afaik, you can't sign a free agent to take you over the cap, but you can re-sign your own players to whatever cap hit you so desire, understanding that the more and longer you do, the more expensive it becomes. it seems as if i'm alone on this board when it comes to re-signing asik. yes yes, it's a risk to assume that his ELITE defensive skill set won't be diluted by increased minutes and that he might never develop the offensive skills to be worth that third year. however, asik at 5 mil or whatever is a pretty sweet deal and it's clear he has value that, barring injury, will continue to rise as he develops as a player. if we can't stomach the third year or need the room to go out and get someone, then you make a move. someone will want him. this still seems like kind of a no-brainer to me.