The NBA sought a mechanism within their latest collective bargaining agreement discussions with the union where cap smoothing would have been part of any future spikes. The union were not interested in having that as part of the new CBA.

The Golden State Warriors' ability to sign Kevin Durant has led some to question the ramifications of not including cap smoothing, though they had a special set of circumstances where Stephen Curry was on a well below max contract.

"Smoothing and the cap spike ultimately relates to one player," said Silver. "We're talking about the fact that the Warriors had room to sign Kevin Durant.

"My preference would have been for the cap increase would have been smoothed in, but the movement of one player can't possibly speak to competitive balance across the whole league."