Mid-Level Exception Tracker

There are three types of Mid-Level Exceptions (MLEs):
  • Room Mid-Level Exception Requirements:
    • Team is below the cap
    • Team must not have already used any of the following in the active season:
      • Bi-Annual Exception
      • Non-Taxpayer MLE
      • Taxpayer MLE
  • Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception:
    • Team is below the tax apron, but above the cap
    • First year salary of the signed contract results in the team remaining below the tax apron
    • Team must not have already used any of the following in the active season:
      • Room MLE
      • Taxpayer MLE
  • Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception:
    • First year salary of the signed contract results in the team's cap hit exceeding the tax apron
    • 2023 CBA Addition: The team must be below the 2nd apron
    • Team must not have already used any of the following in the active season:
      • Bi-Annual Exception
      • Cap Room/Room Exception
      • Room MLE
      • Non-Taxpayer MLE

The MLE can be split among multiple contracts as long as the sum of the cap hit does not exceed the MLE limits

MLE limits for the 2026-27 season:
  • Room MLE: $9,366,000
  • Non-Taxpayer MLE: $15,044,000
  • Taxpayer MLE: $6,064,000


This tool will automatically reduce a value to $0 in space if it is not possible to use the exception at the current time. For example, if the team has more cap room than the maximum Non-Taxpayer MLE amount, the Non-Taxpayer MLE will be reduced to $0. If the team later increases their payroll to where the Non-Taxpayer MLE is feasible, the space will then display as a value greater than $0
TeamCap Room TooltipApron Room Tooltip2nd Apron Room TooltipCap Room Used TooltipBAE Used TooltipSignings TooltipRoom Space TooltipNon-Taxpayer Space TooltipTaxpayer Space Tooltip
Logo of the Atlanta HawksAtlanta HawksATL$0$27,070,590$39,741,590NoNo
TP-MLE
Jock Landale
($14,000,000)
--$0
Logo of the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsBOS$0$8,542,774$21,213,774NoNo-$8,542,774$0
Logo of the Brooklyn NetsBrooklyn NetsBKN$0$6,944,469$19,615,469NoNo
R-MLE
Josh Minott
($4,390,244)
$4,975,756--
Logo of the Charlotte HornetsCharlotte HornetsCHA$0$42,832,464$55,503,464NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Chicago BullsChicago BullsCHI$0$0$0NoNo---
Logo of the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland CavaliersCLE$0$26,397,611$39,068,611NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Dallas MavericksDallas MavericksDAL$0$41,800,623$54,471,623NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Denver NuggetsDenver NuggetsDEN$0$0$585,870NoNo--$6,064,000
Logo of the Detroit PistonsDetroit PistonsDET$0$13,307,775$25,978,775NoNo-$13,307,775$0
Logo of the Golden State WarriorsGolden State WarriorsGSW$0$29,985,235$42,656,235NoNo
MLE
De'Anthony Melton
($5,365,854)
-$9,678,146-
Logo of the Houston RocketsHouston RocketsHOU$0$15,163,457$27,834,457NoNo
TP-MLE
Marcus Smart
($6,341,463)
--$0
Logo of the Indiana PacersIndiana PacersIND$0$0$11,137,139NoNo--$6,064,000
Logo of the LA ClippersLA ClippersLAC$0$11,031,899$23,702,899NoNo-$11,031,899$0
Logo of the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersLAL$0$12,771,892$25,442,892NoNo
MLE
Collin Sexton
($9,268,293)
-$5,775,707-
Logo of the Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesMEM$333,812$42,887,812$55,558,812NoNo$9,366,000--
Logo of the Miami HeatMiami HeatMIA$0$5,257,464$17,928,464NoNo
MLE
Tim Hardaway Jr.
($6,500,000)
-$5,257,464-
Logo of the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksMIL$0$24,610,990$37,281,990NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota TimberwolvesMIN$0$0$5,849,138NoNo--$6,064,000
Logo of the New Orleans PelicansNew Orleans PelicansNOP$0$8,584,460$21,255,460NoNo-$8,584,460$0
Logo of the New York KnicksNew York KnicksNYK$0$0$11,047,241NoNo--$6,064,000
Logo of the Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City ThunderOKC$0$0$0NoNo---
Logo of the Orlando MagicOrlando MagicORL$0$0$4,335,967NoNo--$6,064,000
Logo of the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersPHI$0$10,688,580$23,359,580NoNo
MLE
Ariel Hukporti
($3,400,000)
Dean Wade
($9,069,767)
-$2,574,233-
Logo of the Phoenix SunsPhoenix SunsPHX$0$0$3,989,172NoNo
MLE
Luke Kennard
($6,341,463)
---
Logo of the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersPOR$0$18,780,657$31,451,657NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsSAC$0$771,655$13,442,655NoNo-$771,655$6,064,000
Logo of the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursSAS$0$17,520,099$30,191,099NoNo-$15,044,000$0
Logo of the Toronto RaptorsToronto RaptorsTOR$0$6,376,869$19,047,869NoNo-$6,376,869$0
Logo of the Utah JazzUtah JazzUTA$0$3,016,178$15,687,178NoNo
TP-MLE
Jaxson Hayes
($5,853,659)
--$210,341
Logo of the Washington WizardsWashington WizardsWAS$0$35,460,391$48,131,391NoNo-$15,044,000$0