Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
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jwoo
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Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
Hey all - your friendly neighborhood NDL czar here.
Have had this convo with a few different people who all thought it would be a good idea to rehash some of this stuff/spell it out again. Every season I have a few people texting me asking questions, including some of these. The goal here is to clear some of this up for the future and also have a reference doc (I can repost this in the NDL forum as well if people want).
Some of this is rehashing the NDL rules (which I strongly advise reading) but also some of this is meant to expound on things that people are always asking me about and clarify some of the wording in there.
Who is allowed to go to the NDL?
-NDL delegates cannot have any stipulations, unless the stip says they can go to the NDL -("Can play point guard" is a stip")
-NDL delegates cannot be selected in the lottery (picks 1-13) unless there is a stip saying so
-NDL delegates must not have two flat-B grades or higher, or one flat A grade or higher (a B- grade is acceptable)
-NDL delegates cannot be on one-year contracts
-NDL delegates cannot have averaged 25+mpg in SLN over the course of a season
-Players can only be delegated twice, and they must have 4 or less years of experience
Every season there are a few guys who get delegated that are not actually eligible and I end up having to post in the forums to alert people about it. Please think about these criteria when you are drafting players and when you are deciding who to delegate! It saves everyone time!
When do I delegate my players?
There are essentially two delegation periods. The first period is anytime in between the SLN draft and when Ashes processes NDL delegations (which can happen as soon as right after TC). The second time is anytime in between Day 1 and Day 60 of the season.
If you want to ensure your eligible player goes to the NDL, delegate them immediately after you draft them. Even if they TC into diminished gains as rookies, they will be allowed to spend up to two seasons in the NDL. But you have to delegate them before training camp for Ashes to allow this — if they improve to having two flat-B skills, they can't go down after that.
When you are copy-pasting "No Stip" as you delegate a player — please make sure he actually does not have a stip!
How do diminished gains work?
Basically this mechanism exists to nerf the gains of players who are, at least in theory, too good to be in the NDL anyway. In short, if you have two B skills or one flat-A skill, that player's gains get cut in half.
Do diminished gains players still receive the potential boosts after their rookie and sophomore seasons?
Yes, they do. However, remember that potential boosts correspond to years of experience — so if you want a guy to get maximally boosted, he needs to be delegated as a rookie. So for example, if for some reason you delegate an eligible guy in his third SLN season for the first time, he'll still be eligible for three years of NDL gains, but he will NOT receive potential boosts.
Basically, the thing to remember is that the NDL is really designed for rookies and sophomores. It's simply not as powerful a tool if you wait to use it.
How do NDL re-signings work and what options are available to me?
If your player's contract expires while he is in the NDL, he becomes a free agent that anyone can sign. Players in the NDL will not re-sign on their own.
So, your options to retain them are as follows:
Option 1: Extend the Qualifying Offer
The QO is meant to give an incumbent team the opportunity to keep their players via a contract offer that will easily top an MLE offer.
The QO for players who are not diminished is a three year deal structured like this: $4.5/$4.95/$5.4M
For players in diminished gains, the QO is a three year deal structured like this: $8/$9.2/$10.58M
You do not have to extend the QO, but it's often advisable. And generally speaking, if a player is good enough to warrant a QO or more(!), you might want to have them on your SLN roster already — this lets you re-sign them like any other player, but also creates scenarios where they will offer to re-sign on their own!
Option 2: Re-sign them using bird rights
Ashes has permitted NDL players to be re-signed like normal free agents, using bird rights. (Most recently, the Knicks re-signed Nikola Topic and the Cavs re-signed Tyler Smith by this method. This was not explicitly spelled out in the rules (to my own annoyance, sorry about that) but has been allowed on multiple occasions (@ashes if you feel the need to expound here feel free), so I felt it was important to address this wrinkle so we all have the same information.
This method might allow you to sign a player for much cheaper than the qualifying offer, or spend more than the qualifying offer. However, it also leaves those players very susceptible to being poached by another team using an MLE or cap space, so be thoughtful about it.
If you think you're being sneaky and want to try to keep a guy cheaply this way, you do so at your own risk — watchful GMs are always spotting NDL talent!
How do I sign NDL free agents?
There are two ways to do this.
Option 1: Use an MLE or LLE
During free agency, you can extend an MLE or an LLE to any unsigned NDL player, just like any other free agent. You can also do this ahead of Day 60, provided you still have your exceptions available.
Option 2: Use your cap space
If you are a team with cap space, you are allowed to offer unsigned NDL players just like any other free agent.
How do NDL player trades work?
The trade rules around NDL players are different than SLN roster players. For an SLN trade to be legal, it has to be subject to basic salary matching rules (I won't spell those out here). NDL salaries now DO NOT COUNT in the trade-matching process — they can be included in deals, but because it was a headache for Ashes, both sides of a trade must match without the inclusion of an NDL salary.
Also note that NDL salaries cannot be traded for free — you can trade them for RP, or for a second round pick, etc, but you can't just send an NDL player away unless the receiving team has cap space.
Why should I be using the NDL?
While not every player who goes to the NDL pans out, there is a strong track record of NDL products becoming successful in SLN — it can turn fringe guys into nice role players and role players into starters. In some cases (particularly all the Sorry Kid designates), it can springboard prospects into stardom, although those actual cases are uncommon for a reason.
Basically, if you don't need a rookie on your roster in the short-term (whether for playing time, salary or roster spot reasons), you are hurting his long-term development chances by not sending him down to the NDL. The juice is usually worth the squeeze. And most importantly, the NDL rules and is fun.
For those interested, here are some good NDL use cases
Sorry Kid
Scoot Henderson
LaBaron Philon
Beckham Black
Nolan Traore
Jonathan Kuminga
Jaden Ivey
Isaiah Evans
Just outside lotto
Rui Hachimura
Otto Porter Jr
Hansen Yang
2nd rounders
Malik Allen
Jordan Hamilton
Cory Joseph
Jerian Grant
Hidden Sleepers (Hornets only)
Primoz Brezec
Semi Ojeleye
I think this covers a lot of bases but please leave any other questions in the comments and I can add to this article or ask Ashes to clarify.
Have had this convo with a few different people who all thought it would be a good idea to rehash some of this stuff/spell it out again. Every season I have a few people texting me asking questions, including some of these. The goal here is to clear some of this up for the future and also have a reference doc (I can repost this in the NDL forum as well if people want).
Some of this is rehashing the NDL rules (which I strongly advise reading) but also some of this is meant to expound on things that people are always asking me about and clarify some of the wording in there.
Who is allowed to go to the NDL?
-NDL delegates cannot have any stipulations, unless the stip says they can go to the NDL -("Can play point guard" is a stip")
-NDL delegates cannot be selected in the lottery (picks 1-13) unless there is a stip saying so
-NDL delegates must not have two flat-B grades or higher, or one flat A grade or higher (a B- grade is acceptable)
-NDL delegates cannot be on one-year contracts
-NDL delegates cannot have averaged 25+mpg in SLN over the course of a season
-Players can only be delegated twice, and they must have 4 or less years of experience
Every season there are a few guys who get delegated that are not actually eligible and I end up having to post in the forums to alert people about it. Please think about these criteria when you are drafting players and when you are deciding who to delegate! It saves everyone time!
When do I delegate my players?
There are essentially two delegation periods. The first period is anytime in between the SLN draft and when Ashes processes NDL delegations (which can happen as soon as right after TC). The second time is anytime in between Day 1 and Day 60 of the season.
If you want to ensure your eligible player goes to the NDL, delegate them immediately after you draft them. Even if they TC into diminished gains as rookies, they will be allowed to spend up to two seasons in the NDL. But you have to delegate them before training camp for Ashes to allow this — if they improve to having two flat-B skills, they can't go down after that.
When you are copy-pasting "No Stip" as you delegate a player — please make sure he actually does not have a stip!
How do diminished gains work?
Basically this mechanism exists to nerf the gains of players who are, at least in theory, too good to be in the NDL anyway. In short, if you have two B skills or one flat-A skill, that player's gains get cut in half.
Do diminished gains players still receive the potential boosts after their rookie and sophomore seasons?
Yes, they do. However, remember that potential boosts correspond to years of experience — so if you want a guy to get maximally boosted, he needs to be delegated as a rookie. So for example, if for some reason you delegate an eligible guy in his third SLN season for the first time, he'll still be eligible for three years of NDL gains, but he will NOT receive potential boosts.
Basically, the thing to remember is that the NDL is really designed for rookies and sophomores. It's simply not as powerful a tool if you wait to use it.
How do NDL re-signings work and what options are available to me?
If your player's contract expires while he is in the NDL, he becomes a free agent that anyone can sign. Players in the NDL will not re-sign on their own.
So, your options to retain them are as follows:
Option 1: Extend the Qualifying Offer
The QO is meant to give an incumbent team the opportunity to keep their players via a contract offer that will easily top an MLE offer.
The QO for players who are not diminished is a three year deal structured like this: $4.5/$4.95/$5.4M
For players in diminished gains, the QO is a three year deal structured like this: $8/$9.2/$10.58M
You do not have to extend the QO, but it's often advisable. And generally speaking, if a player is good enough to warrant a QO or more(!), you might want to have them on your SLN roster already — this lets you re-sign them like any other player, but also creates scenarios where they will offer to re-sign on their own!
Option 2: Re-sign them using bird rights
Ashes has permitted NDL players to be re-signed like normal free agents, using bird rights. (Most recently, the Knicks re-signed Nikola Topic and the Cavs re-signed Tyler Smith by this method. This was not explicitly spelled out in the rules (to my own annoyance, sorry about that) but has been allowed on multiple occasions (@ashes if you feel the need to expound here feel free), so I felt it was important to address this wrinkle so we all have the same information.
This method might allow you to sign a player for much cheaper than the qualifying offer, or spend more than the qualifying offer. However, it also leaves those players very susceptible to being poached by another team using an MLE or cap space, so be thoughtful about it.
If you think you're being sneaky and want to try to keep a guy cheaply this way, you do so at your own risk — watchful GMs are always spotting NDL talent!
How do I sign NDL free agents?
There are two ways to do this.
Option 1: Use an MLE or LLE
During free agency, you can extend an MLE or an LLE to any unsigned NDL player, just like any other free agent. You can also do this ahead of Day 60, provided you still have your exceptions available.
Option 2: Use your cap space
If you are a team with cap space, you are allowed to offer unsigned NDL players just like any other free agent.
How do NDL player trades work?
The trade rules around NDL players are different than SLN roster players. For an SLN trade to be legal, it has to be subject to basic salary matching rules (I won't spell those out here). NDL salaries now DO NOT COUNT in the trade-matching process — they can be included in deals, but because it was a headache for Ashes, both sides of a trade must match without the inclusion of an NDL salary.
Also note that NDL salaries cannot be traded for free — you can trade them for RP, or for a second round pick, etc, but you can't just send an NDL player away unless the receiving team has cap space.
Why should I be using the NDL?
While not every player who goes to the NDL pans out, there is a strong track record of NDL products becoming successful in SLN — it can turn fringe guys into nice role players and role players into starters. In some cases (particularly all the Sorry Kid designates), it can springboard prospects into stardom, although those actual cases are uncommon for a reason.
Basically, if you don't need a rookie on your roster in the short-term (whether for playing time, salary or roster spot reasons), you are hurting his long-term development chances by not sending him down to the NDL. The juice is usually worth the squeeze. And most importantly, the NDL rules and is fun.
For those interested, here are some good NDL use cases
Sorry Kid
Scoot Henderson
LaBaron Philon
Beckham Black
Nolan Traore
Jonathan Kuminga
Jaden Ivey
Isaiah Evans
Just outside lotto
Rui Hachimura
Otto Porter Jr
Hansen Yang
2nd rounders
Malik Allen
Jordan Hamilton
Cory Joseph
Jerian Grant
Hidden Sleepers (Hornets only)
Primoz Brezec
Semi Ojeleye
I think this covers a lot of bases but please leave any other questions in the comments and I can add to this article or ask Ashes to clarify.
Last edited by jwoo on October 20th, 2025, 5:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
free healthcare has never been more important
Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
Who would use a sorry kid on Jaden Ivey
I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know i’ll never see - Luthen Rael - Spurs GM
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Schmagel Steinbagel
- General Manager
- Posts: 2196
- Joined: December 20th, 2023, 12:16 pm
Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
can add 3-time champ Gary Payton II to that list
Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play
And we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangstahs roamin'
And parties don't stop 'til eight in the Monin
And we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangstahs roamin'
And parties don't stop 'til eight in the Monin
-
mantypas/CavsCzar
- The Champ
- Posts: 3136
- Joined: December 20th, 2023, 12:06 pm
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mantypas/CavsCzar
- The Champ
- Posts: 3136
- Joined: December 20th, 2023, 12:06 pm
Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
biggest mistake of my early SLN career was not sending Deshawn Stevenson down to the NDL, ruined that man's career
FOR THE LAND - believe!
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Schmagel Steinbagel
- General Manager
- Posts: 2196
- Joined: December 20th, 2023, 12:16 pm
Frequently Asked Questions about the NDL
mantypas/CavsCzar wrote: October 21st, 2025, 8:40 am biggest mistake of my early SLN career was not sending Deshawn Stevenson down to the NDL, ruined that man's career
Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play
And we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangstahs roamin'
And parties don't stop 'til eight in the Monin
And we ride on dem thangs like ev-ery day
Big beats, hit streets, see gangstahs roamin'
And parties don't stop 'til eight in the Monin
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