Fox, Mitchell and Banchero Emerge as NBA Trade Risks on $221.7 Million-Plus Deals
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 8
Fox, Mitchell and Banchero Emerge as NBA Trade Risks on $221.7 Million-Plus Deals
1 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 8
Summary
$221.7 million for De'Aaron Fox, $273 million for Donovan Mitchell and Orlando's swelling core payroll have put all three situations on watch as possible CBA-driven trade cases.
The pressure point is roster math: Boston's breakup of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown underscored how hard it is to contend when two stars approach 70% of the salary cap under the NBA's harsher apron rules.
San Antonio can still absorb Fox for now because Victor Wembanyama and its young core remain cheap, but that window narrows quickly as max extensions arrive and Fox's deal reaches $61.3 million in 2029-30.
Cleveland's risk centers on Mitchell and Evan Mobley nearing that same 70% threshold without a Finals run, while Orlando projects roughly 93% of the 2027-28 cap tied up in Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs.
The broader takeaway is that expensive stars are increasingly tradable only for discounted returns, unless a cap-flexible team sees them as a calculated overpay worth making.