Do released players count against the cap? What is set-off?
Released (waived) players with guaranteed contracts continue to be included in team salary. Players whose contracts are not guaranteed are included in team salary in the amount they made while they were with the team. Players on non-guaranteed “summer contracts” are not included in team salary unless they make the regular season roster. The team and player may negotiate a revised payment schedule to be utilized in the event the player is waived. This revised payment schedule may call for the guaranteed portion of the player’s contract to be paid over a longer or shorter period of time than originally specified in the contract, or even as a lump sum. This is often referred to as a “spread provision.” Also see question numbers 59 and 60. Even if the payment schedule is altered, the team’s team salary is charged for the same number of seasons as specified in the original contract.
