhibit 10 Contract
- G League Assignments
- Hard Cap
- Hardship Exception
- July Moratorium
- Luxury Tax Penalties
- Maximum Salary
- Mid-Level Exception
- Minimum Salary Exception
- Minimum Salary Floor
- No-Trade Clause
- Non-Bird Rights
- Player Participation Policy
- Poison Pill Provision
- Proration
- Qualifying Offer
- Renegotiations
- Rookie Scale
- Roster Limits
- Salary Aggregation
- Salary Cap Exceptions
- Second-Round Pick Exception
- Sign-And-Trade
- Starter Criteria
- Stretch Provision
- Tax Aprons
- Tax Variance
- Ted Stepien Rule
- Trade Rules For Non-Guaranteed Salaries
- Traded Player Exception
- Two-Way Contract
- Veteran Contract Extension
- Waivers
Entries based on 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement:
Note: Some of those rules may have changed in the 2023 CBA and will require an update.
- Designated Rookies
- Note: The designated rookie rule was not included in the 2023 CBA.
- Gilbert Arenas Provision
- Over-38 Rule
- Trade Kickers
Entries based on 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement:
- Amnesty Provision
- Note: The amnesty provision was not included in subsequent CBAs.
- Early Termination Options
- Set-Off Rights
- Summer Contracts