How Suns can get under the 2nd Apron without trading Durant

Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

PHOENIX –The Phoenix Suns have a checklist entering the offseason, with the top bullet point being getting under the second apron. The new CBA implemented different aprons in an effort to create parity within the league by restricting teams with high payrolls. The Suns currently are above the 2nd apron, meaning they’re stuck. The front office can only sign minimum contracts in free agency and only do one-for-one trades, limiting general manager James Jones to fixing the roster.

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Many experts believe Phoenix will need to trade forward Kevin Durant to get under the second apron and give the team more flexibility this offseason. However, the projected cap space for next season has the Suns two moves away from being under the 2nd apron, neither of which involves trading Durant.

How Suns get under 2nd apron:

Waiving Cody Martin and declining Vasa Micic’s team option opens up the playbook for the front office. Those two moves get Phoenix under the 2nd apron and allow James Jones more flexibility to upgrade the roster. Jones would be allowed a Mid-Level Exception up to $5 million and trade for multiple players in a single trade.

Regardless, the Suns will likely still trade Durant this offseason to get even further away from the 2nd apron while improving the roster. Getting under that mark will improve any Durant trade, as the franchise will be able to trade for multiple players and picks, something they couldn’t do over the 2nd apron.

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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports