I know this isn't strictly Pistons related, but I would like to know some meanings or explanations of terms. And give me some examples so I can understand them better please.
Mid Level Exemption
Restricted Free Agent

What's the top draft pick slotted to get this year and how long is the contract? What about the last pick?

Can anyone explain if there is different level exemptions?

Reason I'm asking is their is a major discussion now in the NFL (for those of you that follow it, you know what I mean) about instituting a Rookie Cap that a wage setup would graduate from the 1st pick down to the last pick. Commissioner Goodell has now stated that it will be discussed in negotiations, Gene Upshaw wants no part of it. In fact, he referred to the NBA model as not applicable to the NFL. I disagree. My problem is I don't have the knowledge to understand how to adapt it. Some terms are the same in word only, but very different in practice i.e. "Injured Reserve".

NBA Rookie Salary Scale 2008 | NBA Rookie Salaries | NBA Rookie Salaries 2008 for the rookie salary cap

I'm failing to find it, but roscoe posted a great explanation of the MLE sometime in the last couple of weeks. Maybe you're better with the search function than I am.

Wow, I have to dust the cobwebs out of my brain.

Mid Level is based upon the average player salary. I believe they come up with this amount by dividing the cap for that year by 12, which is the minimum # of players a team can carry if I recall correctly.

The Mid Level is available to teams that are "over the cap" which is not as cut and dried as it sounds, but is a mechanism for allowing teams to still improve in free agency if they are already carrying a lot of salary. This is because the NBA has a soft cap, with no hard upper limit on total team salary, just impediments and road blocks to adding too much, too quickly after a certain threshold has been reached.

Each team at or over the cap, gets one MLE per offseason. They can divide it up, or put it all into one deal. They can choose not to use it at all.

A Restricted Free Agent is someone who is a FA, but their last team has the opportunity to match deals they may receive (within certain limits).

You can find a lot of information at Larry Coon's site, and I would be happy to help answer the rest. He has all of the exceptions broken down.

Here is some info on the rookie scale. The rookie contracts have maximums, but a team can sign a player for less. Say the max for a 14th pick is $2 million. I might sign him to $1.8 million. That's ok.

Second round picks are not on a scale. So the last man drafted will likely end up with a minimum contract. Most if not all second rounders do end up with minimum deals. Many teams cannot afford to give them more because of their cap position. First rounders have salary exceptions so you can sign them no matter what your cap position is. You can always sign your own picks.

Hope That Helps. HTH

__________________
Competition is merely the absence of oppression.
- Frédéric Bastiat

Cool! Thanx!

C. Rookie Scale Contracts

• Rookie scale contracts will provide for two guaranteed seasons with two separate one-year options in favor of the team for seasons 3 and 4. (In the previous agreement, rookie scale contracts provided for three (3) guaranteed seasons with a team option for year four.) The first team option is exercisable following the end of the player’s first season, and the second team option is exercisable following the end of the player’s second season. A team that exercises both options will continue to have first refusal rights following the player’s fourth season.
• The rookie scale and 3rd and 4th-year options and 5th-year Qualifying Offer amounts for 2005 first round draft picks (at 100% of their scale amounts) are set forth in Exhibit A attached to this memorandum. Teams will still have the ability to pay 20% more or less than the scale amounts.

Now I don't understand this point. Does this mean that the original team that drafted him still has control on his rights rather than him having the right to seek a deal elsewhere?

Sorry Oz, I missed this one.

Rookie deals used to be 3 years + 1 option year, then the 5th year, the player would be a restricted free agent.

Now the rookie deals are 2 + 1 + 1, so years 3 and 4 are option years. At the end of season 1, you take or decline the option for year 3. At the end of season 2, you take or decline the option for year 4.

In order to hold first rights refusal (aka restricted free agent rights over the player), both option years (3 + 4) must be taken. You can't hold restricted rights after only taking year 3 or not taking any option after year 2.

Does that help you?

__________________
Competition is merely the absence of oppression.
- Frédéric Bastiat

Yes, I see what they mean now. THANX! The links were great!