<P> An exception is necessary to sign a player for a contract that would exceed the salary cap threshold of the "soft cap". The Larry Bird exception, more commonly known as Bird Rights, allows teams to re-sign a current player only if he has played for that particular team for a minimum of three years . Another exception known as the mid-level exception allows for teams that are over the salary cap to sign one or more players as long as they do not exceed the total amount of the average NBA salary . Next, the bi-annual exception can be used by teams every other year to sign a free agent (s) for up to two years at an amount set by the NBA . Finally, the rookie player exception allows any NBA team to sign their first - round draft pick to a contract based upon a scale previously set forth by the NBA . Another option for teams would be to assign players to a league - assigned minimum salary contract for a maximum of two years . </P> <P> According to 2010--11 NBA season game performance, the league's best players were not its highest - paid players . Each year there are ten players selected to one of the two All - NBA Teams . Out of those ten players chosen that year, Kobe Bryant was the only player that was also among the game's ten highest - paid during the 2010--11 NBA season . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Salary </Th> <Th> Team </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Stephen Curry </Td> <Td> $34,682,550 </Td> <Td> Golden State Warriors </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> LeBron James </Td> <Td> $33,285,709 </Td> <Td> Cleveland Cavaliers </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Paul Millsap </Td> <Td> $31,269,231 </Td> <Td> Denver Nuggets </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Gordon Hayward </Td> <Td> $29,727,900 </Td> <Td> Boston Celtics </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Blake Griffin </Td> <Td> $29,512,900 </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Clippers </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kyle Lowry </Td> <Td> $28,703,704 </Td> <Td> Toronto Raptors </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Russell Westbrook </Td> <Td> $28,530,608 </Td> <Td> Oklahoma City Thunder </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mike Conley, Jr . </Td> <Td> $28,530,608 </Td> <Td> Memphis Grizzlies </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> James Harden </Td> <Td> $28,299,399 </Td> <Td> Houston Rockets </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> DeMar DeRozan </Td> <Td> $27,739,975 </Td> <Td> Toronto Raptors </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Salary </Th> <Th> Team </Th> </Tr>

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