HARDCAP-BBeta Ref

Non-Taxpayer MLE used

BLOCKINGFirst apronCBA Article VII, Section 6(e)

Summary

Using the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception hard-caps the team at the first apron.

How it works

If a team used the NT-MLE in the current season, post-trade salary cannot exceed the first apron. Applies even if the MLE signing was in free agency, not in this trade.

Example

A team signed a player for $12M using the NT-MLE in July. Now in February they want to take on $5M in a trade that pushes them above $195.9M. ILLEGAL.

Engine behavior

Reads team_transaction_flags.used_nontaxpayer_mle.