TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[F Gump]

I think I follow you on the bit about Ayton, but I'm not 100% sure, and I don't follow at all on the underlined point. Can you elaborate?

The prohibition is on players getting "6 year" extensions (extension years count any current years on prior contract), which can only happen coming off a Rookie Scale contract. It's not on number of max salary deals on the roster.

Ayton did not sign such an extension. He played out his contract, and he is no longer under contract. Once a player's contract has expired, they are a free agent, eligible to sign a new deal (with old team or with another team). It's too late to "extend" that old contract and avoid free agency.