🏀 “The Greek Freak vs. The Cap Trap: Why New CBA Rules Mean Giannis Won’t Be Dancin’ in the Bay with Steph Curry” 🏀
- Voices Heard
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
Imagine the Golden State Warriors pulling off the ultimate power move—adding Giannis Antetokounmpo to a lineup already featuring Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Sounds like a 2K fantasy, right? Well, under the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), it’s more like a glitch in the matrix.
The Second Apron: Where Dreams Go to Die
The 2023 CBA introduced a financial buzzkill known as the “second apron.” This isn’t just a fancy term; it’s a strict salary cap threshold set at approximately $189.5 million. Crossing it doesn’t just cost money—it shackles a team’s flexibility. Teams above this line can’t:
Use the mid-level exception to sign free agents
Aggregate player salaries in trades
Include cash in trades
Trade first-round picks seven years out
And if a team stays above the second apron for three out of five years, their first-round pick seven years ahead gets frozen and potentially drops to the end of the round.
The Warriors’ Wallet Woes
Golden State is already flirting with the second apron, thanks to hefty contracts for Curry ($59.6M), Butler ($54.1M), and Draymond Green ($25.8M). Adding Giannis, who commands $54.1 million in the 2025-26 season, would push them deep into forbidden territory. Not impossible. Considering this could be Steph’s last push at a finals run. Worth it to me.
Under the new rules, they can’t combine smaller contracts to match Giannis’s salary. They’d have to trade a star—like Butler or Green—to make the numbers work. Even then, the trade would be a logistical nightmare, given the restrictions on aggregating salaries and sending out cash.
The Verdict
While the idea of Giannis in a Warriors jersey is tantalizing, the new CBA rules make it virtually impossible without dismantling the current core. The second apron isn’t just a financial hurdle; it’s a strategic roadblock designed to prevent superteams from forming unchecked. So, unless the Warriors are willing to make significant sacrifices, the Greek Freak won’t be making waves in the Bay Area anytime soon.
With Golden State out of the running, where will Giannis land? Three teams stand out under the new CBA rules:
Oklahoma City Thunder – With tons of cap flexibility and a war chest of draft picks, OKC could offer Milwaukee a young star and picks without breaking the second apron rules. Especially if they lose to Indiana.
Toronto Raptors – Multiple sources report “mutual interest,” and Toronto has both the market and young assets to make a legal, appealing offer.
New York Knicks – Always lurking. Cap space, big-stage appeal, and enough assets to trade without triggering the CBA’s financial nuke.
Two more realistic landing spots for Giannis under the new CBA:
San Antonio Spurs – Pairing Giannis with Victor Wembanyama would break the internet. The Spurs have young assets, cap space, and the patience to build a dynasty. Popovich would love a two-way superstar to anchor the team.
Miami Heat – Never count out Pat Riley. If they can offload Tyler Herro and a few contracts, they could sneak under the apron threshold. Miami’s culture, tax benefits, and proven playoff pedigree make it a dark horse. Giannis in South Beach? That’s a storyline the league—and
Where do you think Giannis goes? Or does he retire a Buck?
