Did NBA players agree to a hard cap disguised as the apron system? At least one player agent thinks so.

While the NBA appears to be in cruise control as it soars in popularity, with record salaries and unprecedented parity, a major development has emerged that could eventually cause strife when the players can opt out of their current collective bargaining agreement in 2029.

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New NBPA executive director David Kelly expressed his disdain with the limits of the second salary-cap apron and how it has encouraged teams — such as the Celtics, Thunder, and Knicks — to make roster decisions to avoid the financial and transactional penalties of reaching it.

An interested party in how the apron system continues to impact player movement and the potential elimination of the middle class is player agent Greg Lawrence, who represents Klay Thompson, Alex Caruso, and Domantas Sabonis, among others.

Lawrence believes the NBPA essentially agreed to a hard salary cap via the apron system. For example, only two teams used their non-taxpayer mid-level exception this offseason — the Celtics with Mitchell Robinson, and the Spurs with Tobias Harris. Because of that, both teams are hard capped at the first apron.

“I think when I started in 2002, and the luxury tax was in place, that’s where it started. And so you’re talking about a 20-25 year process of just chipping away at the system to put restrictions on spending,” he said.

“This is at a time where the league is thriving, the revenues and the television deal are astronomical, but the advantage that the owners have is they can take a 20-year approach to these things.”

Lawrence pointed out it’s difficult for players to negotiate the CBA with the long-term in mind. While salaries are escalating, the apron system is beginning to dissuade teams from paying their own players because of exorbitant luxury taxes.

“It’s unbelievably rare for a player to play more than 10 years, and so inherently, I think players are not always going to be looking at the long game and where some of these [salary] steps are going to lead to,” he said. “Now, I’m really hopeful that the new leadership of the union is going to take a tougher stand and, really, it comes through making the investment to educate the players on how we got here … why the system is in the state that it’s in, and how can we start to chip away in the players’ favor.”

For years, players have complained about the elimination of the middle class. Superstars are enjoying exceptional salary growth, but when the markets begin drying, a handful of quality players are relegated to taking below-the-market salaries to remain in the league. Former Celtic Anfernee Simons, just 27, accepted a $21 million pay cut from last season to join the 76ers.

“The players are going to need to show resolve, similar to how baseball has always had a very strong union, and they’re willing to do what it takes to fight for what they believe in, and fight for the issues that are their blood issues,” Lawrence said.

“If the owners know that they can keep just chipping away and the players won’t truly fight back, then it will just continue. I’m a big fan of David Kelly. I’ve worked with him when he was back with the Warriors. He’s very smart. … I liked what he said so far, but it’s going to be a tall task.

“I think that this current system isn’t good for anyone, maybe except for the owners, and it’s not going to be good for the game long-term.”

The champagne hadn’t even dried on the Larry O’Brien Trophy when Knicks owner James Dolan said the club could not afford to bring Robinson back. New York was not going to enter the second apron to re-sign their backup center.

“Some teams are not going to go into the tax, and it’s most likely from ownership,” Lawrence said. “Then you have teams that are not going to go above the first apron. So teams are not even using the full mid-level. Even if they have the ability to spend more, they’re not going to do that because, if they do, they get hard capped at the first apron. And then the second apron, nobody’s going to go into it … well, one team [Denver].

“If you’re a player, it becomes almost impossible to enter a market and be valued and expect that’s the salary you’re going to make. The system has made it so [only] a few guys will.”

The NBPA has three years to develop a plan to improve their salary structure with one that will benefit all players.

“I think the players are already dealing with an entire menu of restrictions on their careers,” Lawrence said. “But hopefully, this is the gut punch or the awakening of, you know, the system needs to change.”

With the 76ers adding LeBron James in addition to Jaylen Brown, and the Raptors potentially acquiring Kawhi Leonard — a deal that’s still waiting on the Aspiration investigation into Leonard’s endorsement deal — the Eastern Conference has changed dramatically since the Knicks won the championship just six weeks ago.

Let’s take an early look and forecast the top 5 teams.

1. Knicks: They are first because they are the defending champions, but their offseason has been rather boring. They lost Robinson to the Celtics but replaced him with Andre Drummond. That’s a drop-off, but the rest of the cast is back, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Repeating is hard, but New York found something in the playoffs last season, and there’s no reason why they can’t make another deep run.

2. 76ers: With James joining Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia is in the championship conversation. It could take a few months to gain true chemistry, but there’s no way a group of veteran players can’t sacrifice their individual accolades for the sake of the collective goal. James can play point guard and move Maxey to the shooting guard, while Brown will have a new challenge — carving out a role in the midst of so much talent, and perhaps taking a step forward defensively.

3. Celtics: Still talented despite Brown’s departure, but two things have to happen for Boston to compete with the elite teams: Paul George has to be a factor on both defense and offense (and has to reach the 60-game mark), and the group of Jordan Walsh, Hugo González, Baylor Scheierman, and Ron Harper Jr. will have to take a step forward and emerge as a productive bench. Robinson will make up for a lot of his teammates mistakes on defense, and also get the team extra possessions as a premier offensive rebounder.

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4. Pistons: Detroit appeared to be on their way up the East hierarchy, but stumbled as the No. 1 seed in the conference semifinals and are now in the midst of a difficult negotiation with restricted free agent center Jalen Duren. Detroit made some interesting offseason moves, adding Isaiah Joe and John Collins while losing Tobias Harris. Is it enough to elevate the Pistons to the level of the top two teams? Likely not.

5. Raptors: The addition of Leonard, if it happens, gives Toronto an established scorer and a veteran presence to join Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Remember, Toronto pushed Cleveland to seven games in the first round without point guard Immanuel Quickley and with Brandon Ingram missing portions of the series. They have a group of athletic wings off the bench, including Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter. Toronto could be a real sleeper if it stays healthy.

While the product on the floor continues to impress, the WNBA appears to be bogged down with off-court issues, such as the treatment of star Caitlin Clark, the constant complaining about officiating, and players being threatened, taunted, and slandered on social media.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has been criticized for her lack of compassion for the players, tepid relationships with stars, and her handling of the Boston bid to buy the Connecticut Sun. The league approved the Sun’s move to Houston, while Boston is back at the bottom of the WNBA expansion list.

She did get an endorsement to continue her tenure from NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

“Cathy and I, you know, work together, and I don’t want to speak for Cathy. I would only say, I’m very pleased with where the WNBA is,” Silver said. “We’ve made tremendous progress under her leadership over the last several years. Again, the season, we’re off again to a very strong start.

“I was behind the scenes in the collective bargaining process, but I was pleased both with how the league conducted itself and ultimately [with] the Players Association. I think that we reset economically, which was long overdue. My sense is, from talking directly with the players, that they are pleased with the outcome.

“I think Cathy continues to do a strong job building that league. We’ll have ongoing discussions about what the future looks like.”

Engelbert’s time as commissioner has been controversial, and Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson are among the players critical of her handling of CBA negotiations and other player issues.

Engelbert was non-committal about whether she will continue.

“Obviously, I am so blessed to be at the helm of this league during this incredible hypergrowth period,” she said. “So blessed that these players are putting the product on the court they are every night, that they stand for the values that the W has long sought for. I will just continue to do my job, execute the strategy, because it has been working. Make sure we listen to the players, communicate with the players.

“So absolutely just love this league, and blessed to have had the career I had before, and the career I have now.”

The league is experiencing unprecedented growth, but is often criticized for being its own worst enemy regarding communication.

“That is what I focus on, is leading that team, and leading that team to help, again, this game continue to grow, so that young girls who typically drop out of sports too quick can see our players as their role models,” she said. “That’s what keeps me going. Just having the Nike national EYBL players here is just incredible because I’ve spent time with so many of them over WNBA Live and in the hotel. Just how they view this league and role models.

“I can’t tell you how many come up to me and say, ‘Cathy, I want you to draft me in 2033 or 2034.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, boy.’ But they’re really excited about this league. That’s what keeps us all going.”

Issues remain, among them the lack of Black female coaches (following Noelle Quinn’s departure from Seattle in September) in a league that’s majority Black.

“I realize we work with our owners, and owners and GMs make those decisions at the team level,” Engelbert said. “There’s not a meeting that I’m not with our owners talking about diversity in coaching and the pipeline. I think our pipeline is really, really strong. Ultimately, again, the owners and the GMs make those decisions. That’s a really important question and one that we continue to make sure stays top of mind for our owners, coaches, and GMs.”

Perhaps the most pressing issue is player safety, especially from social media vitriol. Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray was called a racial epithet by an X follower after a recent loss to the Fever. The culprit was identified and fired from his job.

“Player safety will always be our top priority. That means every aspect of their experience — whether it’s competitively on the court, physically off the court, kind of cyber world digitally,” Engelbert said. “We need to continue to create a competitive environment where they can compete aggressively without unnecessary rough play, investing in enhanced security personnel and protocols.

“Obviously we’ve done a lot of that. We have charter travel now. We offer mental health resources. We’re leveraging technology, strengthening our policies, taking action to combat online hate, harassment, and threats.”

Similar to what happened in Miami when James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in 2010, veteran free agents will have their interest piqued in Philadelphia. The first is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who agreed to a buyout with the Grizzlies and will join the 76ers as a shooter off the bench. The 76ers have overhauled their bench in the offseason, adding Dean Wade, Simons, and Ariel Hukporti after losing Quentin Grimes and Drummond. There could be several free agents willing to take the league minimum to play with LeBron for a year … Former Celtic Josh Richardson, who last played in the NBA in 2024 with the Heat, announced his retirement after 12 seasons. Richardson played 44 games with Boston in 2021-22, but was sent to the Spurs in the trade that netted Derrick White. Richardson’s best season was in 2018-19 with the Heat, when he averaged 16.6 points. He was traded to the 76ers that summer in the Jimmy Butler deal … The Trail Blazers took advantage of John Tonje’s sparkling summer league and signed the former Celtic to a two-way contract. While Tonje played well for the Celtics, he’s 25 years old, and the club may have believed he had passed the developmental stage. The Celtics still have two two-way contracts remaining, but appear to be in no hurry to fill those roles. Two favorites are Houston guard Milos Uzan and Indiana sharpshooter Tucker DeVries; each has an invitation to training camp … The Celtics have one roster spot remaining, and former All-Star Bradley Beal is still on the market after opting out of the final year of his contract with the Clippers. What’s likely left for Beal is a minimum contract, and there are serious questions about his durability after injury plagued years with the Wizards, Suns, and Clippers. Beal is a close friend of Jayson Tatum and Boston could use another scoring guard, but the club anticipates expanded roles for Harper Jr. and González, as Payton Pritchard would move into the starting lineup if coach Joe Mazzulla decides to bring Sam Hauser off the bench … The Thunder put the rival Nuggets in a real bind with their two-year, $12 million offer sheet to prospect Spencer Jones. The Nuggets matched the offer, but are now in the daunting second salary cap apron.

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