Which NBA teams are hard-capped in 2026-27, and what triggered it
Ben Bartlett · Data as of October 14, 2026
As of October 14, 2026, 24 NBA teams are hard-capped for 2026-27: 20 at the first apron ($209.0M) and 4 at the second apron ($221.7M). A hard cap can't be crossed for any reason for the rest of the season, so every later trade and signing those teams make has to fit under it.
What triggers a hard cap
A hard cap isn't a penalty. It's the price of a tool. Use the non-taxpayer mid-level or the bi-annual exception, acquire a player by sign-and-trade, take back extra salary through expanded matching, or sign a waived player whose old contract topped the mid-level, and the first apron becomes a wall for the rest of the season.
Using the taxpayer mid-level, combining salaries in a trade, or sending cash in a trade hard-caps a team at the second apron instead.
Hard-capped at the first apron
Hard-capped at the second apron
Cap-room teams
3 teams operated under the cap this July: Bulls, Lakers, Nets. Using cap room isn't a hard cap, but it costs the team its non-taxpayer mid-level and bi-annual for the season (it keeps the smaller room mid-level) and renounces any traded-player exceptions it was carrying.
Why it matters at the deadline
A hard-capped team near its line can't take on salary in a trade even when the matching math works. A deal that's legal for a team with the same payroll and no hard cap is illegal for one that used the full mid-level in July. The trade machine checks each team's actual line, not just its current tier.
Common questions
What does it mean for an NBA team to be hard-capped?
The team's total salary can't exceed a fixed line, the first or second apron, at any point for the rest of the season, for any reason. Normally a team can go over the cap and the aprons. A hard cap removes that.
Which NBA teams are hard-capped in 2026-27?
As of October 14, 2026: 76ers (Wade + Simons NT-MLE (split)); Bucks (Caris LeVert acquired with an expanded traded-player exception); Bulls (Buddy Hield acquired with an expanded traded-player exception); Cavaliers (Peyton Watson sign-and-trade acquisition); Celtics (Mitchell Robinson NT-MLE); Clippers (Rui Hachimura NT-MLE); Grizzlies (Quinten Post NT-MLE); Hawks (Jock Landale NT-MLE); Heat (Tim Hardaway Jr. NT-MLE); Hornets (Dorian Finney-Smith NT-MLE); Jazz (Hayes + Okogie NT-MLE (split)); Kings (Precious Achiuwa bi-annual); Lakers (Walker Kessler sign-and-trade); Mavericks (Tarik Biberovic NT-MLE); Pacers (Kelly Oubre Jr. NT-MLE (partial)); Pelicans (Bennedict Mathurin NT-MLE); Pistons (John Collins sign-and-trade); Rockets (Marcus Smart Taxpayer MLE (full)); Spurs (Tobias Harris NT-MLE); Suns (Luke Kennard Taxpayer MLE (full)); Timberwolves (Jonathan Kuminga taxpayer MLE signing); Trail Blazers (Ja Morant trade (Jun 29, expanded traded-player exception)); Warriors (De'Anthony Melton Taxpayer MLE); Wizards (Khris Middleton sign-and-trade).
Does a hard cap last more than one season?
It lasts for the salary cap year in which it was triggered, through June 30. A team that trades after the regular season ends can carry certain restrictions into the next season too.
Test a deal against these rules.
Build a trade or signing and the sim rules on it, with the relevant citation when one applies.