The chips are in. Basketball season has begun, and the Cleveland Cavaliers remain in the second apron. As long as they remain there, they will not be allowed to use cash in trades, deal picks that are seven years out, aggregate contracts in trades, and a whole host of other penalties.
This is a pretty big deal. Whether it's a shrewd decision by the front office boils down to one thing: winning. If the Cavs win the NBA Finals this year, then suddenly no one will care about a mid-level exception or a 2032 draft pick. If the Cavs fall short again, then the restrictions that come with being in the second apron suddenly feel weightier and big changes would almost surely be coming.