It was no secret that the NBA salary cap was going to rise significantly for the 2016-17 season, but the NBA’s newest projection is even higher than previously thought.
According to Shams Charania of the Vertical, the NBA salary cap will rise to a projected $94 million, higher than the previous estimate of $92 million. The luxury tax threshold will be $113 million. This means that a tier 3 max contract will be worth $30.8 million next season.
Also note that this is only an updated projection, and the final number will be determined in July. The salary cap for 2015-16 was $70 million.
It’s news that will likely make Kevin Durant quite happy. Even if he takes a short-term deal with Oklahoma City, as expected, he’s going to be in line for a heck of a payday that will only rise as the salary cap continues to go up in future seasons. Alternatively, it’s $2 million extra for other teams that are interested in pursuing him. It may not look like much in the grand scheme of things, but it could make a difference.
