 What Can the MLE Buy You? The mid-level exception is the only guaranteed tool a team over the salary cap has at its disposal to upgrade through free agency. Sometimes, it can be used to land a difference maker. Other times, teams use it year after year, and dig their hole deeper and deeper (Ahem, Isiah, are you listening?). After the jump, we'll try to nail down which players could possibly be had for the MLE. Let's start with the definition of the MLE, from the best CBA information site around: MID-LEVEL SALARY EXCEPTION -- This exception allows a team to sign any free agent to a contract equal to the average salary, even if they are over the cap. This exception may be split and given to multiple players. It may be used for contracts of up to five years in length, and raises are limited to 8% of the salary in the first year of the contract. Signing a player to a multi-year contract does not affect a team's ability to use this exception every year. For example, a team can sign a player to a five-year contract using this exception and still use the exception the following year to sign another player. In the past, you could kind of take look at the available free agents and peg which ones would fall somewhere in the MLE range. Last season, Mickael Pietrus and James Posey were two notable veterans who landed big MLE deals (the full MLE was $5.58M in 2008-2009). This year, however, I think we're going to see several players fall back into the MLE range. Here are the teams who could have more than the MLE to work with in cap space. In some cases, the teams would have to cut ties with one or more free agents, restricted or unrestricted, to free up the cap space. If/when they make this move, they can no longer go over the cap to re-sign their free agents using the Bird or Early-bird exceptions:
Now, here's a list of the players who will probably test the free-agent waters who made more than the MLE last season:
** - Highly doubtful any team would pay full MLE for this player. So we have 18 players on this list, four of whom you can cross off right away, leaving 14 players vying for 10 available free agent contracts worth more than the MLE. But that's only the group of players who made more than the MLE last season. Now let's take a look at the guys who you could expect to get a bump to that level in free agency:
From this second list, I expect Villaneuva, Sessions, Felton, David Lee, Millsap and possibly Nate Robinson and Marvin Williams could be offered a contract greater than the MLE, but I'd only consider Millsap and David Lee locks. In total, we probably have somewhere between 13 and 20 guys on the market who would normally be signed to a deal worth more than the MLE ($5.58M in the first season), and only 10 such spots available, at most. So who falls out of the big money? Here are the guys I fully expect to sign for more than the MLE:
Utah will probably lose either Boozer or Millsap, not both. There are some other things we should probably discuss. The Gilbert Arenas provision could apply to guys like Ramon Sessions, Paul Millsap and Marcin Gortat. It's a convoluted rule, so check out the link. Basically, the most any team can offer one of those guys this season is the full MLE, but a team with more cap space can offer a contract that starts at the full MLE and then jumps up by a much larger percentage after year two. That's the basic landscape, now let's play matchmaker:
We haven't even begun to talk about which teams can and cannot afford to add an MLE contract to their payroll without going over the luxury tax. The point is, this Summer is shaping up to be a buyer's market. How does this affect the Sixers? Well, it could be profound. First of all, if the Sixers open negotiations with Andre Miller on July 1st and quickly re-sign him, they're going to pay too much, and possibly remove the possibility of getting a better player for less money later in the Summer. Take a look at those lists above, some of the players will test free agency and realize there's just no money available, then the power shifts to their current teams who are the only ones able to offer more than the MLE. Some will sign their qualifying offers and opt for unrestricted free agency in 2010. The rest will be scrounging around for MLE offers. By my count no more than 10 teams will be ready, willing and able to spend the full MLE, either due to the desire to be as far under the cap next Summer as possible in the hopes of landing one of the big name free agents, or because they are hovering so close to the luxury tax level, it would cost them way too much to add a full-MLE deal (the Sixers will be in this boat if they re-sign Miller). That number will drop precipitously if/when teams start re-signing their own free agents. I think it's entirely possible that by August we could see several players looking to Europe for a bigger payday. The ones who still want to play in the NBA will be settling for much, much less than their agents promised they'd get on the open market. That will be the time to swoop in and grab bargains. Guys like Anthony Parker aren't going to command the full MLE. In fact, you may be able to get two players of that caliber for the MLE. Or, better yet, a guy like Gortat or Sessions may just be sitting out there for the taking. 
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Portland sounds like they are resigning Blake and Outlaw, two guys that fit here.McCants is an interesting name.But with a new coach and new system being implemented they might not be able to be patient.Gortat is making a believer out of me watching him defend Bynum,something he didn!t have to do against us [Sammy?].He gets more offers than Varejio, in my opinion.A spot up shooter that uses screens well and is fairly young is what I want,and if we get him for less than the full m.l.e. that is fine with me.If I have a choice of Parker, McCants or Carney I would go with the younger player.The p.g.!s listed do nothing for me, would rather go with someone in the draft along with our 2 experienced guys here already [L.Will. and Ivey].
Good research Brian,
However, I don't think Gortat will be out there for the MLE for the Sixers. In fact, I'd be highly surprised if OKC doesn't make a run at him, especially if they draft a 2(Harden maybe?). He is a 25-year old big that would fit very well next to Durant and Green on the front line and they can practically guarantee a starting spot for him.
I think the Sixers will need their MLE for a shooter. Unless they could either get another pick and draft Ellington or Taylor or Thorton or Xmas and/or trade Evans for Matt Carroll(Dallas) or Jason Kapono(TOR). Then they might get into a bidding war for Gortat and maybe lose to OKC.
I really hope that the Eddies can find those bargains you talked about to enrich the bench. I've heard from the RealGM source that the team is talking a lot about Parker, Korver and Carney, while shopping Sam very hard. Could be interesting this summer
OKC can offer more money, and if they do, there's nothing you can do, but there's nothing stopping the Sixers from offering Gortat a starting spot on a playoff team, which should trump a starting slot on OKC.
Also, I think if OKC is going to make a splash, Gortat doesn't really fit the bill.
And OK Cty did sign Nenad Krstic for something similar to the MLE during the middle of last year and he had a credible half year for his return to the NBA. That doesn't prevent them from signing Gortat, of course, but they may have better ways to spend their money.
Good info. I'm betting there will be a lot of sign and trades in order to acquire players for over the MLE. I think Ed is counting on this too.
Sign and trades pretty much have to involve teams with cap space, otherwise they don't make a whole lot of sense for teams trying to shed salary. Those moves would probably eat into the 10 available MLE+ salaries available.
Looks like the Knicks are interested in Gortat, too: http://www.nypost.com/seven/06082009/sports/knicks/orlandos_gortat_on_knicks_radar_173166.htm
The knicks are interested in everyone, and everyone wants to come to new york
the post is as reliable as I am.
Just yesterday a NY paper reported that the knicks want to do a sign and trade to clear more salary...
I have the Knicks on the list of teams who won't use their MLE because it will eat into their cap space next Summer. I still think that's the case.
Don't forget if the Sixers pay Miller close to the $10 mill he's making now or work out a sign-and-trade with him for a similar amount, they may not be able to use the full MLE without going into luxury tax territory (once the first-round pick and 3-4 other players are signed for the minimums to fill out roster).
I believe the vet min guys do not count against the tax (the league covers the tax.) So you can go up to the tax with your other signings and then still add vet min guys without having to pay double.
This is wrong. The minimum salaries count against the cap and the tax, but the league reimburses teams for veteran minimum salary guys. Here's the link to explain the reimbursement. And here's the link to explain how much counts against the cap/tax.
That's what I meant by "the league covers the tax." Thanks for the clarification though- you explained it better.
Sorry, I still wasn't clear. The league only reimburses the difference between the veteran minimum and the two-year player minimum.
So if they were to sign Donyell, it would cost them $1.306M, but the league would reimburse them roughly $570K (the difference between $736K and $1.3M). That contract can put them over the luxury tax, though.
Oh, I thought they reimbursed the tax amount with minimum contracts. Guess I was wrong. Thanks.
I guess the Philly Max will be under the tax this year...
I believe if they pay Miller $10M they're already over the luxury tax level. By my math, they have somewhere around $8M in wiggle room, but I could be wrong. Depends on where the tax comes in, obviously.
That's around the number we came up with last week - assuming only giving the 17 pick a contract
I do not see any reason for the sixers to look for big guys this year. We are in great need of guards as the ONLY guard we have, Lou, that COULD (not saying will, John) have a great year. We need to get some shooters in by hook (draft) or crook (trade/MLE). Obviously if we trade one of our big men, then it may give a spot for another big guy but even then I would not go that way.
Personally, I think long-term, we need two starters (if they're hellbent on moving Sammy out), a center and a PG. The center must defend and rebound, the PG must shoot from distance. Gortat fills one of those needs for me, and hopefully at a reasonable price. The shooting needs to improve, but I don't see anyone who can fill that need with the MLE, personally. Use the draft for it, or maybe even trade Sammy for it, if possible.
I heard on the radio today an ABC basketball commentator stated the sixers will regret not taking Maynor in the draft. He feels that he will be an outstanding guard in the NBA. He stated he has been a leader and will excell. Any thoughts, it sounded like Lawson was the choice many feel is good.
Both have a chance to be solid pros. Lawson is probably better in transition and quicker. Maynor is reportedly just steady in all areas, not great in any. Not sure who I'd prefer, probably whoever's going to turn into a better shooter.
Maynor is a tough kid and one could see that he was a fearless warrior when watching him, but he had to assume that role on his college team. Lawson had the luxury of plenty of other weapons around him. One never knows how these things will translate in the pro game. Gordon had the college player of the year around him at UConn but has been a warrior assassin pro. Michael Jordan had top shelf talent around him in college and, except for his freshman year, his group rather underachieved, but when he reached the NBA, oh boy.
Which ABC basketball coordinator - and did the draft happen and I missed it?
I read somewhere this weekend that it was strange the Sixers would bring in Lawson for a workout because they'd have to trade up to get him. Not sure where that logic came from.
Anyway, expect a lot of weird quotes over the next couple weeks.
I actually sent a letter to the writer of that article wondering what draft 'sources' he had since most mocks have lawson going after 17 :)
I shockingly received no reply.
I remember a few years ago when people wondered how the sixers could draft Iguodala without working him out and yet they did and just didn't tell anyone
Here's a question for you, after seeing the list above and the scarcity of money available, would you opt out if you were Kyle Korver?
Korver is due $5.33M this season, so in order for him to get a raise, someone would have to be willing to give him the full MLE, or very close to it. Could be he'd be better off sticking with the final year of his deal and seeing how the market shakes out next Summer when a bunch of teams are sitting around with a ton of cap space after LeBron, Wade and Bosh land elsewhere?
Thanks to the Raptors' awful selection of Rafael Araujo, Iguodala was available. Believer Araujo is already out of the league.
I think Korver won't opt out. He's on a playoff team, has a fairly defined role and could end up taking a pay cut if he leaves Utah. On the other hand, if he's willing to sign a 1-year deal, a bunch of teams would be interested -- though few could exceed the MLE.
Yeah, if he opts out he either doesn't like Utah, or thinks someone out there is willing to (over)pay him. Otherwise, he's taking a pay cut.
Don't underestimate the value of guaranteed money. He may get less cash next year, but a long term contract is guaranteed, whereas he is only an injury away from never making a dime after next year.
Getting a few mil less up front might be worth knowing he will be getting 20-25 mil over the next 4 years. Sure, if healthy he gets even more next year, but there is a risk involved.
I still like Korver a lot. There is a newfound appreciation for his game after seeing guys like Lou, Green and Ivey being played at the 2 (and the latter two at the 3 in spots, basketball gods forbid).
But it is a pipe dream to imagine he would leave Utah.
There was a rumor a few weeks back that he might opt out, can't remember where I saw it, though.
TK, good point about the guaranteed money, but we could be talking about a difference of maybe $5-10M over the course of the deal if he waits for next year.
He actually said it in a radio interview in Iowa. It was online as a podcast. Paraphrasing, he said that if any team is interested in him, he will likely opt out. So, unless he changed his mind between then and July, he's opting out.
I was always a big fan of korvers but knew he was a 'luxury' at the time as the sixers weren't going much of anywhere - but seriously - he's a god in utah - he really shouldn't leave
Korver would be nice to have, but he would DEFINITELY be a luxury on this team...a capologist can correct me, but for them to have the full MLE and not pay the tax, Miller will have to either be gone or take short money - right?
Before I would sign Korver, I would sign Gortat (who would have more of an impact, IMO) or a PG to take Miller's place (although - to be honest - their isn't anybody out there that really floats my boat as a PG with the MLE).
Now - if we trade for our PG of the future (like Curry or Hinrich) and we have the money to still use the MLE to sign Korver, then I would be interested (assuming that we didn't sign Gortat first)...
We can probably afford to move up and get the #5 and use the MLE. We cannot afford to re-sign Miller and use the MLE, unless Miller signs for something like $3m. If we did the S&T you keep talking about (bringing Hinrich here) we couldn't afford to use the MLE.
Then give me Curry and Gortat.
(I don't ask for much)
A little anecdote that you can take for nothing if you choose... Korver left. The team did not miss him. The end.
Korver is a 3 and a very poor one defensively. He hasn't shot 40% from beyond in the last 2 seasons as well, which isn't all the acceptable for what he should do. I would expect 42% or so.
Is he an upgrade over Willie? Absolutely, but this team, as others have said, cannot afford Korver. I think it is crazy to consider such a superfolous player for 4+ million a year at the juncture this team is facing.
I think signing an athletic freak, who can shoot a little, like Carney, for 1 million a year would make much more sense than wrapping money in some one-dimensional shooter like Korver who can't defend a lick.
No disagreement here, although it appears that sacrificing defense for offense is the blueprint for the team under Eddie Jordan, so I won't say there's no way the Sixers do it.
The sixers are a worse 3 point shooting team without Kyle Korver than with him - his reason for being is to shoot 3's.
Is it worth improving from three a little bit if it makes the overall team worse and hamstrings them financially?
The sixers bench is god awful - Korver upgrades the bench - if he's gettable sure - i would rather see him play than reggie evans ever paly
I just read this at Hoopsworld:
"Bill Ingram:
You hate to see a team that made forward strides this season start over at the point, but if you're going to sign-and-trade Miller, maybe you walk to the Kings. They desperately want a new point guard who can make them a playoff team (cough, cough). Miller is more likely to do that than anyone in the draft. So you send Miller to Sac and get Curry or Holiday . . .and don't trade Iggy or Young! "
Would that be a dream to get Curry or Holiday for Miller and whoever else!
Well, this would have to be a deal where Sacto drafts the guy we want, then we do the deal after July 1st, and I don't see how that would be possible, considering it's against the rules to even talk to Andre Miller before July 1st, and he'd have to agree to the deal.
That being said, if they could somehow have a handshake agreement in place w/ Sacto and Miller, the Sixers would have to take a bad, bad contract in return for a sign-and-trade to even be worthwhile to Sacto. Either Beno Udrih or Andres Nocioni, and those are some BAD contracts.
I would consider taking on on Nocioni's contract if it meant getting Curry without giving up anybody from the core. I actually like Noc's game a little...good 3-point shooter...physical player...probably smart enough to handle the Princeton offense...
I haven't liked what I have seen from Nocioni in recent years. At one time, I liked his game a fair amount. Now? I don't think I'd touch that contract.
Why do writers constantly posit sign and trades for draft picks - the variables are too endless - it's shameful and as stupid as saying the sixers have to trade up to get lawson
Yep, it's also impossible to sign-and-trade directly for a pick. Can't sign until after the draft.
Yup :)
Maybe part of the reason newspapers are dying is because the 'journalists' are no longer good at their jobs - or even mediocre. (Oh yes, still no reply from the man who said the sixers would have to trade up to get Lawson)
Eh, there are good and bad guys in every industry. The most egregious thing I've seen is that SLAM post, citing "sources." What a joke.
SLAM's credible rating I believe is lower than either dude working for the new york papers.
Philly writers, as a whole strike me as a sad lot, the phillies writers are a lot worse