Basketball-What salary cap rule lets the Nets resign Kidd?

[KnickNut3]

Hello. This is very important for a league I am in. I tried some basketball boards, but was unsuccessful and know the people in here are far more intelligent anyway .

The Nets have only had Kidd for 2 years, so he does not qualify for the Larry Bird exception. They will also not be under the cap at year's end. However, they will be able to resign him if Kidd so desires. What clause or rule allows the Nets to resign Kidd this offseason?

If we don't know what specific clause, any place I can find this out? My league apparently is modelled after the NBA salary cap and all, but suddenly they say I can't resign Kidd this offseason because I'm not under the cap. Thanks.

[daveleau]

I posted this question on a sports board I frequent. here's the only reply thusfar:

teams can sign their own players back regardless if that puts them over the cap or not. Not sure what specific clause it is, but thats how it works.

[daveleau]

Linkage : Be warned that this forum does not have the same rules as we do and some may curse or flame. If these pop up in the thread I linked to, I will remove the link from our forum. Int he meantime, I hope this helps.
Dave

[KnickNut3]

Thank you for looking for me. Found my answer from another board: Theoretically, a player with Bird rights can be traded right before becoming a free agent and his new team can use the Bird exception to re-sign him. There is no specific tenure requirement with one team. The only rule is that the player can't have been waived or changed teams as a free agent for three years.

Unfortunately, the guys in my league are suddenly ignoring this rule (I doubt it's specifically to screw me over, but their arguments aren't very strong, but since it's their league I'm screwed), saying they don't want star players traded too much. Oh, well. Thanks.