Truth & Rumors > NBA
Teams shy from mid-level exceptions
Why are so many teams not using the mid-level exception? Teams are growing reluctant to use all or even a good chunk of their full mid-level because it eats up salary cap space in future years, and in some cases, puts a team over the luxury tax. Also, some GMs are a little skittish because some high-profile mid-level deals in recent years ( Brian Cardinal, Jared Jeffries, Jerome James) have failed spectacularly. The bottom line is that in most cases there is little or no market for those type of full mid-level deals, so teams aren't going to bid against themselves. They can afford to wait it out and try to get those players at cheaper rates.
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Chelsey Buhler
Bar Refaeli



Comments (23) Add A Comment
They made him look like Gary Coleman in this photo.
YODA
Total Comments (16908)
it's called scouting and player evaluation, they should try it once in a while.
Vaughn9
Total Comments (4428)
In other words, mid-level are for overrated players and later on regret on signing them. A waste of salary.
Best advice. Don't use it and save it for the Superstar free agents.
Guam Baller
Total Comments (3100)
They made him look like Gary Coleman in this photo.
YODA | 08/28/08, 07:00 AM
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But that's a good thing ... his game is comparable to Gary Coleman's.
Cheesy Texan
Converse , TX
Total Comments (1722)
It's not the mid-level its the players who are GIVEN the mid level
and the moronic GM's who give them out
and please T&R....never mention Jerome James again
jgb
Total Comments (8977)
If there were still a high number of quality ballplayers at the mid-level (like there was when they made the rule), this would make sense. Today, it's bad economics. I don't blame them for ignoring it.
Petey024
New York , NY
Total Comments (2146)
The mid level exception was instituted to guard against overspending and underspening for talent. If I was a player I will never accept a mid level deal because of it's subliminal message... "you can't be great like Jordan yet you won't be a bust like Kwame Brown"... But those two Knick players... God bless em... call it FREEDOM TO STEAL DOLAN'S DOUGH!
Lostwill
Natick , MA
Total Comments (2066)
Ironically enough Isiah Thomas was the GM that signed two of those players named.
See, it's all the Knicks fault.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18081)
Ironically enough Isiah Thomas was the GM that signed two of those players named.
See, it's all the Knicks fault.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 08/28/08, 11:03 AM
You took the words right out of my mouth.
Hllywd: Old…
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (7942)
The mid level exception was instituted to guard against overspending and underspening for talent. If I was a player I will never accept a mid level deal because of it's subliminal message... "you can't be great like Jordan yet you won't be a bust like Kwame Brown"... But those two Knick players... God bless em... call it FREEDOM TO STEAL DOLAN'S DOUGH!
Lostwill | 08/28/08, 10:35 AM
Good comment. Everyone on that squad is stealing Dolan's dough with the exception of David Lee. He's the only one trying to earn it.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18081)
They made him look like Gary Coleman in this photo.
YODA | 08/28/08, 07:00 AM
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But that's a good thing ... his game is comparable to Gary Coleman's.
Cheesy Texan | 08/28/08, 08:48 AM
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That's the funniest line I have seen all day.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18081)
They made him look like Gary Coleman in this photo.
YODA | 08/28/08, 07:00 AM
Really? I thought I was watching Forrest Gump for a second and Bubba was looking up at Forrest right before he dies...
BuffaloTF
Total Comments (2133)
Ugh Jarred Jeffries. Those were an awful group of years in Washington. He left college entirely too early.
C-Smith
Total Comments (2180)
"Ugh Jarred Jeffries. Those were an awful group of years in Washington"
um.....ugly maybe......
but have you watched his couple in NY.....BEYOND UGLY
jgb
Total Comments (8977)
okay i know this is stupid but what is the mid level exception and if you go over the luxury tax what happens?
drMcNinja
Philadelphia , PA
Total Comments (369)
Good comment. Everyone on that squad is stealing Dolan's dough with the exception of David Lee. He's the only one trying to earn it.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 08/28/08, 11:44 AM
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aggreed
drMcNinja
Philadelphia , PA
Total Comments (369)
"Ugh Jarred Jeffries. Those were an awful group of years in Washington"
um.....ugly maybe......
but have you watched his couple in NY.....BEYOND UGLY
jgb | 08/28/08, 01:30 PM
AGREED!
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (18081)
okay i know this is stupid but what is the mid level exception and if you go over the luxury tax what happens?
drMcNinja
----------------------
The mid level exception is an exception to the salary cap rule that allows you to sign a player at a mid-level salary and exceed the salary cap in order to get the deal done. But, you are hit with a dollar for dollar "luxury tax" for every dollar that you are over the cap.
So if you go $3 million "over the cap" (the maximum limit that a team can spend in payroll) in order to sign the player you are hit with a $3 million "luxury tax". Go $10 million over, $10 million tax. That's it in a nutshell.
Petey024
New York , NY
Total Comments (2146)
The mid-level exception should be renamed the Isiah Thomas Exception.
King4kong
Galt , CA
Total Comments (157)
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