The ink wasn’t even dry on the 2023 NBA offseason and the brand new collective bargaining settlement was already underneath hearth.
“You both make $50 million or $2 [million],” former player Austin Rivers said then. “It is a joke, bro. I am unable to let you know what number of midlevel guys are signing for the vet minimal across the NBA.”
Extra scrutiny adopted all through the 2024 offseason when the league launched the wage cap’s restrictive second apron, which curtailed high-spending groups including to their roster exterior of their very own gamers. A yr later, Golden State Warriors ahead Draymond Green stoked the flames additional when he stated that the brand new CBA ruined the fun of the annual free company frenzy.
“I am sitting in my mancave having a dialog with my spouse. Baffled at the truth that NBA free company is over,” Green posted on Threads in July. “Fairly frankly it by no means actually began. The extent of anticipation main as much as July 1st was as thrilling because the fireworks on the 4th. …
“One can solely level to the ‘New CBA’ and the 2nd apron (arduous cap) for completely placing an finish to Free Company as we as soon as knew it.”
Is Inexperienced proper? Are different offseason traits right here to remain? To reply these claims — together with whether or not the center class of gamers is getting squeezed out and the state of restricted free company — we performed a recreation of reality or fiction.
The second apron has ruined free company.
Verdict: Fiction (for now)
Draymond did have a degree. Keep in mind the 2010 offseason, when LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer stored everybody ready on their free company choices? Then years later, when Kevin Durant (2016) and Kawhi Leonard (2019) did the identical?
Two additions to the present CBA have not fully killed that degree of anticipation — although it has develop into noticeably watered-down.
Beginning the day after the Finals, groups are allowed to barter with their very own free brokers on a brand new contract. Which means this yr’s crop of free brokers resembling Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Julius Randle, Naz Reid, Fred VanVleet, Sam Merrill and Bobby Portis re-signed and have been off the board earlier than we reached June 30. Final yr, Pascal Siakam and Malik Monk have been among the many high targets to re-sign early.
Additionally, blame the revised rookie and veteran extensions guidelines. The flexibility to increase for extra money and years have gamers prioritizing ensures now over the dangers of coming into free company.
A participant within the final yr of their first-round contract is now eligible to increase for 5 seasons as an alternative of 4, even when the first-year wage is lower than 25% of the wage cap. Jabari Smith signed such an extension in June, and Jalen Johnson, Trey Murphy III, Alperen Sengun and Jalen Suggs did so in 2024. Within the first yr underneath the present CBA, a document 14 gamers signed rookie extensions.
This summer season might have seen Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lauri Markkanen, Donovan Mitchell, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram, Derrick White, Ivica Zubac and Alex Caruso all develop into free brokers. As a substitute, every signed long-term extensions.
“The mechanism of the collective bargaining settlement was very clear: We try to present incumbent groups a bonus to draft, develop and maintain gamers,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated throughout summer season league. “Doesn’t suggest there is not any free company, however in lots of instances, you might have conditions the place gamers are electing to remain in these markets. So, I do not essentially assume that is a foul factor.”
Prior to now three years, 51 veterans have signed extensions (that quantity will improve to 53 if Luka Doncic and De’Aaron Fox signal extensions this month), together with 26 in the course of the 2024-25 season. For comparability, 74 gamers signed veteran extensions from 2017 by way of 2023.
Groups are profiting from the stretch provision.
Verdict: Truth
A distinguished agent posed the query within the early morning earlier than a spherical of summer season league video games have been set to start in Las Vegas: “What number of groups are projected to have cap area within the 2026 offseason?”
Underneath regular circumstances, the reply would have been eight; the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards. However, because the Milwaukee Bucks confirmed on July 1, projecting groups with out there cap area generally is a futile train.
“Maximizing Giannis’ prime, our alternatives to win, I really feel like that is our duty all the time. So it was actually a now versus future choice,” Bucks GM Jon Horst told the Athletic in July, referring to waiving after which stretching the $113 million owed to All-Star Damian Lillard over the subsequent 5 seasons.
The Bucks would additionally purchase out the $8.1 million owed to protect Vasilije Micic. Like Lillard, his $2 million wage was additionally stretched however over two fewer seasons. These strikes helped Milwaukee open the required room to signal Myles Turner to a four-year, $108 million contract.
1:10
Myles Turner signed with Bucks to remain in a aggressive scenario
Myles Turner talks about why he left the Pacers to affix the Bucks in his introductory information convention.
The Bucks weren’t the one workforce to create cap area this fashion. The Memphis Grizzlies stretched the $11.1 million post-buyout wage of Cole Anthony over the subsequent three seasons. As a substitute of signing a free agent with the room created, they elected to renegotiate and prolong the contract of ahead Jaren Jackson Jr.
The availability to create monetary flexibility by waiving after which stretching wage owed to a participant just isn’t a brand new rule within the CBA. Since 2013 and as much as this previous offseason, 54 gamers and a mixed $320 million in wage have been waived and stretched. Previous to Lillard, Nicolas Batum in Charlotte had the most important per-year cap hit of $8.9 million of a participant stretched.
However previously month alone, $223 million in wage has been stretched, $100 million lower than the full quantity from 2013 to 2024. Groups are keen to soak up eight-figure cap fees within the foreseeable future for the sake of making cap area now — or within the case of the Phoenix Suns, escape monetary purgatory.
Two weeks after Lillard was waived, the Suns purchased out Bradley Beal and can doubtless stretch the $97 million owed to him over the subsequent 5 seasons. (Groups have up till Aug. 29 to make use of the supply, so long as the stretched quantity of all gamers doesn’t exceed 15% of the wage cap.)
On this situation, Phoenix could have a $19.4 million cap hit within the subsequent 5 seasons however extra importantly fall beneath the primary and second apron. It should now have entry to combination contracts despatched out in a commerce and the power to make use of greater than 100% of the traded participant exception. Phoenix’s 2033 first-round decide is now not in peril of turning into frozen, and the stretch provision will save the Suns greater than $200 million in wage and luxurious tax penalties this season.
The center class of free brokers has been squeezed out of the market.
Verdict: Fiction
“The info doesn’t assist this notion,” Silver stated throughout summer season league. “For those who take a look at type of minimal, lower-paid gamers, high-paid gamers and there is some center group that you just name the center class, if something, it is barely up from the place we have been in the previous couple of years of the previous collective bargaining settlement.”
Silver was referring to the 84% of gamers that signed non-veteran minimal and first-round rookie contracts, for which the first-year wage was between $4 and $20 million. That is an 8% improve from final offseason.
Of the 31 gamers listed, 19 switched groups in free company. That 32% improve from final summer season is a results of groups signing gamers to the non-tax midlevel exception (a rise from 5 to 10), expanded commerce guidelines and buying free brokers with a previous commerce exception. For instance, Atlanta acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade deal utilizing a previous commerce exception, after which used a part of their $14.1 million non-tax midlevel exception to signal Luke Kennard.
“There is a false impression that gamers aren’t being compensated the identical methods they’ve previously. That is not true,” former Gamers Affiliation President CJ McCollum told Front Office Sports last week. “Guys are making extra money than they ever have. The center class is making extra money than they ever have earlier than.”
For the reason that 2017-18 season, the wage cap has grown from $99 to $154.7 million, whereas complete participant salaries have elevated from $3.3 billion to $5.4 billion.
Verdict: Truth and fiction
Sure, Chicago, Golden State, Philadelphia and Brooklyn presently have leverage in contract negotiations.
However the actuality is that no workforce exterior of Brooklyn (Thomas’ present workforce) has greater than $14.1 million in cash to signal any of these 4 gamers to a suggestion sheet. Even when the market was flushed with cap area, there have been solely two restricted free brokers (Deandre Ayton and Matisse Thybulle) to signal supply sheets since 2022.
Prospects for Kuminga and Grimes are additionally harm due to first apron issues if a sign-and-trade materialized. As a result of their outgoing wage counts as solely 50%, the Warriors and 76ers are doubtless arduous capped in a sign-and-trade.
However restricted free company just isn’t a brand new wrinkle. For years, gamers who didn’t signal rookie extensions have navigated across the stringent rule however provided that they have been keen to compromise on their subsequent contract. Out of the 14 former first-round picks that obtained a qualifying supply since 2023 after which signed a contract, solely three (Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley and Cameron Johnson) had a beginning wage greater than $20 million within the first season.
Kuminga would have been the fourth, however as ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported, Kuminga declined a two-year, $45 million contract with the Warriors that might have included a workforce choice.
The second apron has dissuaded groups from together with bonuses in contracts.
Verdict: Truth
Keep in mind in March, when the injury-ravaged Dallas Mavericks couldn’t signal a fifteenth participant as a result of they have been $50,000 beneath the primary apron? That was as a result of $4 million in bonuses to Kyrie Irving, Caleb Martin and P.J. Washington counted in opposition to the wage cap.
Dallas’ dilemma put groups on discover this offseason.
Out of the greater than 150 gamers that signed a contract this offseason, none have bonuses negotiated into their contract. The checklist consists of Irving and Minnesota Timberwolves ahead Julius Randle, who obtained bonuses of their earlier contracts that aren’t included of their present offers. For comparability, 23 free brokers signed contracts in 2023 and 2024 with incentives included.
The decline in incentives has additionally affected first-round extensions. Within the 2022 and 2023 offseasons, 11 of the 26 gamers who signed extensions had a bonus of their contract. Since then, solely the Warriors’ Moses Moody has one.
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro‘s extension signed earlier than the 2023 CBA took impact is a powerful reminder of why groups have taken a stand in opposition to negotiating bonuses. Herro has 5 — together with ones for being named MVP, All-NBA and Defensive Participant of the 12 months — with Miami getting charged $2.5 million in opposition to each the primary and second apron.
The present CBA penalizes groups that draft nicely.
Verdict: Truth, except you propose forward
McCollum made an fascinating remark just lately when discussing the brand new CBA’s affect on the draft.
“You should not be punished for drafting nicely,” McCollum stated. “Oklahoma Metropolis goes by way of proper now the place you need to pay a number of gamers who’re actually good. And also you draft them, you should not be punished for drafting nicely. It’s best to have the ability to pay and maintain and retain the gamers you have drafted. And when you might have these home windows to the place you actually have an opportunity to compete and win a championship, you should not have such extreme restrictions.”
McCollum’s remark leaves quite a bit to unpack.
First, the assertion is right if we’re basing it on the monetary drawback groups face when gamers on max rookie extensions are named All-NBA, Defensive Participant of the 12 months or MVP of their fourth season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons took on a further $8 million in wage this season ($45 million in the course of the lifetime of the contract) when Evan Mobley was chosen Defensive Participant of the 12 months and Cade Cunningham was named All-NBA.
The counterargument is to method these extensions like Oklahoma Metropolis has with Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. The Thunder have protected themselves in case both participant earns common season honors.
Not like Paolo Banchero‘s extension with the Orlando Magic that features a 30% escalator (his $239 million extension will increase to $287 million), if named All-NBA, MVP or Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Holmgren doesn’t have that in his contract. Williams’ wage subsequent season will increase to the identical quantity as Banchero, however provided that he’s named MVP, Defensive Participant of the 12 months or All-NBA first workforce. There are escalators for being named second workforce and third workforce however at a lesser proportion.
GM Sam Presti and the Thunder additionally had the foresight of weighing future extensions in how they lined up their funds and constructed draft belongings. Over the previous two seasons, OKC has signed Isaiah Hartenstein, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell to contracts that decline, have workforce choices or are partially assured.
And the champs will not be ending that plan any time quickly. The Thunder have a surplus of 13 first-round picks and 16 second-rounders within the subsequent seven years, with as much as 4 first-rounders within the 2026 draft alone.