Cap question

["Meninno, James A." <JMENINNO@PARTNERS.ORG>]

Here's a question for all you capologists out there...

I know we can go over our cap limit to sign our own free agents (e.g..
Antoine).  My question is, how does that affect our cap with regards to
every other player?  So, if we signed Antoine tomorrow to the hundred
zillion dollar contract everyone thinks he's going to ask for, does that
eat up all of this cap space we have supposedly gained?

If so, does that mean we need to sign any free agents BEFORE we sign
Antoine?  If that is the case it means we will HAVE to get our much
hypothesized free agent big man this summer.

I guess what I don't understand is, if you pay one player 33 million
dollars (MJ) some of that salary must count against your cap.  How Much?

Jim