In Chad Ford’s latest mock draft, he wrote about how the Dallas Mavericks could draft a player like Dario Saric and then stated that “Dallas can get him off the cap with an agreement from Saric that he won't come to the NBA this season.”

Section 4(e)(2) on page 165 of the CBA states that:

In the event that a First Round Pick signs with a non-NBA team, the player’s applicable Rookie Scale Amount shall be excluded from the Team Salary of the Team that holds his draft rights, beginning on the date he signs such non-NBA contract or the first day of the Regular Season, whichever is later.

This means that the cap hold for any first round pick stays on the books until the first day of the NBA regular season even if Saric or any other player drafted in the first round (no matter their nationality) signs a deal with a non-NBA team at any point during the summer. While there would be a small savings over having the pick on roster for 2013-14 since nearly every first round pick signs for more than slot in practice, that is different than clearing the contract off the ledgers and getting to use that cap space.

But Section 4(e)(3) allows a team to have the player's applicable Rookie Scale Amount excluded from its Team Salary prior to the first day of any Regular Season as long as the NBA is notified in writing.

Editor's Note: A previous edition of this article incorrectly stated that it would not be possible for the Mavericks to draft a European players and have his salary be taken off their cap.

The Chicago Bulls have used that provision to remove Nikola Mirotic's cap hold, as have the Mavericks with Petteri Koponen.

Leroux's Correction: I made a mistake in interpreting a separate but relevant part of the pertinent section. While (2) reads as above (and is interpreted correctly, incidentally), a subsequent section discusses an alternate possibility that could potentially be used here as well. (3) of the same section and sub-section details a circumstance where separate and accompanying written statements from both the team and the player in question submitted before the start of the regular season can take the hold off the books for that league year while retaining future rights.

While strange because it functionally weakens what comes directly before it in the CBA, (3) dictates that these twin statements could take the hold off the books one year at a time. It is a frustrating mistake and I take full responsibility for making it while also apologizing fully to both Mr. Ford and my readers. I sincerely regret my misread and will do my absolute best moving forward to not make similar mistakes.

In last year’s combine hosted by the Brooklyn Nets, being the tallest player didn’t help 7-foot-1 center Mindaugas Kupsas leave a deeper impression on NBA scouts. But the big man out of Lithuania believes that the annual adidas EuroCamp this season will be a different story.

After withdrawing his name from 2012 NBA Draft, Kupsas continued developing his game in Lithuania, playing for Lietkabelis Panevezys. The center improved his numbers in all statistical categories, averaging 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 34 games played in 12-13 season.

RealGM sat down with auto-eligible Kupsas, who is the only potential NBA draftee from Lithuania this year, to talk about his development, the upcoming NBA draft, future plans and much more.

RealGM: First of all, most of basketball fans know nothing about you. Could you tell me how you began playing basketball?

Kupsas: Well, I grew up in a, let’s say, grange. My parents divorced when I was 15 or 16. I was always taller and bigger than my other friends at school. There were no proper facilities in the place where I grew up to play hoops, therefore my aunt told Sabonis basketball school about me and the story began. I started playing basketball very late, but the good part is that I never had serious injuries while I was playing.

RealGM: Instead of going to the U.S. and playing in NCAA, why did you decide to continue your career in Lithuania?

Kupsas: As I said, I started to play basketball very late and I guess I would have age limitations in the NCAA program. Therefore, at that time, Zalgiris signed me when I was young for a long-term contract. The NCAA is a great system, you get a diploma of university while you hoop and you get to know different cultures as well.

RealGM: What were the reasons for your withdrawal from previous draft and why you feel you’re more ready to step into the league than last year?

Kupsas: Last year I withdrew my name from the draft because my agents and I talked about it and decided it would be best for me to spend another season preparing and becoming a known player. Last year was my introduction to the NBA. I worked out with NBA teams and got the feedback for what I need to work on and get better to become an NBA player. Now the goal is to show how I developed myself in a year and demonstrate that in June at adidas EuroCamp in Treviso.

RealGM: Tell me about your performance in Nets combine held last year in New Jersey.

Kupsas: I was jet-lagged like crazy, wasn’t prepared at all, barely saw the basket. The opponents were shorter, faster and it wasn’t the performance I wanted to show in front of the all these respected NBA scouts. Adidas EuroCamp in Treviso camp will be a different story.

RealGM: A year ago you were competing against Jonas Valanciunas in Lithuanian league. Could you share your experience on playing against the Raptors’ big man?

Kupsas: Honestly, It was good. If you ask me was it hard for me to play against him, my answer would be absolutely no. I enjoyed it every second. I had no problems guarding him at all. Playing against Lavrinovic brothers is harder, that’s for sure.

RealGM: Which specific areas of your game you've been working on this year?

Kupsas: I would say I was trying to improve majority of areas and I’m still working on it. I am better now at Pick and Roll situations and I love playing it a lot. My shooting is now significantly different as well. I don’t sway when making a jump shot or playing back to the basket. I think I started to “go hard” on defense as well.

RealGM: In your opinion, which aspects of your game need to improve the most to be able to play in the NBA right away?

Kupsas: I want to be faster, I want to defend faster players. Now my physical program is focused to vertical, so I can be more aggressive when I get the ball under the basket so either I can make a baby hook or simply dunk on another player who guards me. During the season I’ve heard from NBA scouts about my lack of vertical, so before the NBA Draft I want to show how I proved myself.

RealGM: If tomorrow was your first day in the NBA, what can you do to help your team to improve? What are your strong sides? 

Kupsas: I would fulfill and complete whatever the coach told me to do. Of course, I would focus on defense like crazy, I don’t mind going into contact also. I like to block shots. In my first day in the NBA, I wouldn’t be upset if I left the arena without scoring a point, but our team won.

RealGM: Do you believe it is a right time to play in the NBA, or would you still want to remain in Europe?

Kupsas: If I'm drafted, it is really dependent on the NBA club. Either they would like me to play in the D-League in the first year, or for a season or two in Europe.

RealGM: What are your current plans for this draft summer?

Kupsas: At the moment I am working out with Zalgiris team in Kaunas, twice a day. I also arrive an hour earlier before start of practice. I spend around six hours at the gym per day and, honestly, I feel I am getting better every day. I think it’s a priceless chance to learn from Zalgiris’ head coach Joan Plaza and compete against Robertas Javtokas or Lavrinovic brothers. Later on I will be working out with a personal trainer on my skills. I should be 100 percent ready for adidas EuroCamp.

Before Alex Len underwent surgery on his left ankle last week, the Maryland center and his agent contemplated holding off the procedure, trying to play through the stress fracture in pre-draft workouts and pushing for the No. 1 spot in June’s NBA draft. They eventually decided to stabilize Len’s injury and his future.

Teams won’t have the opportunity to watch Len work out now, and that is the part that disappoints him. In the mind of Len’s agent, had the 19-year-old participated in drills – and matchups against other big men – leading up to the draft, Len could have been the No. 1 pick.

“If he had a chance to work out, I truly believe he could have moved up and gone No. 1,” agent Michael Lelchitski told RealGM. “But people have been watching Alex closely for years and they know about his potential – not just next season, but two, three years into the future.”

Len showed tremendous growth in his second season at Maryland and played like the potential No. 1 pick at times. For most prospects, losing the draft process would put a dent in their standing, but scouts have kept an eye on Len ever since he played in the Ukraine, as one NBA executive said at Maryland’s win over Northwestern in late November.

Still, the timing of surgery on Len’s ankle came weeks before a combine that could have separated him from other potential lottery picks. This is a critical time for all prospects, in a draft void of Nerlens Noel’s availability.

Ultimately, Len was wise not to jeopardize his future for a short-term gain. And most of all, he knew he could have challenged his ankle to perform in workouts, but then this stress injury promised to linger and leave him needing surgery anyway.

“That would have put him behind the eight ball,” Lelchitski said.

Len will soon begin light workouts on the court, where he will be monitored closely to ensure that he isn’t overworking the ankle. With surgery, Lelchitski said, Len fortified his complete health for his pro team come training camp. At 7-foot-1, Len has a chance to become a talented NBA center, but he understands he needs to improve his game and strengthen for the pros.

An ankle injury put Len out of workouts, possibly out of the running for the No. 1 pick, but he still will “definitely” sit down to conduct pre-draft interviews with teams, Lelchitski said. Len has been speaking English for just over a year, and yet this will be a chance to sell his character and demeanor to organizations.

“Alex will be all about full disclosure,” Lelchitski said. “This will give these teams a great opportunity to get to know him.”

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