The Luxury Tax Apron
For teams that already have their stars, changes to the luxury tax apron are very important. Once a team uses one of a few cap exceptions, such as the mid-level exception to sign a player while over the cap, they are barred from exceeding the tax apron.
In past years, the apron was $4 million above the tax line. Teams had $4 million to play with if they were over the tax, but if they used the bi-annual exception, mid-level exception or a sign-and-trade transaction during the season they were hard-capped at the apron.
Now that figure is $6 million instead. That may sound inconsequential, but the hard cap can be tough to get around for teams short on cash. Even minimum contracts are not allowed for hard-capped teams if it would push them over the apron.
That $2 million will end up mattering for some teams, like the Warriors, who need every last dollar they can get when trying to assemble a roster around a core of stars.
It’s a small recompense considering how much those teams will have to pay to keep their stars, but this is something in the new CBA to help teams out slightly.