HARDCAP-DBeta Ref

Buyout above MLE signed

BLOCKINGFirst apronCBA Article VII, Section Unsectioned

Summary

Signing a mid-season buyout player at more than the NT-MLE amount hard-caps the team at the first apron.

How it works

If a team signs a buyout player for more than the Non-Taxpayer MLE amount in the same season, subsequent trades cannot push the team above the first apron.

Example

Team signs a buyout player for $7M (above the ~$6M NT-MLE). Later trade acquisition attempt that crosses $195.9M is ILLEGAL.

Engine behavior

Reads team_transaction_flags.signed_buyout_above_mle.