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A quieter week in NBA news as the offseason genuinely winds down. The biggest development came from the league office: the NBA raised its 2027-28 salary cap projection to $176 million (up from $174 million), a small but consequential adjustment that quietly boosts the value of Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs extension and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder supermax before either has played a game under those deals. Training camps open in three weeks. The 2026-27 regular season tips off 20 October. Here’s the week in NBA news.
Salary cap raised to $176M for 2027-28
The NBA updated all 30 teams this week that its 2027-28 salary cap projection has risen to $176 million — up from the $174 million figure circulated in late June. Maximum contracts are calculated as a percentage of the cap in the year they begin, so the adjustment quietly raises the ceiling for players whose current deals expire after the 2026-27 season and reshapes future negotiations.
For Victor Wembanyama — who signed his five-year, $252 million rookie max extension with the Spurs believing that was the number — the actual value is now higher. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and any player negotiating deals that begin in 2027-28, the cap raise means a bigger cap ceiling.
It’s a routine accounting update but a genuinely consequential one for the league’s largest recent contracts.
Extensions still pending
Stephen Curry — the extension window has been open. Curry has confirmed he’ll finish his career with Golden State but has not yet signed. The two-year max at $136.7 million is on the table.
James Harden — Clippers extension is expected before training camp. Negotiations continue.
Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Haliburton, Nikola Jokić, Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball — all extension-eligible. Most are expected to wait until after this season for the biggest possible number.
Training camp countdown
NBA training camps open in early October — approximately three weeks away. Preseason games follow. The 2026-27 NBA regular season tips off Tuesday 20 October. Key stories to follow:
- Philadelphia 76ers — LeBron + Embiid + Brown + Maxey. Genuine title contenders.
- Miami Heat — Giannis + Bam + Klay Thompson. Deep frontcourt.
- New York Knicks — defending champions
- San Antonio Spurs — Wembanyama’s fourth season
- Toronto Raptors — Kawhi Leonard’s return
- LA Clippers — post-Kawhi retool with Beal, Hachimura, Ben Simmons
- Houston Rockets — Amen Thompson’s $208M season
One email per day at 7:00pm AEST. NBA schedule confirmations and pick of the day when the season starts. Free.
Looking ahead
The 2026-27 NBA regular season tips off Tuesday 20 October — three weeks after training camps open. Australian fans can mark the 2026-27 NBA Finals: expected around Thursday 3 June 2027 at 10:30am AEST — the same Australian-friendly window that made the 2025-26 Knicks Finals such a strong local viewing event.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide
- Previous NBA Wrap — 6 September 2026
- LeBron to 76ers — full update
- How to Watch NBA in Australia 2026
All information accurate as of Sunday 13 September 2026 US time. All times AEST. Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.
