The Recent History of the Mid-Level Exception

With Beno Udrih & Desagana Diop signing for the Mid-Level exception, let's take a look at the recent history (going back to 2004) of players who've signed for the MLE (or close to it).

Group 1: Great signings

Raja Bell, to the Suns in 2005, 5 years 24 million

James Posey, to the Celtics in 2007, 1 year 4 million (there was a player option for a 2nd that Posey did not exercise)

Antonio McDyess, to the Pistons in 2004, 4 years 23 million

Hedo Turkoglu, to the Magic in 2004, 6 years 38 million (though this probably would have been looked at as a bad signing as recently as last year)

Group 2: Useful Pieces

Luke Walton resigns the Lakers in 2007 for 5 years 30 million (they were basically matching the MLE offers he was receiving)

Jason Kapono, to the Raptors in 2007 for 4 years 24 million

Kyle Korver resigns with the 76ers for 6 years 27 million (similar situation as Walton)

Morris Peterson, to the Hornets in 2007 for 4 years 23 million

Group 3: Not bad, but not good either

Brent Barry, to the Spurs in 2004 for 4 years 22 million

Etan Thomas resigns with the 76ers for 6 years 38 million

Reggie Evans resigns with the Nuggets for 5 years 24 million (would have been terrible up until he helped the sixers in their playoff run)

Group 4: Absolute Disasters

Mikki Moore, to the Kings in 2007, 3 years 18 million

Matt Carroll, resigns with the Bobcats in 2006, 6 years 27 million

Mike James, to the T'Wolves in 2006, 4 years 25 million

Nazr Mohammed, to the Pistons in 2006, 5 years 25 million

Vladimir Radmanovic, to the Lakers in 2006, 5 years 30 million

Tim Thomas, to the Clippers in 2006, 4 years 24 million

Donyell Marshall, to the Cavs in 2004, 4 years 22 million

Shareef Abdur Rahim, to the Kings in 2005, 4 years 23 million

Stromile Swift, to the Rockets in 2005, 4 years 22 million

Earl Watson, to the Nuggets in 2005, 5 years 29 million

Brian Cardinal, to the Grizzlies in 2004, 6 years 39 million

Mark Blount resigns with the Celtics in 2004 6 years 40 million

Adonal Foyle resigns with the Warriors in 2004, 6 years 42 million

(If I've missed anyone, please let me know, NBA salary information in shockingly difficult to come by)


The lesson would seemingly be, that it is much wiser to spend your MLE on 2 or more players. Players who typically get the full MLE are players who are coming off a good year, playoff run or even just potential.

I'm not saying these are all bad players, GMs either got in a bidding war (sometimes with themselves) and ended up overpaying for the players services.

So the question this off-season is are guys like James Posey, Josh Childress, Corey Magette & Sasha Vujacic worth your teams full MLE?