The New NBA Blueprint
How NBA roster construction has taken a turn for the better
After watching the Cavaliers and Thunder—arguably the two best teams in the NBA right now—face off earlier this week, I couldn’t help but notice the striking similarities in their roster construction. Both teams are built around a dominant guard paired with a capable running mate, supported by athletic, defensive-minded wings, and anchored by two interior threats. Most importantly, these teams are incredibly balanced - they move the ball at an unprecedented rate, and the scoring total is shared nearly evenly among their top six players.
This might seem like a standard formula for a competitive NBA team, but it reveals a fascinating shift in league dynamics: the era of the superteam is over.
The Death of the Superteam
For over 15 years, the NBA resembled the Wild West. Each offseason, star players shuffled between teams, often in blockbuster trades involving massive hauls of draft picks or free-agent signings that reshaped the league landscape. Franchises desperately sought to emulate the dominance of the Golden State Warriors, who ushered in the superteam era with their star-studded rosters.
The Warriors were the epitome of the failure of former collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). With incredibly wealthy owners, they willingly paid the luxury tax - the amount spent over the salary cap - and faced little consequence. The light trade restrictions faced little threat, as teams like the Warriors weren’t interested in making any deals.
Many failed at this model, but everyone was willing to take a swing. The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers - just to name a few - burned through assets and salary cap space only to fall short of expectations. But then, they were able to recover quickly. When their “superteam” turned sour, they would offload their stars for assets and draft picks and jump-start a rebuild. Look no further than the 2021 Brooklyn Nets, for example. They effectively traded KD, Harden, and Kyrie for a total return of several valuable role players and eight first-round picks. The consequences of “selling out” were unthreatening at best.
But in 2023, the NBA introduced a game-changing set of rules: the two-apron system. This new CBA framework has fundamentally reshaped team-building strategies and, in doing so, marked the end of the superteam era. The two-apron system introduced stricter salary cap restrictions designed to level the playing field. Here’s a simplified explanation:
First Apron: Teams with a total payroll exceeding $178.7 million face trade restrictions, such as being unable to receive a player whose salary exceeds that of outgoing players.
Second Apron: For teams with payrolls above $189.5 million, the restrictions become significantly harsher. These teams can only make one-for-one trades without involving draft picks and are essentially locked into their roster until contracts expire.
For the total details, look at the image below:
This system has made building and sustaining a superteam not only difficult but outright detrimental. Teams that exceed the second apron find themselves in "NBA purgatory," unable to trade aging stars or reshape their rosters effectively.
Take the Phoenix Suns, for example. With multiple superstars acquired before the new rules took effect, they now sit above the second apron, unable to maneuver their roster to fix the mess they have created.
The New Model: Balanced, Homegrown Teams
Under the new CBA, teams are forced to take a more sustainable approach to roster building, focusing on drafting, player development, and strategic trades. The days of splurging on superstars are over; franchises must now grow their own talent while making calculated moves.
Consider the last two NBA champions as examples of this shift:
2023 Denver Nuggets: Built around Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray—two stars they drafted—the Nuggets complemented their core with role players acquired through small, strategic trades, such as Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. These players weren’t marquee names when acquired, but Denver developed them into key contributors.
2024 Boston Celtics: While slightly different, the Celtics followed a similar path. They drafted their two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and surrounded them with talent acquired through shrewd trades, such as Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porziņģis. Unlike traditional superteams, their success lies in their depth and versatility.
The Cavaliers and Thunder, two of this season’s top contenders, embody this new philosophy. Oklahoma City has built a powerhouse with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams - all drafted - and supplemented them with savvy signings. Cleveland, though it traded for Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen before the new CBA, has primarily relied on homegrown talent. These teams are thriving without relying on the superteam model.
So, what about the rest of the league? Nearly every successful team this year has followed the “homegrown” model. The photo below shows the current top eight teams from each conference - the circled teams all drafted their top scorer.
This simple stat isn’t all-encompassing; however, it is a major indicator of the effects of this new system. Let’s dig a little deeper. The Orlando Magic’s and Atlanta Hawks’ top four respective scorers were acquired through the draft. Then, the Thunder and Grizzlies’ respective top three scorers are from the draft too. Finally, the Celtics, Pistons, Nuggets, and Rockets all got their top two scorers in the draft. Notice a common thread? Notably, each non-circled team acquired their top scorer through a trade before the new CBA apron rules were put in place.
What Does This All Mean?
What does this all mean for the league? First, it’s no longer possible to build a championship team by throwing money at superstars and exploiting loopholes. The focus has shifted to player development, scouting, and roster balance—factors that reward smart front offices and strong organizational culture.
This shift has also brought about a resurgence in quality team basketball. The NBA has moved away from isolation-heavy, superstar-dominated play and embraced a more balanced, ball-movement-centric style. Role players are more involved than ever, making the game more dynamic and unpredictable.
Perhaps most importantly, the league has seen a dramatic increase in parity. During the height of the superteam era, only five teams made the NBA Finals from 2013 to 2020. Since 2020, nine unique teams have competed for the championship. The unpredictability, drama, and upsets that fans love are back in full force.
The NBA’s new CBA system has ushered in a golden age of basketball. With more talent spread across the league than ever before, teams are building smarter, developing their players, and crafting rosters that prioritize balance over star power.
As we head into the playoffs this spring, the league’s critics will have no choice but to acknowledge the positive changes. The NBA’s future is brighter than ever, and the game is thriving in ways that were hard to imagine just a few years ago.