NBA Notes: Salary cap, Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Hawks

The NBA told teams Friday that the projected salary cap for 2026/27 has increased slightly, from $165 million to $166 million, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.

It is only a modest bump, but still good news for clubs planning to operate near the tax line or under the apron. Under the current CBA, cap increases are capped at 10 percent per year to avoid another massive spike like the 2016 jump that helped Golden State sign Kevin Durant.

A full 10 percent increase for 2026/27 would put the cap around $170 million, though the league’s early estimates suggest it will come in lower.

Spurs aiming higher: In San Antonio, the expectation is simple: get back into the mix. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News told the Houston Chronicle that a successful 2025-26 season would mean 40-plus wins and at least a spot in the play-in tournament.

The Spurs will be counting on a full season from De’Aaron Fox, continued growth from Stephon Castle, and an immediate impact from rookie Dylan Harper.

But everything still revolves around Victor Wembanyama, who missed the second half of last year with a blood clot. Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports Wembanyama has been running full-court at Loyola Marymount and “looked quite stellar.”

Hawks sorting out final spots: Atlanta has 11 players on guaranteed contracts and four more with partial or non-guaranteed deals, as relayed by HoopsRumors’ Luke Adams.

Vit Krejci looks like a lock after two years in the rotation, and N’Faly Dante carries a partial guarantee after arriving from Houston.

Former Magic forward Caleb Houstan, who shot 40 percent from deep last season, and 2023 second-rounder Mouhamed Gueye are also in the mix. Gueye’s rookie year was cut short by a back injury, but the Hawks may want to see more before moving on.

That leaves Atlanta with the option of waiving one of the four, adding a new 15th man, or carrying an open roster spot into the season.