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Report: NBA salary cap could decline drastically in 2020-21

With the coronavirus pandemic hitting hard, the salary cap could go down as much as $25-30 million for the 2020-21 season.

Golden State Warriors co-owner Joe Jacob and general manager Bob Myers during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 124-114.  Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

There’s been a lot of good talk around the NBA pertaining to a return to basketball soon. Practices are opening up throughout the League and plans are being considered for the NBA to get players back on the court. Long-term, however, the outlook might not look as sweet. Bobby Marks of ESPN is reporting that the NBA’s salary cap could decline as much as $25-30 million for the 2020-21 season as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The losses the League is suffering has affected the basketball-related income projection of $8 billion prior to releasing the initial salary cap and luxury tax jumps for next season. That projection could drop to $6 billion, which would greatly impact the NBA’s salary cap.

This would be particularly worrisome for teams like the Golden State Warriors and GM Bob Myers. The cap would go down to $95 million and the luxury tax line would be set at $115M. That would leave 25 teams, including the Dubs, over the luxury tax line. The League could reportedly look into keeping the luxury tax line at $139M in the short-term.