Are option bonuses subject to the five-year proration limit?

Option bonuses are indeed subject to the five-year proration limit. This means that any signing bonus or option bonus that a player receives must be spread out over a maximum of five years for salary cap purposes. This proration affects how teams manage their salary cap space, as the allocated amount counts against the team’s salary cap in equal portions each year, allowing for smoother budget management across multiple seasons.

By having this rule in place, the league ensures that teams cannot exploit the system by excessively pushing large bonuses into their budgets without a corresponding cap hit, promoting competitive balance and responsible financial practices. This applies uniformly to all option bonuses, regardless of the player's experience level or the size of the bonus, which keeps the salary cap structure clear and consistent across the league.