How Teams Are Using 2024/25 Mid-Level Exceptions

In addition to receiving nearly $141MM in cap room and being allowed to surpass that threshold in order to sign players using Bird Rights or the minimum salary exception, each NBA team also receives a mid-level exception. The value of this exception varies depending on a club’s total team salary.

A team that goes under the cap to use its available cap room, for instance, receives a form of the MLE known as the room exception. An over-the-cap team receives the full mid-level exception, unless that team is also over the first tax apron ($178,132,000), in which case it gets a modest “taxpayer” version of the MLE. A team whose salary is over the second tax apron ($188,931,000) isn’t permitted to use its mid-level at all.

We detailed the exact values of each form of mid-level exception earlier this offseason, but here’s a quick breakdown:

• Room exception: Can be used for contracts up to three years, with a starting salary worth up to $7,983,000.
• Full/non-taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to four years, with a starting salary worth up to $12,822,000.
  • Note: Though its name suggests otherwise, using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception doesn’t mean a team can’t or won’t be above the luxury tax line ($170,814,000) at season’s end; it simply means the team’s total salary can’t surpass the first tax apron ($178,132,000).
• Taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to two years, with a starting salary worth up to $5,168,000.

Now that most of the NBA’s teams have used up their cap space, it’s worth keeping an eye on which clubs still have part or all of their mid-level exceptions available, which we’ll do in the space below.

This list will be kept up to date throughout the 2024/25 league year, with new MLE deals added once those signings are officially completed and we confirm the contract details.

Note: After the 2025 trade deadline, the value of the exceptions below will begin to prorate downward.

Here’s where things currently stand:

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Mid-Level Exception:

Non-taxpayer: $12,822,000
Taxpayer: $5,183,000

Teams marked with an asterisk (*) technically have access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception but aren’t currently in position to use the entire thing without surpassing the first tax apron.

Atlanta Hawks

• Used: $0 *

Boston Celtics

• Used: $0
• The Celtics are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.
  

Brooklyn Nets

• Used: $0 *
  

Note: Melton was acquired via trade.

Chicago Bulls

• Used: $8,571,429 (Jalen Smith)

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Used: $0
  

Dallas Mavericks

• Used: $8,571,429 (Naji Marshall)

Denver Nuggets

• Used: $5,168,000 (Dario Saric)
• The Nuggets are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.
  

Golden State Warriors

• Used: $12,822,000 (De’Anthony Melton)
  

Houston Rockets

• Used: $0 *
  

Indiana Pacers

• Used: $0 *
  

Los Angeles Clippers

• Used: $9,523,810 (Derrick Jones)

Los Angeles Lakers

• Used: $0
• The Lakers aren’t currently in position to use any portion of the MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.

Memphis Grizzlies

• Used: $2,087,519 (Scotty Pippen Jr.); $2,088,033 (Jay Huff)

Miami Heat

• Used: $0
• The Heat aren’t currently in position to use the full taxpayer MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.

Milwaukee Bucks

• Used: $0
• The Bucks are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Used: $0
• The Timberwolves are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

New Orleans Pelicans

• Used: $0 *

New York Knicks

• Used: $0
• The Knicks aren’t currently in position to use any portion of the MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.

Phoenix Suns

• Used: $0
• The Suns are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

Portland Trail Blazers

• Used: $0 *
  

Sacramento Kings

• Used: $0 *

Toronto Raptors

• Used: $0 *
  

Washington Wizards

• Used: $6,440,678 (Saddiq Bey)

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Room Exception:

Available: $7,983,000

Charlotte Hornets

• Used: $2,425,404 (DaQuan Jeffries); $2,237,692 (Charlie Brown Jr.); $2,162,607 (Duane Washington)

Note: Jeffries, Brown, and Washington were all acquired via trade.

Detroit Pistons

• Used: $0

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Used: $0

Orlando Magic

• Used: $0

Philadelphia 76ers

• Used: $7,983,000 (Kelly Oubre)

San Antonio Spurs

• Used: $4,741,800 (Jalen McDaniels)

Note: McDaniels was acquired via trade.

Utah Jazz

• Used: $0

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Information from CapSheets.com was used in the creation of this post.