Draymond Green Says NBA CBA Put 'An End' to Free Agency, Players 'Overplay the Market'

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green believes some of his NBA peers have failed to fully adapt to the current reality created by the collective bargaining agreement.

While the league doesn't have a hard salary cap, the second apron of the luxury tax has caused a lot of teams to rein in their spending. In a series of social media posts, Green argued it's "absolutely putting an end to Free Agency as we once knew it."

To that end, the four-time All-Star added he's watching "so many players overplay the market and not understand what they are up against with the new rules."

Green concluded his message by saying he wasn't making a subtle comment about Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga, who's a restricted free agent and remains unsigned.

When it comes to free agency, Green isn't the only one lamenting the domino effects of the CBA. Appearing on NBA TV, insider Chris Haynes cited a "high-ranking NBA figure" who said that "free agency is bad," which they posited hurts the league because offseason transactions garner so much attention.

This was a fairly foreseeable outcome from the moment the details of the CBA were made clear. It was a broadside effort to level the financial playing field and make superteam situations more difficult to construct.

Under the old rules, Warriors team governor Joe Lacob didn't have much issue footing a big luxury-tax bill in order to chase another championship with Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Once the current CBA was cemented, he recognized the need for Golden State to start avoiding the tax if possible.

Maybe Thompson doesn't leave and sign with the Dallas Mavericks last summer if the Warriors' front office and ownership don't have to worry so much about the upper limits of the payroll.

Unfortunately for players and any fans upset with the new normal, there isn't an immediate remedy. The CBA extends through the 2029-30 season, and June 2029 is the earliest the players' union or league owners can opt out.

When the negotiating window does open, it will be fascinating to see how much the second apron is a focus of players.