Superstar players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis are expected to be available ahead of this season's trade deadline. Making a deal for a star like Antetokounmpo or Davis is more complicated than ever. NBA teams are wary of trading multiple first-round draft picks to maximum salary players, because it's harder to fill out a roster around them.
Teams are being extremely cautious of crossing over the second apron, due to the restrictions and financial penalties that are imposed when you do so. In addition, triggering a hard cap at either apron can make it hard to have the flexibility to improve your roster.
Trades that net teams multiple draft picks for players on or near maximum contracts are expected to be fewer and fewer. Trading for second-tier players is seen as a way to improve your team, without mortgaging your draft future, while keeping financial flexibility on your cap sheet.
"Now more than ever, you cannot overpay for past performance, either in salary or draft picks," a West executive told ESPN. "The cost of a mistake is too high."
40 comments
The Thunder are the blueprint until the next CBA — the time of “fuck them picks” is over
Damn, guess the Bucks should just give Giannis away for free then. The other team is really just doing them a favor
i don’t think it’s a new phenomenon that teams aren’t interested in dumping future picks for the opportunity to pay AD a max contract when he could opt out of his contract in a year and a half, and might not even play more than 20 games in between now and then
Anthony Davis will get one first round pick unless Mavs are also taking back undesirable contracts. that’s the scenario where I could see multiple 1sts being sent back.
kind of like how the Bane trade had an extra 1st round pick included to absorb KCP’s contract.
It really is the second apron. It is so much more of a hard cap than people still realize. Going over the first apron hurts the owner’s pocket a little. Going over the second takes away all the team’s flexibility in trades, free agency.
First apron punished owners, second apron punished the whole organization. You can’t do it unless you are certain of the next couple years.
Desmond Bane just went for 4 FRPs months ago get the fuck outta here
The Ringer just had a similar article. It’s in the zeitgeist.
But imagine how dumb the average GM is and then realize half of them are even dumber than that. You can’t have a league where everyone is smart at the same time.
I can see AD going for 2-3 firsts but only if he also includes some bad contracts in the deal. That way it makes sense for both teams. Giannis should still net you 5-6 firsts easily and a great young player because he can literally elevate your team to a chip. The only problem I see is that there aren’t any teams that have all that right now.
Usually there exists a combination of a GM who might get fired and an owner who isn’t smart enough or paying enough attention, and then the move will happen. The number of dumb GM/dumb owner combinations is lower right now than it usually is though, and the rules make it much harder to trade for a high salaried player–impossible in many situations.
“We’re not going to pay more” say teams trying to pay less.
Giannis will obviously return multiple first round picks. So would have Doncic last year if the Mavs hadn’t been dead set on AD.
Bane just returned 4 picks and a swap.
Man, flipping multiple picks for Giannis is a whole different undertaking than doing it for AD
Oh yeah, but Desmond Bane and Mikal Bridges go for 5 firsts? Get out of here with that BS.
Saying it to get some leverage
Executives putting out this information at the exact time they are trying to trade for max players lol
Couldn’t possibly think of reasons why they would be saying this 🙄
With the whole “Clippers are about to send a top-3 pick to the Thunder” saga hovering over the league, no team is going to want to take the risk of being the next Clippers. The Clippers themselves, even though a rebuild is probably what’s best for their future, are doing everything to avoid fulfilling the prophecy.
people think they can replicate OKC but that only works if you can draft and develop players well.
OKC isn’t just getting more attempts at picking up new young players in the draft. they also went all in on player development. it’s not an accident that so many 2nd rounders and undrafted players are getting meaningful minutes. they have figured out how to bring out their potential.
some of these teams are so terrible at drafting it doesn’t matter how many pics they have
No one wants to be the next clippers.
it depends, pacers traded 3 late frp for pascal and then maxed him and its already one of the best moves in franchise history
Yeah ok lol. Teams will just not trade guys then.
Is this Nico explaining why he only got one first for Luka
This is pretty obvious and it seems like teams are finally getting the picture. Prior to the 2010’s trading multiple firsts for a player was extremely contentious and unthinkable for anything other than a young superstar. The proliferation of pick protections and swaps made it safer to start piling them into trades, but the current cap structure makes rookie contracts extremely valuable again.
These teams like Milwaukee who have hemmed and hawed for years about starting a rebuild are totally fucked now. They aren’t getting shit for Giannis. If they think the OKC Paul George deal is out there in this day and age they are out of their minds.
My two part fix to the NBA:
1. Hard cap. Let’s formalize it, no more second apron penalties. Just a hard cap, cannot go over
2. Eliminate max contracts. Players can be paid whatever. You want to give SGA 90% of your cap? Go right ahead.
The last 2 champions are a direct result of fleecing a franchise lol
Amazing how Giannis is on the market and this all of sudden pops up…
Knicks Bridges trade was not the one
How many of those trades of an all-star for a haul of 1st have worked out anyways? Has anyone won a ‘ship because of one?
Not the Paul George trade. Not the Rudy Gobert trade. Not the Dejounte Murray trade.
In almost all the cases I can think of, it made the team acquiring picks better and the team getting an all-star worse in the long run without even short term success.
Last successful one was AD to the Lakers.
Homers complain about it but I love this cba!! Smart trades or bust.
Orlando fuck them picks magic
I understand Giannis, but why in God’s name would you take any risk with Davis at this point?
He’s almost 33y.o. and can’t stay on the court. That’s franchise suicide. Raises even more suspicion the draft was rigged.
Everyone in the league is watching the OKC Thunder rn. If the 2nd apron forces them to dismantle their team then the rules will change.
OKC is getting minutes from 10 players that they drafted and another 1-3 that they acquired in their rookie contracts. They have bird rights on everyone.
They really are going to have to tinker with the system because there are too many flaws. If you trade for a guy like Giannis/Davis you’re going to need those picks more than ever financially to be able to put a decent roster around them. Trading them all away completely handcuffs you. Even worse if you’re not a FA destination you better hope player are willing to take pay cuts to play with that star
My name is Luka, Lebron & Antetokounmpo, the new big 3 to dominate the NBA with a 3 peat.
They could draft anyone with those picks. They could even draft a max salary player!
Its going to force teams to invest in the G-League like how baseball/soccer does their minor leagues.
Everyone saw the OKC trade.
Potential dynasty vs shambles as a result of over paying with picks.
Headline: “a few nba teams may have finally learned a lesson.”
I know everyone’s talking about the OKC/Clippers trade, but it’s also worth pointing out the KD trade we did and what it amounted to. Or even the Dame trade, which had less FRPs, but was still a superstar veteran that was supposed to take the Bucks to the net level.
Good. It super high stakes. You either win a championship or you look like a bad GM. Clippers looked like they made a good move trading for PG to sign Kawhi but now it looks different. I wonder how Wolves fans feel about that Golbert trade. They lost like 5 draft picks on that or something.
That’s what they say every year. Then you get some dumb team trading 5 first round picks for Ruby Gobert 6 for Eric Beale, reported offers of 4 for Markkanen but Ainge demanding at least 5. And AD and Giannis are way better than those albatrosses
Literally just saw Bane get traded for 4 1st round picks with Bridges being traded for 5 1st round picks the year before.
There will always be teams who dont care and will trade their picks for a player they absolutely want.