NBA salary cap going up more than first projected

OAKLAND – The salary cap and luxury tax line for the 2016-17 NBA season will be even higher than the league projected two months ago.

The cap will be at an all-time high $94 million and the luxury tax $113 million for next season, according to a memo sent to team executives. That’s slightly up from $92 million and $111 million the NBA projected in a memo to team executives on April 15.

While the tiny bump won’t alter free-agent plans for most teams, it does give teams a little more money to spend this summer, and it illustrates the growing pie of basketball-related income that is split between the league and its players.

The jump in the cap from $70 million this season to $94 million next season will give several teams millions of dollars to spend on a maximum-level player or several other very talented players.

Players with less than 10 years of service but at least seven years can sign max deals starting at $26.5 million in the first year of the deal with the cap at $94 million.

“Arguably a good problem to have,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in April of a rising income and cap levels. “But an unanticipated rise in the cap, and as we’ve talked about many times, as a result, a free agency market that will be very difficult to predict. Number one, I’d say let’s see what actually happens this summer and let’s see just how disruptive it is.”

The salary cap and luxury tax is expected to jump close $110 million and $127 million for the 2017-18 season.