What is the first apron?
A hard line a few million above the tax. Teams over it lose tools: no sign-and-trade acquisitions, no expanded matching in trades (100% only), no regular-season waiver-market signings when the terminated contract was above the NT-MLE, and no pre-existing TPE use. Some moves (using the full MLE, acquiring via sign-and-trade, a qualifying waiver signing, or expanded matching) hard-cap a team AT this line for the whole season.
2023 CBA · Art. VII §2(e)
The 2026-27 lines
Teams hard-capped at the first apron right now
As of the real July 2026 moves, 15 teams are hard-capped at the first apron: Hawks (Jock Landale NT-MLE), Celtics (Mitchell Robinson NT-MLE), Pistons (John Collins sign-and-trade), Warriors (De'Anthony Melton BAE), Rockets (Marcus Smart Taxpayer MLE (full)), Pacers (Kelly Oubre Jr. NT-MLE (partial)), Clippers (Rui Hachimura NT-MLE), Lakers (Walker Kessler sign-and-trade), Heat (Tim Hardaway Jr. NT-MLE), 76ers (Wade + Simons NT-MLE (split)), Suns (Luke Kennard Taxpayer MLE (full)), Kings (Precious Achiuwa NT-MLE), Spurs (Tobias Harris NT-MLE), Jazz (Hayes + Okogie NT-MLE (split)), Wizards (Khris Middleton sign-and-trade).
A hard cap isn't a penalty — it's the price of a tool. Use the full mid-level, the bi-annual exception, acquire a player by sign-and-trade, use expanded trade matching, or sign a waived player whose prior contract topped the mid-level, and the first apron becomes a wall you cannot cross for any reason, all season.
Common questions
What can't a team over the first apron do?
No sign-and-trade acquisitions, no expanded salary matching in trades (100% only if they remain above the line), no regular-season waiver-market signings when the terminated contract was above the NT-MLE, and no using a pre-existing traded-player exception.
What hard-caps a team at the first apron?
Using the non-taxpayer mid-level (past its taxpayer portion in dollars or years), the bi-annual exception, expanded salary matching, acquiring a player via sign-and-trade, signing a waived player whose prior contract topped the mid-level, or absorbing salary into a pre-existing traded-player exception.
See it enforced, not just explained.
Build a trade or signing and the sim rules on it, with the relevant citation when one applies.