IV. CAP EXCEPTIONS

There are 11 "Cap Exceptions" that can help you meet the salary cap, and each Exception may only be used once per season. If you meet these specific requirements, you can exceed your cap by the specified amount. However, you can only use each cap exception one time, and to activate it, you have to post a message saying which exception you're using. The exceptions are:

1. Mortgage Exception – By giving up $5M in cap space for next season, you may reduce the cost of one player's salary this season by $5 million. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is or exceeds $10M. (If you drop a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will go back to its original amount, but you can trade him without losing this effect. Regardless of whether you drop or trade this player, you will still have to forfeit $5M in cap space next season)

2. Journeyman Exception – You may reduce the cost of one player's salary to zero, but you won't be able to keep that player for next season. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $5 million or less. (If you drop or trade a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary will revert to its original amount. Regardless of whether you trade or drop this player, once you’ve used this exception on that player, you cannot designate him as a keeper if you later reacquire the player)

3. Larry Bird Exception – You may designate one Keeper on your team with "Bird" rights. You may reduce this player's salary by $3M for this season, and an additional $2M for every season you've kept this player on your team as a keeper, from the year you first declared Bird rights on that player. You cannot trade a player with Bird rights. You can drop a player with Bird rights. However, in doing so, you may not pick up this player again until a season in which you use the Rebuild Exception. In addition, you must forfeit $5M in cap space for this season.

4. Rebuild Exception - In exchange for keeping no players, you can increase your max cap by $5M. (Using the rebuild exception will also wipe away any debt left over from the Mortgage Exception the previous season, and allow you to acquire a former Bird player)

5. Injury Exception – Once per season, if one of your players gets injured and records 20 consecutive DNPs or 30 total DNPs due to injury or illness while he is on your roster, you may either (1) pick up a player with a salary under $5M off the free agent pool for free; or (2) take back one of the Exceptions you’ve used on the injured player, meaning you can use the Exception on someone else, and all current and future effects of the Exception will be voided. (If you drop or trade a player you’ve used picked up using this Exception, his salary will revert to its original amount)

6. Trade Exception - Once per season, following a trade, you may designated one traded player with the Trade Exception, and reduce his salary by $3M. You cannot trade back players you've traded away with this Exception. However, the player may be traded to anyone else. If the same player is traded two or more times, you may reduce that player's salary by an additional $2M. This Exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $5M or more. (If you drop a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary revert to its original amount). Note: you may have multiple players with the Trade Exception on your team, but you can only use the Trade Exception on a player once per season.

7. Veteran's Exception - After Week 10, you may pick up one player over the age of 30 off waivers and reduce his salary by $5M. This exception can only be used on a player who's salary is $10M or more. (Note this exception only applies to one player you pick up after week 10, it does not apply to players already on your team before Week 10. Also, if you trade a player with the Veteran's Exception, the exception will not carry over with the trade to the new team, and you may use the Veteran's Exception again. But if you drop a player with the Veteran's Exception, not only does that player lose the reduction in salary, but you cannot use the Veteran's Exception again this season)

8. Development Exception - Before the end of Week 1, you may designate one rookie that you drafted with the "Devo" Exception. Instead of paying his actual salary, you may "fix" that rookie's salary at $10M for players drafted with a top 5 pick in his respective NBA draft class, and $5M for players drafted 6th or later. In doing so, this player's salary will be fixed at that price for as long as you keep him. You may cancel this Exception at any time. Doing so reverts your player's salary back to its original amount. You may only have one player on your team designated with the Devo Exception at any one time. "Rookie" means all players eligible for the Rookie of the Year award. (If you drop a player you’ve used this exception on, his salary revert to its original amount. However, if you trade a player you've used this exception on, the receiving team may choose to keep the Devo exception on that player, but only if that team has no other player designated with this exception)

9. Synergy Exception - During Week 5, you may increase your salary cap by $3M if your team has three players that meet the following sets of criteria. This Exception resets and must be re-applied for on Weeks 10 and 15. You may use two or three of these sets at one time, but you may only use each specific set one time. The same player may be used in different sets, but you may not use the same player to meet multiple criteria within the same set. If you are able to use all three sets, you will receive an additional $1M bonus to your cap space. Lastly, the Exception only stays in effect so long as you continue rostering the players you've designated with this Exception (meaning you lose the bonus if you drop or trade a player from that set) and until it resets at Weeks 10 and 15. However, those players do not need to continue averaging the required stats past Weeks 5, 10, and 15.

A. Run & Gun - one player with 7 or more assists/game, one player with 25 or more points/game, and one player with 3 or more turnovers/game;
B. Inside-Outside - one player with 2.8 or more made threes/game, one player with a FG% of 65% or higher, and one player with 6 or more free throws/game; or
C. Lock-down Defense - one player with 1.8 or more steals/game, one player with 1.8 or more blocks/game, and one player with 10 or more rebounds/game.

10. Supermax Exception - You may use this exception when you draft or acquire a player off of free agency who costs $30M or more. Doing so will reduce this player's base salary to $20M (regardless of what his actual salary is). However, for 5 weeks after using this exception, you will not be able to make any roster changes (adds/drops/trades). In addition, you can only drop this player by using the Injury Exception's 2nd prong on him. You can only use this Exception before Week 10. You cannot use this exception more than once, even with the Injury Exception. (Note: if you wish to use this on a player you drafted or a keeper, you must declare this exception before the first game of the season).

11. Retool Exception – All active teams will receive an addition $5 million in salary cap space automatically after week 10 (rivalry week). Being “active” means consistently making efforts to set your lineup every week. Although, missing a day or two here or there and absences with explanation is fine.

V. KEEPERS AND DRAFT

At the end of the season, you get to choose 5 keepers (1 PG, 1 SG, 1 SF, 1 PF, and 1 Center). Next season, you will draft in the reverse order of how you finished this season.

VI. RIVALRY WEEK

Week 10 is Rivalry Week. You may choose your Rivalry Week opponent at any time before the start of the season (but you don't have to). Prior to Rivalry Week, teams may choose to make a wager. If two opposing teams agree, each of those teams must select 3 players to "protect." The winner of that week then can force the opposing team to trade one of their unprotected players for one of the winner's players. In other words, if you win Rivalry Week, you get to steal one of your opponent's players (outside their top 3). However, this is optional.

VII. TRADING PICKS AND CAP SPACE

In this league, you are allowed to trade draft picks as well as your excess cap space. We are only drafting 6 players every season, meaning the only usable draft picks are picks 1-6. You can also trade cap space in this league, in $1 million increments, up to $5 million total.