A well-connected general manager told Sports Illustrated that he does not foresee the new collective bargaining agreement instituting a hard salary cap in the NBA.

"The only realistic scenario I'm hearing is that we don't come in with a true hard cap," the GM said. "Maybe we'll be looking at a salary structure similar to what we're working under, with fewer years and a little money taken away at the end of the day from the players. So salaries and years will be coming down, but the CBA as it is will remain somewhat intact. But a hard cap, I don't see how it can work."

The GM also does not believe that the NBA will be able to roll back contracts that are already in force.

"If they're talking about slashing existing salaries, I don't think we'd play for two years," the GM said, referring to an extended lockout. "I just don't see the players going for that at all."