Ken Berger raises the point that the institution of a hard salary cap in the NBA would likely require that existing contracts be amended to fit beneath a lower maximum-salary contract figure.

Without exceptions that allow teams to exceed the cap, a team like the Miami Heat would have difficulty fielding a 12-man roster unless the contracts of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade are rolled back.

If a hard cap is established under the new CBA, a would-be 2011 free agent like Carmelo Anthony could sign a contract extension during the current season only to have that extension amended and reduced when the new CBA takes effect next summer.  

Many have assumed Anthony would prefer to sign an extension this season to avoid the risk of entering free agency under a new CBA.  But if a hard cap drives down all max salaries -- whether existing or future contracts -- then Anthony would not lose anything by waiting until he becomes a free agent.