[mary]

Originally Posted by Silk Smoov

From what I understand, that is before they start to pay the luxury tax. If this was the case, then how do teams get to http://www.hoopshype.com/salaries/new_york.htm

Teams use "Bird Rights" to extend the contracts of their existing players.

The extending of these contracts, and the trading of these contracts, leads to teams having payrolls that are greater than the salary cap.