The CBA is a necessary component of the NBA. It serves to protect players and teams alike. The league is better for its existence.

With that said, sometimes the things that are good for you can be annoying. The CBA is like vegetables: you don’t want them, but you know you need them.

If it didn’t exist, Kevin Durant may be on the Miami Heat already. After all, a package sending them Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro could be too tempting for the Nets to pass up.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible. The CBA has a rule that disallows teams from acquiring a player on a max rookie extension if they already have such a player.

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In other words, Ben Simmons’ existence on the Nets means that they can’t acquire Adebayo.

Unless…