TaShawn.

Here is the deal with Acker. He originally signed a one year deal. When it ended, the Pistons made him a qualifying offer. That kept him from being unrestricted and gave them the right to match any incoming offers as long as they had not spent the Mid-Level Exception (later used for Nazr Mohammed).

Because he did not sign a contract in the NBA, he's still our restricted free agent until next offseason. At that time, if the Pistons are interested in keeping him a restricted free agent, they will make another qualifying offer. Doesn't matter if he intends to stay in Europe.

Now by all accounts, he signed a two year deal to play in Greece with the second year as a player option. It is important to note that he is said to be making around $1 million USD and of course, there are likely some decent European fringe benefits like paid accommodations, transportation etc.

Every year until Acker returns to the NBA the Pistons can keep him restricted by making that offer. 5 years, 7 years doesn't matter.

Now when he does return to the NBA, based upon the current collective bargaining agreement, we make him a qualifying offer (if it is the start of a new offseason) and if he gets a better offer before he can negotiate a deal with the Pistons or TAKES the QO, we can match provided we have not already spent the MLE in that offseason.

This is called the Gilbert Arenas Rule. It would have been applicable to Mehmet Okur if it was around when he signed with Utah. A second round pick becomes a free agent. Under the base rules of free agency and cap economics, if his original team makes him a QO to put him in restricted free agency and someone comes along like Utah and throws a big dollar contract at him, and the original team is capped out, they wouldn't be able to match. Now the provision is that as long as they have not spent the MLE, they can negotiate with their OWN restricted free agent using the MLE as a starting point.

I realize this is wordy and complicated, so if anyone wants any clarification, please ask. I enjoy talking about this stuff and there are no dumb questions.

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