Quick Question in Regards to the MLE...

[swisscheeseD]

Just having a discussion with a member from another board, and can't find an example in writing and wondering if there was somebody who could help me out.

Can a team who has Max Cap Space sign a Max FA and then use the MLE on top of that?

I thought the MLE was for teams who are already OVER the Cap, and doesn't apply to the teams who are under it. DOn't they have to renounce those rights in order to sign a FA?

If someone could clarify this for me it would be greatly appreciated. And could I can get the interpretation in writing so I can collect my money?

[answerthink]

Your understanding is correct in that a team cannot utilize cap space to sign a max free agent and then the MLE on top of that. I have provided below the reasons why.

If a team is over the cap, it can use any Disabled Player, Bi-Annual, Mid-Level Salary, and Traded Player exceptions available to it.

If a team is below the cap, any Disabled Player, Bi-Annual, Mid-Level Salary, and Traded Player exceptions available to it are added to its team salary. If a team is still below the cap even when adding any new exception that arises, the team does not get it. If at any point the team is still below the cap even when adding all of its available exceptions, the exceptions are lost and cannot be recovered.

A team can renounce any of its exceptions to claim the cap space.