NBA Now in Talks with NBPA Regarding Upper Salary Limit

The NBA has proposed the implementation of an “upper salary limit.”

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA is seeking an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) regarding the implementation of the “upper salary limit.” However, this potential change in the collective bargaining agreement hasn’t been popular among players, with Wojnarowski mentioning that there is “significant union resistance” against the said salary limit.

The proposed upper salary limit will act as a hard cap, replacing the current luxury tax rule that big-market teams are taking advantage of. To shore up their roster depth by signing or re-signing star players, big-market teams such as the Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers are not hesitating to pay a high amount of luxury tax. The league might be thinking that this is unfair to teams who are in the small market, as they can’t match those contenders who have the resources to spend way beyond the salary cap.

Naturally, though, the NBPA is considering the upper salary limit as a “non-starter” in negotiations. It remains to be seen how the NBA and NBPA will meet halfway, as they need to make a decision before December 15. Teams who have the highest luxury tax payrolls for next season include the Warriors (214 million), Clippers (200 million), Miami Heat (177 million), Denver Nuggets (173 million), New Orleans Pelicans (169 million), Atlanta Hawks (160 million), Milwaukee Bucks (159 million), Philadelphia 76ers (159 million), New York Knicks (151 million), and Toronto Raptors (151 million).

Along with the upper salary limit, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is also looking at “tanking” as a serious issue in the league.