NBA owners payroll

NBA

After offering a $45 million hard cap the past few months — an offer steadfastly rejected by the Players Association — Stern called the league’s new proposal a “flex cap’’ that would set a median salary cap at $62 million and eliminate the large disparity in spending among teams.

The owners want to implement an “NHL-type’’ system, according to deputy commissioner Adam Silver, one that would allow teams to exceed the $62 million cap but would also place the financial onus on the players if the average payroll of all 30 teams exceeded $62 million.

The league is seeking to lower overall player salaries, limit guaranteed contracts, and reduce player basketball-related income. Stern promised during a press conference at the Omni Berkshire Hotel yesterday that player revenues would not dip below $2 billion per season.

According to Players Association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers, the sides have not agreed on any of the smaller issues because they are interconnected with the hard cap and guaranteed salaries.

We feel that teams have shown the ability to be creative and pay the guys they want to pay and not pay the guys they don’t want to pay. Players Association executive director Billy Hunter did not sound optimistic, but like Stern, he refused to close the door on striking a deal before the current collective bargaining agreement expires June 30.

NBA owners and players remain in disagreement on the salary cap, among other things, as the league nears a rapidly approaching deadline to reach a new collective bargaining agreement or risk a lockout.

Union head Billy Hunter said players haven't changed their philosophy relative to a hard salary cap, a sticking point that seems to be among the biggest hurdles to a new deal.

"Hard cap and guaranteed contracts have always sort of been a blood issue with our members," Hunter said Tuesday. "We haven't changed our philosophy relative to the hard cap."