Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[omahen]

They are not a 2nd apron team this season. The Middleton trade solved that. 

But Giannis extended and his contract increased by about 6 mil from this past season. Same with Dame. That's 12 mil right there. Both of which affect their next season cap hold and why they are budding right up the 2nd apron threshold and must adhere to such rules if they want to be doing massive trades for massive salary.

Even if they do keep Lopez, he will get significantly less than 34 mil. So his 34 mil cap hold is not really that relevant. According to spotrac they are 40 mil under the 2nd apron in July (not counting cap holds). They can't offer much to their vet min guys without bird rights, so Trent and Prince are likely gone. Max they can give to them (cumulative) is the MLE, but that would lock them at 1st apron, so unlikely.