NBA Live data · through Aug 27, 2026

2026–27 Apron Tracker

The modern NBA's real standings race is against four dollar figures. This season the cap sits at $165.0M, the tax at $200.4M, and the aprons at $209.0M and $221.7M — 3 teams (DEN, GSW, ORL) are currently living in the second apron's deep freeze.

Team payrolls vs the four lines

Hollow bars end at each team's payroll; accent segment = payroll beyond the second apron

DEN

$227,337,154 GSW

$225,623,079 ORL

$223,460,633 MIN

$218,886,255 PHX

$218,878,874 NYK

$218,282,768 OKC

$216,407,153 CLE

$211,447,158 PHI

$210,646,083 TOR

$209,375,230 HOU

$209,301,847 IND

$209,046,561 LAL

$207,230,816 MIA

$205,273,805 BOS

$204,380,342 NOP

$204,290,592 SAS

$203,338,474 ATL

$197,139,755 POR

$196,755,688 SAC

$196,279,501 WAS

$193,328,655 MIL

$192,861,630 DAL

$184,903,524 UTA

$183,860,119 CHA

$183,098,612 LAC

$179,716,643 MEM

$169,036,005 CHI

$164,358,631 BKN

$161,413,749 DET

$136,252,755

Above the second apron

3 teams

Over $221.7M — the CBA's deep freeze: no aggregating salaries in trades, no cash in deals, no sign-and-trade acquisitions, and a frozen first-round pick seven years out.

Team	Payroll	vs cap	vs tax	vs apron 2
Denver Nuggets	$227,337,154	+ $62.4M	+ $26.9M	+ $5.7M
Golden State Warriors	$225,623,079	+ $60.7M	+ $25.2M	+ $3.9M
Orlando Magic	$223,460,633	+ $58.5M	+ $23.0M	+ $1.8M

Above the first apron

9 teams

Over $209.0M — no acquiring more salary than you send out, no signing buyout players who earned above the mid-level, hard-capped here if certain tools were used.

Team	Payroll	vs cap	vs tax	vs apron 2
Minnesota Timberwolves	$218,886,255	+ $53.9M	+ $18.5M	− $2.8M
Phoenix Suns	$218,878,874	+ $53.9M	+ $18.5M	− $2.8M
New York Knicks	$218,282,768	+ $53.3M	+ $17.9M	− $3.4M
Oklahoma City Thunder	$216,407,153	+ $51.4M	+ $16.0M	− $5.3M
Cleveland Cavaliers	$211,447,158	+ $46.5M	+ $11.0M	− $10.2M
Philadelphia 76ers	$210,646,083	+ $45.7M	+ $10.2M	− $11.0M
Toronto Raptors	$209,375,230	+ $44.4M	+ $8.9M	− $12.3M
Houston Rockets	$209,301,847	+ $44.3M	+ $8.9M	− $12.4M
Indiana Pacers	$209,046,561	+ $44.1M	+ $8.6M	− $12.6M

In the luxury tax

5 teams

Over $200.4M — paying the escalating tax bill, but roster building is not yet restricted.

Team	Payroll	vs cap	vs tax	vs apron 2
Los Angeles Lakers	$207,230,816	+ $42.3M	+ $6.8M	− $14.5M
Miami Heat	$205,273,805	+ $40.3M	+ $4.8M	− $16.4M
Boston Celtics	$204,380,342	+ $39.4M	+ $4.0M	− $17.3M
New Orleans Pelicans	$204,290,592	+ $39.3M	+ $3.9M	− $17.4M
San Antonio Spurs	$203,338,474	+ $38.4M	+ $2.9M	− $18.3M

Over the cap, under the tax

10 teams

Between the $165.0M cap and the tax line — the league's default operating zone.

Team	Payroll	vs cap	vs tax	vs apron 2
Atlanta Hawks	$197,139,755	+ $32.2M	− $3.3M	− $24.5M
Portland Trail Blazers	$196,755,688	+ $31.8M	− $3.7M	− $24.9M
Sacramento Kings	$196,279,501	+ $31.3M	− $4.1M	− $25.4M
Washington Wizards	$193,328,655	+ $28.4M	− $7.1M	− $28.4M
Milwaukee Bucks	$192,861,630	+ $27.9M	− $7.6M	− $28.8M
Dallas Mavericks	$184,903,524	+ $19.9M	− $15.5M	− $36.8M
Utah Jazz	$183,860,119	+ $18.9M	− $16.6M	− $37.8M
Charlotte Hornets	$183,098,612	+ $18.1M	− $17.3M	− $38.6M
LA Clippers	$179,716,643	+ $14.8M	− $20.7M	− $42.0M
Memphis Grizzlies	$169,036,005	+ $4.1M	− $31.4M	− $52.6M

Under the cap

3 teams

Below $165.0M — real cap space (teams must still reach the $148.5M minimum by opening night).

Team	Payroll	vs cap	vs tax	vs apron 2
Chicago Bulls	$164,358,631	− $0.6M	− $36.1M	− $57.3M
Brooklyn Nets	$161,413,749	− $3.5M	− $39.0M	− $60.3M
Detroit Pistons	$136,252,755	− $28.7M	− $64.2M	− $85.4M

Key CBA numbers · 2026–27

Salary cap: $165.0M
Luxury tax: $200.4M
First apron: $209.0M
Second apron: $221.7M
Team minimum: $148.5M

Methodology & sources

Cap, tax, apron, and minimum figures are the league's official 2026–27 numbers (NBA.com, effective 2026-07-01). Team payroll totals are transcribed from HoopsHype's team salaries page as of Aug 27, 2026 and exclude team options and qualifying offers per their accounting — offseason totals move with every transaction, and this page updates the same way. A team belongs to a tier when its payroll exceeds that threshold; sitting exactly on a line keeps you under it. Tier restrictions summarized from the 2023 CBA; the tax is a bill, the aprons are handcuffs.