As NBA Free Agency Tips Off, Cap Could Be Higher Than Projected

NBA free agency began overnight, and the '15-16 "salary cap is expected to come in" as much as $2M "higher than initial projections." This "could lead to significantly more spending room per team in the free agency period." Teams have been operating with an estimated cap of $67.1M. Sources said that the luxury-tax threshold, projected at $81.6M, "also is expected to be pegged at a significantly higher number" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/1). With the league's new TV deal beginning in '16-17 free agents this summer are "likely not going to accept anything now that potentially limits" them from "negotiating a hefty pay raise once the TV deal starts" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/1).

Signings have already begun, with the Spurs and F Kawhi Leonard agreeing to the "framework of a maximum contract extension" that could pay him more than $90M over five years (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/1). It "took only a minute into the start of free agency" for the Pelicans and C Anthony Davis to agree to a five year, $145M extension (NOLA.com, 7/1).