Washington Wizards owner fined $100,000 for talking salary cap

The National Basketball Association (NBA) fined Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis $100,000 on Wednesday for making unauthorized public comments regarding the league's collective bargaining negotiations.                 

The Wizards owner told a business audience earlier on Wednesday that the NBA, which is working on a new labour deal, will soon have a hard salary cap similar to the model used by the National Hockey League (NHL).

NBA teams are currently allowed to exceed the salary cap as long as they pay a luxury tax penalty. The league's collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on June 30.

Leonsis, who has been the majority owner of the NHL's Washington Capitals since 1999, completed his purchase of the Wizards in June.