The Minnesota Timberwolves are gearing up to make a real run at a championship with Anthony Edwards at the helm. Everything they are doing is with that in mind. They made a big-swing trade for LaMelo Ball and re-signed Ayo Dosunmu to a brand-new contract, too. But they are coming very close to a financial problem.
In today’s NBA, the CBA runs everything. Teams want to avoid being in the second apron at all costs. A ton of squads around the league have done everything possible to stay out of that range. Fortunately for the Wolves, they are still under the second apron. But unfortunately for the Wolves, they are very close to the mark.
Minnesota is just under $4.1 million under the second apron, and they still have to sign at least one more player heading into the season. And if the Wolves are smart, they will do everything possible to stay under that mark next season.
Timberwolves should not duck into the second apron
There’s no reason for the Wolves to go over the second apron. At this point, they already have a title-caliber roster (or what they believe to be one), and going into the second apron won’t make a massive difference.
As a first-apron team, the Wolves would have to match salaries in any trade. That makes trading difficult as it is, meaning there aren't a ton of ways for them to upgrade their roster. Going into the second apron would only make things worse.
Even if the Wolves wanted to, they couldn't add extra salary in a trade. They can't go into the second apron that way, and they shouldn't want to in general. It's a very bad idea.
The most likely scenario seems to be that the Wolves will keep this roster (or something very similar to this roster) for most of the upcoming season and stay out of the second apron.
Ducking into the second apron means more than paying additional luxury taxes. It also comes with roster-building penalties. The second apron makes it harder to make trades, add pieces to a roster, and significantly upgrade the roster in different ways.
Minnesota is only $4.1 million below that mark. The Wolves can afford to sign a player to a minimum contract, which is probably what they will end up doing. But anything more than that could put them into the second apron.
The Timberwolves should definitely not duck into that realm.
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