NBA players union will not agree to 'smoothing' salary cap increases

The NBA released a statement on Wednesday that said the National Basketball Players Association will not agree to a proposal to "smooth" increases in the salary cap.

The NBA released a statement on Wednesday saying the National Basketball Players Association will not agree to a proposal to "smooth" increases in the salary cap.

Because of the league's new $24 billion television deal, which begins with the 2016-17 season, the NBA wanted to use a "smoothing" approach to the salary cap to avoid a large spike that year.

"Smoothing would have avoided a substantial salary cap spike in 2016-17," the NBA said in its statement. "Under the league's smoothing approach, the salary shortfall resulting from more gradual cap increases would have been paid directly to the Players Association for distribution to all players, and thus the total compensation paid to players in any given season would not have been impacted."

• NBA roundtable: 2014-15 MVP race

NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told NBA.com team representatives voted unanimously to reject two "smoothing" proposals during a meeting that included about 50 players. She also said the union currently has no counter-proposals to offer the league on smoothing.

- Molly Geary