There’s been a weight on the shoulders of the Phoenix Suns for the past two seasons. A looming, unrelenting burden that has shaped nearly every roster decision they’ve made.
The second apron.
Its restrictions are unforgiving. Its impact, suffocating. Navigating life above it isn’t just difficult, it’s a form of competitive purgatory. Flexibility disappears. Options vanish. Team-building becomes a puzzle with missing pieces.
But the Suns aren’t alone.
As the 2025–26 season nears, they are just one of several teams facing the wrath of the second apron, now set at a staggering $207.