FanHouse Dirk Nowtizki

ORLANDO -- The Summer of 2010, which was supposed to be the mother load of all NBA free-agent classes, won't be the thriller that many anticipated.

The free spending just won't exist, according to several league executives and agents at the Orlando Pro Summer League Thursday.

News this week that the league is anticipating a dramatic drop in both the salary cap and the punitive luxury tax threshold for the 2010-11 season has sent a chill through every team in the league.

Although almost half the NBA teams had been shuffling future contracts to clear salary cap space in anticipation of a free agent feeding frenzy in 2010, many of those plans are looking rather bleak today.

It's hard to argue that Kevin Garnett didn't do the right thing. Even after Zaza Pachulia got in his grill, KG kept his hands at his sides and didn't retaliate. No one wants to see Garnett get tossed out of a close game for taking a swing; not the Hawks, who'd have their victory tainted, and not the Celtics, who'd be worried about a Game 5 suspension.

That said ... how come when Dirk Nowitzki does this he's labled "soft," but when KG does it he's praised for keeping his cool? KG clearly instigated this by throwing a high elbow after the whistle, and after Pachulia retaliated with a head-butt, KG waited until he was separated by refs and teammates before trying to get in on the action.