
Draymond Green Points to CBA and Second Apron as Reasons for the Decline of NBA Free Agency
Draymond Green expresses his concerns about the impact of the NBA's new CBA and the second apron on the state of free agency, questioning how players are managing their careers under these new rules.
When NBA free agency opened on June 30 at 6 p.m. ET, marquee names like Myles Turner, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker were prominent. However, the absence of star-level talent has been glaring in recent years. Teams are now less focused on clearing cap space to attract superstars. For example, Paul George’s signing with the Sixers was a rarity in this new landscape.
Major transactions are increasingly occurring through sign-and-trade agreements, with stars often transferring teams via trade requests. Draymond Green voiced his frustration about this shift on Threads, highlighting how the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and the implementation of the second apron have critically transformed the free agency experience as it was known.
“I’m sitting in my mancave having a conversation with my wife. Baffled at the fact that NBA free agency is over. Quite frankly, it never really started… It was the excitement of the NBA Finals yet only a week after witnessing a team celebrate their victory. The new CBA and the hard cap have put an end to free agency as we once knew it.”
Green stressed the importance of understanding the business aspect of the league, voicing concern for players mismanaging their careers under the new rules. He shared thoughts on the ignorance displayed by some players regarding their career choices and the implications of these on their futures. Despite his criticisms, he acknowledges the league’s overall success and the collaborative spirit among stakeholders.
In conclusion, although the hard cap introduced by the second apron has been a significant game-changer, attributing the lack of star free agents solely to this factor oversimplifies the issue. The evolving contract negotiations and extension policies mean that superstars have less incentive to enter free agency, profoundly affecting the middle-class players who now lack bargaining power.