The NBA has been spinning out of control since the Finals, and we've only now reached the main event: the kickoff of what should be a wild free agency period, even with a flattened cap that squeezed available room around the league.
The NBA knew the cap would skyrocket thanks to its mammoth new national TV deal. Teams at first expected multiple spikes: a huge one last summer, as Kevin Durant hit free agency, and at least one more big jump this summer. Teams splurged a year ago expecting to maintain at least some wiggle room.