NBA:Salary Cap

NBA RealGM — League Rules

The salary cap is the maximum amount each team can spend each season on player salaries and cap hits combined.

The cap

$60,000,000. The same for every team, binding at all times — unlike roster size, it applies through the off-season too.

What counts against it

Every player you are paying counts his full salary, wherever he sits — active, G League, or Injured Reserve.

Drafted players count from the moment they are selected.

Waived players are the only case where a contract counts for less than its full value.

Calculating your cap space

Cap Space = Salary Cap − Total Salary − Cap Hits

Total Salary is your players only — active, G League, and IR. It does not include cap hits, which are counted separately.

From the example roster:

  $58,467,800   15 player salaries
+  $1,400,000   4 cap hits
+    $132,200   cap space
= $60,000,000   salary cap

See also

• Rosters — the three roster counts and the summary block
• Contracts — how salary and years are written
• Waivers — the 48-hour process and the 40% hit
• Free Agency — bidding within your space
• Re-Signing — the $11,500,000 re-sign maximum