The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: What you need to know about the NBA CBA

Date: September 13, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & Alex Spears
Guest: Yossi Gosselin (The Third Apron Podcast/Substack)

Episode Overview

This in-depth episode explores the complexities and recent changes in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), breaking down critical concepts around cap space, luxury tax, the new “apron” system, player extensions, team-building obstacles, and front-office strategies. Guest cap expert and journalist Yossi Gosselin provides accessible yet detailed explanations for both casual fans and cap nerds. The conversation also touches on contemporary team situations (e.g., Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Thunder, Clippers) and larger philosophical debates about roster-building and CBA reform.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Changing Cap Space Landscape

Time: 03:45–07:36

• Summer 2025 Cap Space Context: The previous offseason was muted with only the Nets (and briefly the Pistons and Grizzlies) wielding true cap space for traditional signings. Bucks’ signing of Miles Turner was the lone example of leveraging cap space in free agency.
• Forecast for Next Summer: More teams (Lakers, Clippers, Nets, Jazz, Wizards, Bulls) project to have cap space, but many—like the Jazz and Wizards—aren't expected to pursue marquee free agents.
• Trend Toward Extensions: Due to 2023 CBA changes increasing extension-eligible amounts, more top players are signing extensions rather than testing free agency.
• Quote: “There will be a little more spending power ... good for the middle class of players ... But without any true All-Star players becoming available.” – Yosi Gosselin (06:29)

Boston Celtics: Retooling and the “Apron” Rules

Time: 07:36–11:51

• Celtics’ Recent Cap Maneuvers: Shed significant salary, moving out of the “second apron”—a critical new threshold for luxury tax penalties. Trades included Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons’ expiring and Porzingis for expiring/fewer salaries.
• Strategic Tax Avoidance: Goal is to drop below the tax now to reset the repeater clock and enable more aggressive spending later in the decade.
• Roster Status: Expecting a “gap year” due to Jason Tatum’s injury, the Celtics plan to use trade exceptions, draft picks, and cost-effective trades to reassemble a contender post-2027.
• Quote: “This ... retool they’re doing shouldn’t last too long, maybe no more than two years ... The priority is getting out of repeater tax, so they have more willingness to spend.” – Yosi Gosselin (10:03)

Second Apron / Frozen Picks: When Will Penalties Hit?

Time: 12:03–14:33

• The “Frozen” Pick Threat: Teams in the second apron for three consecutive years risk having their first-round pick frozen and moved to the end of the first round. Only the Cavaliers are an imminent risk; Thunder are a long-term candidate if they sustain contender status.
• Perspective: For asset-rich teams like OKC, the penalty might not sting as much, given their surplus of future picks.
• Quote: “Might not really hurt the Thunder all that much ... they're gonna get more picks somehow.” – Yosi Gosselin (13:42)

Knicks, Lakers & Cap Planning for the Future

Time: 14:33–21:25

Knicks Window

• Knicks will likely hit the second apron next season, initiating a ~2-year window to contend before potentially breaking up the core. Brunson and Bridges are both 29, making this the “win-now” phase.
• Quote: “This upcoming season is going to be their best chance ... I would think they choose not to stay over the second apron for a third year.” – Yosi Gosselin (15:54)

Lakers Scenarios (Post-LeBron)

• Lakers could have $50–60M in cap space by 2027, aligning with Giannis and Jokic’s player options. The Lakers will likely try to land another star via free agency or trade, and are well-positioned with flexibility around Luka and Austin Reaves.

• Quote: “If Giannis and/or Jokic are interested ... it’ll happen. Knowing the Lakers, I’d guess they get somebody within now through next season’s trade deadline.” – Yosi Gosselin (18:18)

• Austin Reaves Contract: Even a pricey Reaves extension wouldn’t prevent chasing a superstar, due to the Lakers’ clean books.

• Quote: “They just have ... no long-term money on their books ... That’s all the money they have. Then whatever they give Reaves.” – Yosi Gosselin (20:40)

Should the NBA CBA Reward “Drafting Well”?

Time: 21:47–25:36

• The Issue: Current CBA disincentivizes keeping all your talented draftees (e.g., Thunder, Magic, Rockets) due to punitive tax/apron rules.
• Ideas & International Precedent: “Draft pick credits,” where teams could have exceptions or reduced cap hits for homegrown players, or a “credit system” not unlike that seen in some international leagues.
• Discussion: League is open to brainstorming solutions; ideas range from a “drafted player” exception to adjusting the max contract system.
• Quote: “Now the rules are punishing teams for drafting too well ... There should be some type of solution.” – Yosi Gosselin (22:28)

The “Max Stretch” Wave: Stretch Provisions Run Wild

Time: 25:36–29:24

• 2025 Offseason Stat: Bucks, Suns, and Grizzlies used the stretch provision on $223M in salaries—almost as much as the previous 11 years combined.
• Why the Spike? Questionable long-term extensions (e.g., Dame Lillard's in Portland, Beal’s in Washington) set up massive stretch obligations for their new teams after trades went south.
• Forecast: Might see similar issues with the Sixers (Embiid, Paul George) in the near future.
• Quote: “These max stretches ... are mostly a result of just decisions that they made in the past.” – Yosi Gosselin (27:00)

Yossi Explains it All: Cap Mechanism Q&A

Time: 29:24–48:44

Over 38 Rule – Kevin Durant Extensions

Time: 29:52

• Limits contracts that run past age 38, meant to discourage long guaranteed deals for aging stars.
• Quote: “It doesn’t prohibit a guy like him ... from signing a three-year extension, but the money is kind of spread out even more in the future.” – Yosi Gosselin (30:00)

Qualifying Offers & Restricted Free Agency

Time: 32:04

• Players accepting a qualifying offer obtain veto rights in trades and often hurt their team’s ability to recoup value in a deal.
• "History of players accepting their qualifying offers ... rarely a case where they get that money back." – Yosi Gosselin (34:00)

Second Round Pick Exception

Time: 36:56

• New rule: teams can sign second-rounders to 3- or 4-year deals without using cap/mid-level resources, protecting against losing valuable cheap talent early (e.g. Austin Reaves situation).
• Quote: “That's mostly a safeguard where ... now you can just give your second round pick a three or four year deal easily.” – Yosi Gosselin (39:13)

Clippers Investigation (Potential Penalties for Circumvention)

Time: 40:48

• Ongoing league investigation: If severe tampering/circumvention is found, expect heavy penalties (loss of up to three first-round picks; precedent in Joe Smith/Wolves case).
• Quote: “The biggest thing you’re hurting the Clippers with is by eliminating some first round picks.” – Yosi Gosselin (42:07)

Salary Floor Rule Changes

Time: 45:54

• Teams are now required to reach the floor (90% of cap) at season's start; failure results in cap penalties and loss of tax redistribution.
• Quote: “They made it where you cannot really at all be under the floor during the season ... If you fail to get to the floor ... you lose out.” – Yosi Gosselin (47:03)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Player Extensions vs Free Agency

“Ever since the 2023 CBA increased how much players can get in extensions, that has only kept players trending towards extensions.”
— Yosi Gosselin (05:39)

On the Celtics’ Intent

“...They basically have all their first-round picks going forward, except for one in 2029. So they could make some stuff happen that way. But the goal would be if, okay, you want to use that trade exception, you still want to get below the tax next year.”
— Yosi Gosselin (10:57)

On Teams Losing First Round Picks:

“...if the NBA were to get rid of those picks ... maybe the Thunder and Sixers might have some protests about how that is because now you're putting the Clippers in position ... there’s kind of a conflict of interest with teams that already have those outgoing swaps.”
— Yosi Gosselin (44:43)

On the Inescapable NBA CBA Complexity:

“If the NBA ever delves into [deferred money], starts adding ... my brain’s gonna explode. I’ll figure it out. But like, yeah.”
— Yosi Gosselin (31:51)

CBA Trivia Showdown: Yossi’s Cap Knowledge Flex

Time: 52:23–71:12

• Yossi participates in "Andrew vs the Beat" cap quiz and dominates, highlighting his expertise and the depth of knowledge offered in his content (Third Apron podcast and Substack).
• Notable moment: Yossi correctly recalls rare contract quirks and penalty histories, impressing hosts and listeners alike.

Useful Timestamps

• 03:45 — Cap Space Summer Recap & Forecast
• 07:36 — Celtics’ Strategic Retool Explained
• 12:45 — Second Apron / Frozen Picks Discussion
• 14:45 — Knicks’ Cap Outlook & Contention Window
• 17:30 — Lakers’ Cap Future; Targeting Superstars
• 21:47 — Should CBA Reward Drafting Well?
• 25:36 — The Wave of Max Stretch Provisions
• 29:24–48:44 — Yossi Explains it All (Key Cap Mechanisms)
• 52:23–71:12 — Cap Trivia Showdown with Yossi

Final Notes & Resources

• Check out Yossi Gosselin's Third Apron podcast and Substack for the finest CBA analysis: cap sheets, [Substack], and Twitter/Bluesky.
• The hosts will continue team preview podcasts and deep investigation into current NBA stories, including the unfolding Clippers saga.

Summary prepared for those seeking a deep, jargon-explained, practical understanding of the modern NBA CBA and its effects on today’s team-building strategies, with a highlight on the specialty knowledge brought by cap expert Yossi Gosselin.