In addition to receiving more than $154MM 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 ($195,945,000), in which case it gets a modest “taxpayer” version of the MLE. A team whose salary is over the second tax apron ($207,824,000) 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 $8,781,000.
- Full/non-taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to four years, with a starting salary worth up to $14,104,000.
- 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 ($187,895,000) at season’s end; it simply means the team’s total salary can’t surpass the first tax apron ($195,945,000).
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to two years, with a starting salary worth up to $5,685,000.
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 2025/26 league year, with new MLE deals added once those signings (or trades) are officially completed and we confirm the contract details.
Note: After the 2026 trade deadline, the value of the exceptions below will begin to prorate downward.
Here’s where things currently stand:
Mid-Level Exception:
Non-taxpayer: $14,104,000
Taxpayer: $5,685,000
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
Boston Celtics
- Used: $0
- The Celtics aren’t currently in position to use any portion of the MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Used: $0
- The Cavaliers are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.
Dallas Mavericks
- Used: $5,685,000 (D’Angelo Russell)
- The Mavericks are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Used: $0
- The Timberwolves are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or the full taxpayer MLE.
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
- Used: $5,500,000 (Guerschon Yabusele)
- The Knicks are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
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
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
- Used: $0
- The Raptors are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.
Utah Jazz
Note: Anderson was acquired via trade.
Washington Wizards
Room Exception:
Available: $8,781,000
Brooklyn Nets
Memphis Grizzlies
Note: The Grizzlies will reportedly be using their room exception to sign Ty Jerome, but the deal is not yet official.
Milwaukee Bucks
