LeBron James has been widely expected to sign a five-year deal worth $200 million in the summer of 2017 after going through a series of one-plus-one deals since returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

But multiple league executives say the current collective bargaining agreement makes that type of deal impossible due to the "over 36 rule." The rule prevents teams from giving four- or five-year deals to players who are unlikely to play the life of the deal with no salary cap consequences.

For a player who is 36 years old in the last season of a five-year deal, his final annual salary is applied proportionally to previous seasons and counts toward the team’s cap. 

James is vice president of the NBPA and could look to exercise his influence on a change to the obscure rule.

Under current rules, James could sign a four-year, $156.8 million contract with Cleveland in 2017.