NBA's Frozen Draft Pick Penalty Explained
The NBA's second tax apron triggers a 'frozen' first-round pick penalty, with teams like the Celtics, Timberwolves, Suns, and Cavaliers currently affected.
NBA teams that finish a season with a salary above the second tax apron face a significant penalty: a future first-round draft pick becomes 'frozen' and ineligible for trade. This restriction's Collective Bargaining Agreement, applies to the draft seven years in the future.
A team can unfreeze that pick by finishing below the second apron in at least three of the four seasons following the violation. For example, a team that exceeded the apron in the 2024/25 season and had its 2032 first-rounder frozen could regain trading rights for that pick in the 2028 offseason if it stays below the threshold for the next three years.
The Permanent Penalty
If a team operates above the second apron for two or more of those four subsequent seasons, the penalty becomes permanent. Not only does the pick remain frozen, but it is also subject to the 'draft pick penalty,' moving to the very end of the first round regardless of the team's record. The 2024/25 season was the first year this new rule was applied.
Current Frozen Picks Tracker
According to a tracker from Hoops Rumors, only a handful of picks have been frozen so far, with none yet unfrozen. The tracker is updated at each season's end, as the penalty applies only to a team's final salary status.
The current status of frozen picks is as follows:
| Team | Frozen Pick Year | Below Apron in 2025/26? | Below Apron in 2026/27? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 2032 | Yes | Yes * |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2032 | Yes | Yes * |
| Phoenix Suns | 2032 | Yes | Yes * |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2033 | N/A | Yes * |
Note: An asterisk () indicates the team is hard-capped at an apron level for the current league year, guaranteeing a finish below the second threshold.*
The Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Phoenix Suns all finished the 2024/25 season above the second apron, resulting in their 2032 first-round selections being frozen. The Cleveland Cavaliers joined them by finishing above the apron in 2025/26, freezing their 2033 first-rounder.
The Unfreeze Path
The path to unfreezing a pick requires consistent financial discipline. For the three teams with frozen 2032 picks, staying below the apron for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons puts them on track. They would need to remain below the line again in the 2027/28 season to fully unlock their trading ability for that selection. The Cavaliers, with a later frozen pick, have a longer timeline to meet the three-out-of-four-season requirement.
Because teams can adjust their payrolls during a season, the final determination for each club is made in the spring. The tracker from Hoops Rumors will reflect these year-end standings as the league moves deeper into the new CBA's era of financial penalties.
