The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement has a series of nuances that can be confusing and vague, but one of the biggest potential loopholes has not been used to major effect … yet.
The NBA created the exception known as Bird rights to keep teams together; the initial use was to allow the Celtics to exceed the salary cap on Larry Bird’s contract. The exception, which kicks in after a player has been on his team (or on an unabridged contract) for three years, is fundamental to the NBA’s “soft” salary cap and the ability to keep great players on one team for their entire careers, if desired.