{"id":48207,"date":"2025-07-30T19:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T19:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/48207\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T19:00:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T19:00:09","slug":"ex-nbpa-chief-defends-apron-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/48207\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-NBPA Chief Defends Apron System"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Front<\/a><\/p>\n

Afternoon Edition<\/p>\n

July 30, 2025<\/p>\n

The former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association spoke to FOS about the cap system initiated under her purview, defending the two-apron system and saying there is \u201cno hard cap\u201d despite contending teams\u2019 attempts to elude the second apron.<\/p>\n

\u2014Colin Salao<\/a>, Eric Fisher<\/a>, and David Rumsey<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

The NBA\u2019s two-apron salary structure has been criticized since it was instituted in the 2023 CBA. Breaching either apron comes with penalties that restrict a front office\u2019s roster management options, so contending teams have repeatedly made moves to get below the thresholds.<\/p>\n

There have been references to the second apron, in particular, as a pseudo\u2013hard cap, which is a threshold that franchises are not allowed to exceed. However, former National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) executive director Tamika Tremaglio defended the two-apron structure in an interview with Front Office Sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019ve been hearing is [there\u2019s] a hard cap. There is no hard cap,\u201d said Tremaglio, who was the union\u2019s executive director when the latest CBA was ratified in April 2023. \u201cThe reality is that any team can go into the apron. Any team could go into where they\u2019re now paying taxes. It just becomes a more intentional choice on that team as to whether or not they will pay the taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are three levels on top of the NBA\u2019s soft salary cap, which was set at $154.65 million for the 2025\u201326 season:<\/p>\n

Luxury tax: $187.9 million<\/p>\n

First apron: $195.95 million<\/p>\n

Second apron: $207.82 million<\/p>\n

Teams that exceed the luxury tax are subject to financial penalties. The fees are why the Celtics, before their offseason moves<\/a>, were projected to pay $500 million next season, with more than half coming from tax violations.<\/p>\n

The first-apron penalties include limitations in salary matching during trades and the inability to sign-and-trade for a player\u2014unless the move brings them below the apron.<\/p>\n

The second-apron penalties are much more severe, including restricting teams from aggregating two or more salaries in any trade. Despite references to it as a hard cap, the Cavaliers and Suns are projected to be above the second apron this upcoming season. However, historically high-spending teams like the Warriors and Clippers have worked to elude it in recent years, and the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a> a year ago with the specter of penalties looming.<\/p>\n

Tremaglio, who left the NBPA in late 2023 and works at consulting firm Secretariat as the managing director leading its global sports consulting practice, acknowledged the system could cause \u201cchallenges\u201d for teams in their roster-management process.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, she added that the tax and apron system was put into place to limit the stark spending gaps among the 30 NBA teams. The result of such a system was to create greater parity across the league\u2014which has been accomplished, given the revolving door of NBA champions<\/a> over the last seven years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal, in essence, is that every team, regardless of market size, has a roughly equal chance to compete, and to run a rational business,\u201d NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in October<\/a> when speaking about the CBA rules. \u201cIt seems to be working so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jeff Lange\/Beacon Journal<\/p>\n

The Browns\u2019 relationship status with Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is certainly complicated, adding to the drama surrounding the NFL team.<\/p>\n

Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said they are fully moving ahead with their planned $2.4 billion domed stadium and mixed-use development in suburban Brook Park, Ohio, despite a series of funding and legal obstacles. How the county will be involved in the effort, if at all, remains quite uncertain.<\/p>\n

On one hand, the Haslams said they are prepared to move forward without any financial involvement from the county, despite prior aims of garnering $300 million toward the project from that jurisdiction. Along similar lines, county executive Chris Ronayne said he has no intention of contributing to a project he has frequently called \u201ca boondoggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, though, the team still wants to build a relationship with county leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time to work together,\u201d Jimmy Haslam said. \u201cMaybe it doesn\u2019t work out with the county, but now\u2019s the time to sit down and see if we can\u2019t work together. This is an important project. I don\u2019t think many other entities are spending $2 billion\u2013plus in this community.\u201d<\/p>\n

So You\u2019re Telling Me There\u2019s a Chance<\/p>\n

As the county situation plays out, the Browns\u2019 stadium project is also battling complications on multiple other fronts. There is an active lawsuit<\/a> related to the team\u2019s plan to draw $600 million from an account of unclaimed state funds<\/a>. Separately, the city of Cleveland is challenging various components of the team\u2019s current lease<\/a> for the downtown Huntington Bank Field, even after a separate challenge related to Ohio\u2019s Modell Law was mooted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The state money is half of what the team had targeted to gain from public sources, with the Haslams originally set to contribute $1.2 billion. There are hopes of gaining $300 million in municipal-level support from Brook Park, leaving a final $300 million unaccounted for.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Amid all of that, Jimmy Haslam said there is \u201ca 99.9% chance\u201d of the Brook Park stadium happening, but he also acknowledged the inherent difficulties. A formal groundbreaking is targeted for early next year in advance of a projected stadium opening in 2029.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a complicated project,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s stuff going on. It\u2019s three and a half years until the stadium opens, and we will have to work hard every day to get everything to come together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have the groundbreaking regardless,\u201d Jimmy Haslam said. \u201cLet me say this and try to be very respectful of everybody. \u2026 We can do the project without the county. I think it\u2019s best if the county and [Haslam Sports Group] work together, O.K.? And I won\u2019t say anything more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Browns\u2019 stadium situation is developing as similar ones are unfolding for current and potential NFL facilities in markets such as Cincinnati<\/a>, Philadelphia<\/a>, and Washington, D.C.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson reported to training camp Wednesday still without a new contract after incurring more than $450,000 in fines during his holdout.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings are exactly the same,\u201d Hendrickson told reporters when asked about contract negotiations.<\/p>\n

Hendrickson, 30, is seeking a raise on the $16 million he is due to make in the final season of his current deal. As one of the better pass rushers in the league\u2014Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks with 17.5 during the 2024 regular season\u2014his salary is less than half of what the top of the market is for edge defenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million contract that carries a new money average annual value of $41 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback<\/a> in the NFL, for now. Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons, who is not holding out of training camp, is also seeking a new deal<\/a> that could surpass Watt\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Hendrickson has sought a new contract since the beginning of the offseason. However, the Bengals prioritized signing receivers Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to new deals first. In March, the wideouts became the richest receiving duo in the NFL<\/a> with four-year extensions worth $161 million and $115 million, respectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By reporting to training camp, even if he doesn\u2019t practice, Hendrickson will no longer be fined $50,000 per day, as he was during the first seven days of camp. That $350,000 sum, on top of $104,768 in fines for missing minicamp, takes Hendrickson\u2019s fine total this summer to $454,768. He\u2019s made $68.24 million during his first eight seasons in the league, four with the Saints and four in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n

Hendrickson\u2019s decision to report without a new deal follows a similar decision from Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin, who showed up to Washington\u2019s camp Sunday after losing out on more than $800,000<\/a> from holding out. McLaurin, 29, is seeking a raise on the $19.65 million he is set to make this season.<\/p>\n

The NBA continues to build up its European presence, as the league announced the Grizzlies and Magic will play two regular-season games this upcoming 2026\u201327 season in Europe, one in Berlin and a second in London. The announcement comes as the league is reportedly exploring its own European league in partnership with FIBA, with London as one of the potential cities to have a team. FOS reporter Alex Schiffer breaks down the league\u2019s international hopes and explains what that infamous photo making the rounds on social media of LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and Nikola Joki\u0107\u2019s agent on a yacht in France could really be about.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, WNBA star Sophie Cunningham continues to be big business, as the Indiana Fever guard launched a podcast called Show Me Something, cohosted by Cunningham and her childhood friend West Wilson of Bravo\u2019s Summer House. FOS\u2019s Tuned In writer Michael McCarthy has the latest on Cunningham\u2019s deal with Colin Cowherd\u2019s The Volume digital media company, plus Tracy McGrady joining his cousin Vince Carter as an analyst for NBC\u2019s upcoming NBA coverage.<\/p>\n

Watch the full episode here.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Dolphins\u2019 secondary \u2b07 NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed Wednesday that Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou sustained a season-ending ACL tear at Saturday\u2019s practice. The loss means no player from last year\u2019s starting secondary will play in this year\u2019s group.<\/p>\n

NHL on DAZN \u2b06 Starting in the 2025\u201326 season, NHL.TV will move to DAZN\u2019s platform<\/a>, giving subscribers in nearly 200 countries access to every game, including the Stanley Cup Final. While the service will remain unavailable in the U.S. and Canada due to local rights deals, the shift marks a major move to centralize the league\u2019s international audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marcus Morris Sr. \u2b07 The former NBA player was denied bond Tuesday in Florida after being arrested on felony fraud charges tied to more than $200,000 in unpaid casino debts in Las Vegas. Morris remains in custody as Nevada pursues extradition, despite his legal team claiming a large payment has already been sent to settle the issue. The 35-year-old played 13 seasons in the NBA, finishing his career with the Cavaliers in 2024.<\/p>\n

Buford High School \u2b06 The Georgia high school opened its brand-new $62 million football stadium featuring 10,000 seats and 15 luxury suites. The football powerhouse has won 14 state championships since 2001 and has been a pipeline to the SEC. Georgia safety KJ Bolden and former Alabama and Texas receiver Isaiah Bond are two recent Buford products.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Cunningham\u2019s podcast deal is the latest in a breakout summer.<\/a>Phoenix faces a slew of lawsuits from former employees.<\/a>The Magic and Grizzlies will play in Berlin and London in January 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Afternoon Edition July 30, 2025 The former executive director of the National Basketball Players Association spoke to FOS…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":48208,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[355,99],"class_list":["post-48207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48207\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}