What constitutes "salary cap manipulation"?

Salary cap manipulation refers to tactics that teams employ to navigate around the established salary cap rules to gain a competitive advantage. This can involve various strategies, such as restructuring player contracts, using creative bonus structures, or leveraging incentives that may not count against the salary cap in certain circumstances.

Teams may employ these tactics to fit more talent under the cap than would normally be permissible, allowing them to sign higher-caliber players or retain key contributors while remaining compliant with the overall salary cap framework. The focus on "circumventing salary cap rules" highlights the strategic nature of these actions and underscores the complexities involved in balancing team finances while trying to build a competitive roster.

The other choices do not fully capture the essence of salary cap manipulation. While increasing player signings or enhancing performance can be outcomes of manipulation, they do not define the concept itself. Negotiation tactics during free agency may relate to how contracts are arranged, but they are not inherently about manipulating the salary cap.