If a player wants $35M over 5 years. Can I give him a $10M bonus and pay him $5M per year over 5 years? Or does that violate the rule: "In a five-year contract, no season can comprise more than 25% or less than 10% of the total value of the contract." since Year 1 of the new deal he'd make $15M which is 43% of the total value?

You can do what you are suggesting. The rule does not take into account bonuses.

Bonuses are excluded from the distribution calculation. So after you separate the $10m bonus, you only have to distribute the other $25m as salary.

Rather than just doing an even 5-5-5-5-5 distribution, think about if it makes sense to either front-load or back-load the contract with an uneven distribution. With $25m over 5 years, you can do something like (2.5 - 3.75 - 6.25 - 6.25 - 6.25), or put those five numbers in any order, based on what you current year and future years salary caps look like.

I see too many owners doing straight-even distributions, which may not always be the best move. Don't be afraid to think outside the box a little.

Thanks guys.

Nothing wrong with making it a Mutual option either so that you can get out of that last year if needed.