The One Rule That Changed The NBA As We Know It

The 2024 NBA offseason has been chaotic
Klay and Paul George both did not return to their teams, not because they didn’t want to, but because of one rule change, *and in fact it’s completely reshaped the entire NBA as we know it.* And when this rule was announced, it was meant to target the Warriors and Clippers.
It’s the one big thing we need to talk about this week.
So get ready to strap in to hear all the trades and roster moves completely reshaped the NBA as we know it in the one big thing we need to talk about this week.
Teams are faced with a choice. Whether to spend money and contend or “strategically” avoid so they can be flexible.
The NBA has a soft cap and hard cap. You can go beyond the soft cap for a number of reasons, like re-signing their own player using their Bird rights or even in a trade, taking back more money. You can’t sign a new player if you’re over the soft cap but sign and trade works like Klay Thompson to the Mavericks since the Mavs were over the salary cap.
Valanciunas also didn’t go to the Lakers and signed a 3 year $30M deal with the Wizards? Why are you taking a pay cut for the Wizards???
The Clippers were second highest paid in luxury tax, but they didn’t care as much.
It’s why they resigned James Harden to a 2 year $70M deal.
Also Batum and Mo Bamba so on paper, *they kidna mid in the West.*
This was not the only concern for the Warriors and Clippers. What pushed them over the edge is the same reason the Clippers weren’t willing to add a 4th year to Paul George’s contract which ultimately ruined any chance of resigning him. It was the next two tiers, the last tier being introduced last year in 2023.
The first apron is sort of the first hard cap where restrictions really come into play. No sign and trade, can’t take back more money in a trade, can’t sign waived players over 12.2 million, and no using any trade exceptions that you may have accrued over time. This hurts if you’re trying to build your team or add in season additions.
But the next tier is what struck fear in both the Clippers and Warriors.
The Second apron was added to further restrict rosters typically paying for multiple stars. You’re not allowed to sign players using your mid level exception, which was typically used on keeping veteran minimum players for their second year or extremely good role players willing to take a pay cut to play for a championship contender. Think Bruce Brown on the 2023 Nuggets who was pretty crucial but only made $6 mil that year.
The 76ers have decided that it’s fine since Maxey is only 23 and they really need the process to get something.
Now the 76ers are spending a lot to compete and they are ok with it. They resigned Maxey to a 5 year $204M deal right after signing Paul George so this core it set. Podcast P, Just know McCain, memes are gonna go crazy.
But Klay was a different story. For the entire year, the Warriors were unwilling to commit more money to Klay because they wanted to avoid luxury tax and be out of the second apron.
To be in the running for the Paul George sweepstakes, the Warriors waived Chris Paul and kept Klay off their books so they would go under the aprons allowing them to do a sign and trade.
But the Warriors were willing to offer PG the max meaning they were willing to go into luxury tax for PG and that pissed off Klay who had been hearing a different message for a year, an organization that he has done so much for. Draymond signed a year ago and was making more money and so Klay felt slighted. And so bam you get Klay wanting out. The Warriors risked it And the risk was that if they didn’t get PG or sign Klay, they would still be over the soft salary cap and only really have their MLE to get players. So now they are stuck

[@mj2kallday]

What do you think of the rule change? See you next Saturday night! (maybe sooner 😬)

[@Jesussaves852]

Jesus loves you may God bless you

[@AaronMichaelLong]

Honestly, at this point I'm not convinced that the salary cap and player mobility is working at all. Teams have no identity, and when they try to recruit talent to make a run, they don't have enough time actually learn to play together before the luxury tax just blows up the budget. Every year we see some other hapless bunch of boobs recruit the same locker-room divas, and proceed to flame out in the playoffs to a team that build through the draft. Then, of course, those draft picks get huge contracts for winning, and that blows up *their* team. So the cycle continues.

[@StephenTommyCurry30]

It's better because LeBron james is paid Less 💰 and he wouldn't be able to make the playoffs because of JJ Redick

[@DJ3602]

Great breakdown of the different aprons and the luxery tax itself, some other content creators haven't nearly made it as clear as you managed to do in this video. Keep up the great quality 🔥

[@javierlandaverde4108]

Not to mention we are also starting to see “Young potential stars” get the max. Wagner got one. More to follow.

[@javierlandaverde4108]

This apron funny enough will end up making players lose money and the players union president CJ Mocollum sign on this with the CBA. I don’t want that man to be complaining when out of sudden he’s not getting a max and is signing for a team for a MLE 😂

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

@@javierlandaverde4108 Dallas don't have taxes do they

[@Jimyjonson]

tHe pOWeR oF fRieNd sHIp

[@JP-ks7ey]

most likely will end in disaster in a year or two

[@AustinMulkaMusic]

You did a great job explaining this for your audience.

[@PrinceJamesShorts]

Jayson Tatum earns 2 dollars per second

[@EJ-jw9ow]

And still no MVPs

[@curtiszyr]

@@EJ-jw9oweven more impressive

[@SOURJDADDY]

@@EJ-jw9ow🍀🏆🍀cry

[@jordancave3089]

I know this is crazy good but for some reason it makes it sound like he doesn’t make that much lol

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

The knicks did not trade their entire future..... like come we have legit the two best wing defenders in the league on an already great defense plus they are two way player's

[@cheetah219]

Agreed and everyone will have massive trade value in 3 years if necessary. No matter how I look at it, we have 2 to 3 years otherwise everyone will be traded. Either way, mikal is definitely better value than the 7 to 10 pick # those 5 picks would have been.

[@viralfever4131]

Man should be an NBA analyst

[@viccietank6452]

Brother what is that watch? It is looking insane on you. Keep up the hard work!

[@austingreen1274]

Good video. This new CBA is confusing.

[@curtiszyr]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="92">1:32</a> this shot right here is just hilarious 😂

[@Jimyjonson]

The splash buddies

[@Iqnacio.]

The rule changes really feel like a consequence of recency bias due to the KD-Warriors era and not at all well thought. It effectively targets teams with good front offices capable of pulling off good trades and more importantly, teams capable of making good draft choices and developing their young talents. This time it took a bite out of the Clippers and Warriors plus handcuffing the Suns, so people are happy cause it worked against super teams (even tho with the Warriors it came so late that it's more of a revenge than a reasonable limitation to their current roster). But honestly that feels really short sighted, it's a rule that will bite the Thunders in a few years even tho they didn't buy a super team, they are simply developing great young talents, it's also probably going to bite the Celtics soon and it will keep happening cause it's a rule that doesn't simply block super teams, it blocks good front offices.

[@tamro9701]

ayyyy, you got your channel back, hope ya didnt lose too many subs

[@donavonzerbest9530]

Most underated channel in all of youtube

[@mikielsahagun6054]

Okc has all that luxury snacks

[@JP-ks7ey]

i knew this would be a fun off season

[@JL-dt1si]

Klay got paid 2 years without playing any games. I think it’s a good move for the warriors to let him go

[@JP-ks7ey]

he was being greedy

[@smag7477]

Don’t act like they did that as a favor, there’s plenty of teams that would have given him the max for the chance of him coming back and having him on your team.

[@Iqnacio.]

​@@smag7477 And they could have let him go to any of those teams at the time based on the idea that he would never be back as the player he was (which is exactly what happened), they didn't and showed trust, loyalty and good faith in him, but he didn't show the same back this time. Klay is a Warriors legend and future HOF, he deserves all the praise, jersey retirement and so on, but it's undeniable that he's the one who chose to say F loyalty and close the door to the team.

[@samhitakrishnan9015]

Sad to see Klay leave man :(

[@MrBlue-xk8vy]

Cuz they let him leave. 😢

[@xaviergong6471]

Womp womp

[@javierlandaverde4108]

@@MrBlue-xk8vyNew Apron rules. NBA force Klay to move.

[@tyhamell5425]

naw he moved himself going 0-10 in his last game as a warrior

[@MrSpencerMcIntosh]

Today's NBA media pace is absolutely insane.

[@EmmanuelAniTheSchism]

The Boston Celtics really fooled the luxury cap because they drafted players that they are willing to take time to develop, while also having a competitive squad. They get the best of both worlds because they keep getting to draft

[@ayeplex5437]

U been cookin

[@doumc3584]

It's crazy they chose Kahwi over PG13!

[@cobaltbluevision]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="119">1:59</a> wow

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

Can you talk about Luca contract with the Mavericks

[@SOURJDADDY]

I’m not sure why nba doesn’t follow the NFL salary cap rules. There is much flexibility in the nfl

[@JonathanMerlinSymmank]

The new CBA targets teams who are planning a superteam, or have a superteam right now. In a few years, it’ll target the Mavericks, Knicks, Celtics, and Sixers. The idea of this CBA is to bring parity, and fairness to teams like the Thunder, Rockets, Hornets, Pistons, Magic, Spurs, Pelicans, Wizards, and other small market teams.

[@JonathanMerlinSymmank]

In summary, the new CBA rules killed the superteam era.

[@thelaw2348]

Parity will destroy the league.

[@JonathanMerlinSymmank]

@@thelaw2348 do you want the superteams to keep going?

[@thelaw2348]

@@JonathanMerlinSymmank Yes, super teams are what makes the league grow. There has to be some kind of mechanism for being a smart GM. You shouldn’t get punished because you know how to draft and have a great culture that keeps their guys around.

[@antokarman2064]

​@@thelaw2348i guess that make sense. With established dynasty, people support the team that they've grown to watch and love. And everytime they are faced with adversity, people gonna come and watch them. Either to support them or watch them fall. Mainstream viewers also don't need to invest as much time as hobbyists or enthusiasts to root for the winner

[@omarthescriblomale8279]

The lakers offense is unreal, but there defense is lacking. They really should pick up howard and rondo. The 2020 lakers won because of a defensive identity

[@mareklame8589]

I'm into more stable teams, like 90s. not guys hopping from one team to another, Beard, KD

[@LGC14]

I don't know if you hate the Wizards or Jordan Poole 😭

[@Bluebirdfalling]

3 years. 50 million dollars. wow.

[@SOURJDADDY]

This is incentivizing teams to actually build through the draft like the Celtics did and then bring in the necessary, free agents as opposed to the weakest moving NBA history where KD joined the Warriors

[@TH-cq7bj]

Boston is the only team that the new salary cap doesn’t affect

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

Luca got big contract to

[@Smido83]

It does... hence why the owners want to sell the team ASAP to avoid paying the crazy tax over the next view seasons.

[@JP-ks7ey]

oh yes it does they so far into it they're stuck with the same roster for the next 4 years

[@TH-cq7bj]

@@Smido83 good point

[@TH-cq7bj]

@@JP-ks7ey they’re stacked tho

[@Bears11422]

They don't want curry to get that 5th ring at all cost. It would destroy the NBA false narritive they been feeding for years now.

[@savage1971]

This. In my opinion they already stole 1 ring from him..but indeed it's why lebrons team gets the most free throws and Steph's gets the least...yet still wins.

[@XunknownBrazyX]

Stop it. Teams are just better now than before. It’s not the nba it’s teams 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@JeiNelson]

🤦🏻

[@TashaOneal-l8h]

@@savage1971 don't feel sorry for curry dude 39 year old he was jealous of Kd like set down in let somebody else shine

[@jonathanmosley9867]

It is not the NBA... It's jealous owners fighting for power and control, Nike and Michael Jordan.

[@mirage1857]

where is this guy?

[@crossblaze2257]

The Warriors Paid Klay 2 years Max without doing anything dude

[@OniiXGaming]

Yeah, but he also got them 4 chips.

[@gremax2171]

@OniiXGaming NBA is a business, not a retirement home or a charity. Players should be paid for what they can do right now and in the future, not what they did in the past.

[@OniiXGaming]

@@gremax2171 so he trash now?

[@somone1437]

@@OniiXGaming too trash for what he wanted out of warriors(30 mil/year for three years- max), where his value is less than 25 mil due to lack of defense

[@JP-ks7ey]

i feel lacob took the punishment when he knew it would bring chips, since klay has been on a big decline and steph and draymond will retire in the next couple of years and doesn't look like they're be bringing another chip unless a miracle happens i don't think he wants to pay the extra money

[@AaronMichaelLong]

You should have known Golden State was looking to shed the cost of their roster when they *TRADED* for CP3. It let them drop Poole's much longer contract to carry Paul's single year. They know Curry's outside the window, and it's time to rebuild. They'll let Steph retire in Golden State if he wants to, but they're not going to be putting their future into hoc ring chasing with a 36 year-old superstar. The Paul George story is a smokescreen, Golden State is going to start saving cash and hoarding picks for their next dynasty. Losing Klay isn't just convenient to that plan, it was the plan all along.

[@ghost-type]

Lebron is poison for the Lakers. They're cooked for a decade because of his greedy ass.

[@JP-ks7ey]

yeah i'm not a laker fan but he's hurt that team

[@EmmanuelAniTheSchism]

Rule change lol Celtics up strong

[@823Pepo]

bro whats the rule change i aint hearin u yappin for 11 mins

[@chrisdelvalle6745]

Like Klay you're a champion, your team has set you and your family up for life and you go down in history yet you still aren't grateful. Amazing

[@michaelangelos5117]

How can the Lakers go wrong with LeBron and Mini-Le

[@younglove3362]

Paul George should have to the Warriors. He would fit way better with Curry than with Embiid. Especially since he's injury prone.

[@JP-ks7ey]

clippers refused a sign and trade when he didn't sign with them

[@Folksluv_spidamann]

I'm bricked up rn

[@Severed89]

Same

[@memetoze4291]

Same

[@benjaminpadilla4857]

They keep on pushing the Lakers to trade for old stars and put the team in bind . Lakers in 2nd apron can't do anything until LeBron retires . You don't want to be bind right when you can free up lots of money in 2 years .

[@armedjoy3045]

They want a star in that market

[@patience9323]

hartenstein to okc... klay to the mavs...

[@2408spydah]

Y ... does... he talk...like .... this

[@LikeWhyTF]

Lauriiiiiii come out tooo playyya aaaaa

[@toddcribbs6844]

This is why the NBA is foolish

[@chrisdelvalle6745]

I think this situation is a grown man (klay) acting like a child...after all the loyalty your team has shown you for years and you expect management to coddle you? Smh

[@daylcday8459]

The new rules are stupid

[@T1Oracle]

Steph is about to become Damian Lillard 2.0 😢

[@jordancave3089]

What? Lol Steph is like 37 with 4 rings and is a top 10 all time player😂😂 he can never be any version of Lillard(who is a poor man’s Steph) cmon, man. Think before you speak.

[@daylcday8459]

Klay Thompson is way more important than Draymond Green they should have paid clay first

[@toddcribbs6844]

Sorry dude they don't have no real salary cap like the NFL or the NHL

[@mattsell2361]

I mean it’s not that complicated these multimillionaires just take a very slight pay cut that they won’t even notice and they can still have a great team but ya know spoiled egotistical nba players

[@armedjoy3045]

Bro you don't know how unions work.

[@mattsell2361]

@@armedjoy3045 what are u talking about? 😂 nba players can take pay cuts look at Jalen Brunson 😂

[@bigwiggy22ku42]

W vid Sixers winning it all next year trust me

[@chc3312]

This rule will ruin the nba

[@XunknownBrazyX]

Why ?

[@derrickstone4030]

Naw. This trade makes it more difficult to just jumble a bunch of max players thru trades. U gotta build ur team. And there are consequences for actions. This opens up possibilities for small market teams. This is awesome

[@westcoast9285]

The Luxury aprons were altered to hurt the Warriors. Butthurt ass league

[@Dj252king]

Knicks needed a scorer not Mikal Bridges horrible trade🤣

[@samhitakrishnan5675]

111111

[@secretagentnewt]

Warriors lost my respect with klay situation just like how the Cavs lost my respect with k love. Lakers submitting to lbj. Phx is trash, tough being a fan nowadays

[@Dude-etiquette]

Giving Thompson less than Green? Wtf? Green was carried to those rings

[@christianblake3364]

First

[@eprjct]

The Suns LMAO Lost the off season before it even started