As part of a highly successful 2023 offseason, Bucks general manager Jason Richt was able to bring back a perennial. Pro Bowl snub And future Ring of Honor Hall of Famer Lavonte David returns for $1.
David’s play was worth between $9 million and $10 million APY, but the Bucks re-signed him to a one-year, $4.5 million deal. This was significantly below his market value. Part of the reason David was willing to try again with the Bucks was because of his apparent desire to retire with the same team that drafted him in 2012 and won Super Bowl 55. But that’s not the only reason.
Bucs creatively set attainable bonus for David.
Bucks ILB Lavonte David and FS Antwan Winfield Jr. and Lions TE Sam LaPorta – Photo courtesy of USA Today
around Through the cap, The Bucks are paying David the league minimum base salary in 2023 ($1.165 million) and giving him a pro-rated bonus of $3.335 million, spread over five years, including this year and the four blank years.
As a result, the 2023 cap will be $1,832,000 and manageable. The deal meant David would pay the Bucks $2,668,000 against the 2024 salary cap. However, the veteran linebacker also came off a very good season and will actually count more towards the Bucs’ 2024 salary cap.
according to spot rack, The Bucks agreed to give David a bonus that he was “unlikely to earn.” NLTBE bonuses are simply defined as incentives that a player did not achieve in the previous year. This is important for salary cap accounting. This is because bonuses that are considered “likely to be earned” must be considered as part of that year’s salary cap calculation, whereas NLTBE bonuses are not considered until the following year (unless the incentive is (if provided). actually achieved).
For example, if Player A records 5 interceptions in 2023 and only 4 interceptions in 2022, and his contract provides for a $1 million bonus, that bonus is called NLTBE and is the player’s It does not affect your 2023 salary cap bill. If he has five interceptions in 2023, that $1 million will be applied to the team’s 2024 salary cap.
If he had five interceptions in 2022, the bonus would have been considered “LTBE” and $1 million would have been applied to the 2023 salary cap. If he doesn’t record five interceptions in 2023, the team will receive $1 million. credit Regarding the salary cap in 2024.
What bonus did the Bucks offer David as part of the deal? According to Spotrac, he will earn $2.5 million as long as he increases his statistical production. Any One of the following categories: Interception, Interception Return Yards, Interception Touchdown, Fumble Recovery, Fumble Return Yards, Fumble Recovery Touchdown or Sack.
In 2022 David recorded Zero interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and three sacks.
By phrasing the bonus as an increase in one of these categories, the Bucks were able to put this bonus in the NLTBE category and keep it from impacting the very tight 2023 salary cap. At the same time, we gave David a wide range of ways to earn bonuses by looking for increases in any of the seven categories.
Essentially, the team was turning that $4.5 million contract into a $7 million contract while managing limited cap money. David earned a bonus for recording a half-sack in Week 15 against Green Bay. This brings his total to 3.5 sacks on the year, more than the three he had in 2022.
More bonus opportunities await David.
Bucks ILB Labonte David – Photo Credit: USA Today
This $2.5 million bonus was the biggest incentive David could earn this year, but it wasn’t the only one.
The Bucks gave him an additional opportunity to increase his income this year. If he can get five sacks in a season, he’ll make an extra $150,000. David currently has 4.5 sacks. He would have been paid an additional $150,000 if he had recorded five interceptions, but with no picks heading into the final game of the season, that seems unlikely.
He could also earn $200,000 if he plays in 65% of his team’s defensive snaps and the Bucks rank in the top 10 in scoring defense. David is key to the 65% cutoff as he has played in all but two games this year, and the Bucs are currently tied for ninth-fewest points allowed in the NFL, so that incentive is still very much alive. Masu.
The final bonus David will earn as part of his current contract is $125,000 for each playoff win. This means that if the Bucs beat Carolina, make the playoffs, and win the Super Bowl, David could ultimately earn $500,000.
All told, the veteran still has $850,000 worth of bonus opportunities left in front of him.
