Mavs Dude

What are they? How much are they? Can only some teams use them?

Thanks to whoever answers my Qs.

Storyteller

Every team is given one mid-level exception (MLE) every season. Each team is given a Million Dollar exception (sometimes referred to as the lower-level exception or LLE) as long as they didn't use the Million Dollar exception in the previous season. In other words, if a team used their Million Dollar exception in 2003-04, they will not get a Million Dollar exception in 2004-05, but would get a Million Dollar Exception in 2005-06.

However, if at any point the team drops below the cap, they lose these exceptions. They are only retained as long as the team remains above the cap. So, if a team is still under the cap when they are granted these exceptions, they immediately lose them and don't get to use them. Or, if a team drops below the cap later on in the year, they lose any unused exceptions.

The MLE is defined as the average player salary. This year it was $4.917 million. It will be about the same amount next year - perhaps even a bit lower. The MLE can be split up to sign more than one player. Contracts signed using the MLE can be up to 6 years in length.

The Million Dollar exception is set by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This year it was $1.5 million and it will be $1.6 million next year. It can also be split up to sign more than one player. However, contracts signed using the Million Dollar Exception can only be up to 2 years in length.

If you're interested in a more explicit description of exceptions, I encourage you to read Larry Coon's FAQ on the CBA/Salary Cap, especially question #17.

Mavs Dude

Thanks a lot man.

Mavs Dude

I have another question:
Someone was saying for their offseason they would offer a guy a deal of 3 years for 15 million with the MLE. So can you only offer 5 a year or is it just 5?

Storyteller

An offer made using the MLE can be for one year or it can be for multiple years. You can offer up to 6 years in a contract using the MLE. Each year beyond the first can receive a maximum 10% raise of the first year in the contract as a raise.

So, for example, if the MLE were $5 million, the most that could be offered a player using the MLE in a 3 year deal would be $16.5 million.

$5.0 million the first year
$5.5 million the second year
$6.0 million the third year

Yearly raises would be limited to $500,000 (10% of $5 million).

Mavs Dude

Thanks A LOT!!

I wish I know as much as you about this stuff.

Storyteller

I knew nothing about it all just a couple of years ago. Reading posts here and on other boards, and especially reading Larry Coon's FAQ on the CBA has helped me to understand these issues better. Check it out if you're interested in these kinds of issues.

You can also check out the online copy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but it's in legal-ese and is much more difficult to understand.

Essentially, these kinds of things are best learned by reading and by asking lots of questions. Don't be afraid to ask - that's what the boards are here for!

MJG

That's the truth. I personally knew nil before just spending time reading about it, both on this site from Dan Rosenberg and So Cal Blazer Fan and from Larry Coon's FAQ. I think this is the most informative part of the entire site, and it really helps you to acquire an understanding of how the NBA CBA really works.

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hobojoe

Same here, Dan and So Cal Blazer Fan have really helped me understand the CBA and everything else involved with salaries, as well as various websites.

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