Front-office reference
NBA salary cap and CBA guides
Direct answers to the roster-building rules that decide whether a trade, signing, or cap plan actually works.
Reviewed July 25, 2026 against the current NBA–NBPA agreement and official league guidance.
How NBA Trade Salary Matching Works
A practical guide to cap-room trades, over-the-cap matching, apron restrictions, aggregation, and why a legal deal can differ by team.
Read the guideNBA Bird Rights and Cap Holds, Explained
Learn why a free agent remains on a team's cap sheet, how Bird rights permit above-cap re-signings, and what a team gives up by renouncing a cap hold.
Read the guideNBA First and Second Tax Aprons, Explained
Understand how the NBA's first and second aprons differ from the salary cap and luxury tax, which roster-building tools they restrict, and when a hard cap applies.
Read the guideNBA Stepien Rule and Future Draft Picks, Explained
Learn why NBA teams must preserve first-round coverage in future drafts, how acquired picks and swaps affect the rule, and why protections require careful modeling.
Read the guide