NBA increases salary cap to $70m

Omnisports Pulse 01:35 - 09 July 2015

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The minimum spend for NBA franchises on their playing rosters is $63million, after the latest salary cap increase.

The NBA's salary cap will rise to $70million for the 2015-16 season - an increase of $2.9m from a year ago, the league announced on Wednesday.

The luxury tax threshold was also raised 10.3 per cent to $84.74 million.

Both are effective beginning 00:01 US Eastern Standard Time (04:01 GMT) on Thursday when the NBA's moratorium period ends and teams can officially sign free agents and make trades.

The minimum team salary - 90 per cent of the salary cap - is $63m.

The increases mean new figures for unofficial max deal contracts reportedly agreed upon ahead of Thursday's opening.

LaMarcus Aldridge, the league's most sought-after free agent, agreed to a four-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs that will be worth $84.1 million with the cap increase.

New team-mate Kawhi Leonard will now earn $95.3 million over his five-year max deal.