General Terms

  1. The Cavaliers bought out Rubio in January 2024
  2. The Cavaliers have $1,274,015 in remaining dead salary resulting from the buyout

Cap Discussion

  1. Under the old CBA, a team only had one window of opportunity to elect to stretch a player’s dead salary, and they had to elect to stretch the salary before 8/31 during the same salary cap year the player was waived.
  2. Because Rubio was waived after the 8/31 deadline, the Cavs would not have been able to stretch his salary.
  3. Under the new CBA, the team can renew it’s election to stretch a player’s future dead salary prior to 8/31 each season. As a result, the Cavs were able to stretch the remainder of Rubio’s dead salary.
  4. $1,274,015 million in Rubio’s dead salary this year turns into $424,672 in dead salary over the next three seasons (dead salary is stretched over twice the amount of seasons remaining, plus one).
  5. This provides some immediate relief for Cleveland as they currently lie slightly over the Luxury Tax for this season with three non-guaranteed contracts and 15 roster spots filled.