The NBA yesterday notified teams in a memo that the projected salary cap for '17-18 will come in at $99M, about $2M "less than estimates in April," and the league luxury tax "has been lowered" from $121M to a projection of $119M, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. The drop was "caused by the number of playoff games being fewer than expected." The salary cap is "still increasing" by about $5M from last season, but it "isn't growing as much as previously expected." At one point, the NBA "forecast this season's cap to go as high" as $108M (ESPN.com, 6/22).
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET? In DC, Jerry Brewer writes the NBA offseason has already been "more compelling" than last year, as teams are "scrambling to catch up" to the Warriors. Teams are "being reckless and impatient, while others are trying to erase past recklessness and impatience." Brewer: "It's the NBA at its best, its worst and easily its most intriguing right now. Don't expect the drama to end soon, either." Last summer's Kevin Durant "free-for-all started another wave of team-building craziness that won't end" until after the '18 free agency period, "at the earliest." Depending on what Cavaliers F LeBron James decides next summer and "how dominant the Warriors continue to be, the wave could last even longer." The insanity "started early." It "began last Saturday" with the Celtics and President of Basketball Operations & GM Danny Ainge agreeing to trade tonight's No. 1 overall draft pick to the 76ers. Teams are also inquiring about Pacers F Paul George, and the Cavs and GM David Griffin surprisingly "parted ways." Everything except "disbanding the Warriors seems to be on the table" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/22).
THEY KNOW DRAMA: ESPN’s Mike Greenberg said, "The NBA offseason is so much more interesting than the regular season and in this particular year I think it was more interesting than the postseason as well. ... We’ve now arrived at a place where pretty much in all sports the offseason is the most interesting part" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 6/22). Also in DC, Deron Snyder writes, "Baseball's hot-stove league is a tin can over a campfire compared to the NBA’s microwave since the playoffs ended." The maneuvering has "created intrigue after a season that lacked suspense." Snyder: "That’s the beauty of this chaotic off-season. We’re fitting the Warriors for additional championship rings while gorging on opponents’ efforts to play spoiler" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/22).
