(AP) — The week leading up to the NBA trade deadline has been filled with lots of talk and little action so far. It’s a deadline-driven league, so the big moves could still be coming.

But if they don’t, it could be because teams across the league are bracing for a much harsher economic reality starting next season. The new collective bargaining agreement that was born out of the lockout of a year ago imposes much stiffer penalties for teams that exceed the salary cap.

The new rules were put in place to try to level the playing field for big and small-market teams. Some executives think they could bring an end to the “Super Team” era.

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