Unique Circumstance Exceptions
Minimum Salary Exception
The Minimum Salary Exception allows teams to sign players for the leagues minimum salary even if they are already over the cap limit for up to two years (the second year of the contract is for the leagues minimum salary that year). This exception also allows minimum salary players to be acquired by trade.
Traded Player Exception
With the Traded-Player Exception if a team trades a player with a higher salary away than the one they get in return then they qualify for a trade exception. This means that teams with this exception have up to a year in which they can acquire more salary in other trades than they send away, as long as the difference is the same.
Disabled Player Exception
The Disabled Player Exception allows a team to sign a replacement for a player who will be out for the rest of the season (through death or injury) even if they are over the cap. This also can be used for the next season if an injury occurs during the off-season. Teams can sign players for 50% of the disabled players contract or the MLE for a non luxury tax team, whichever is less. This player can only be signed for one season.
Reinstatement
A player who was banned from the league for a drug related issue can be reinstated and re-sign for their team under the same contract.
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