https://atlhawksfanatic.github.io/NBA-CBA/national-basketball-association-uniform-player-contract.htmlThe standard player contract has nothing in it regarding a team or the league cancelling games and being able to amend salary payment because of it.
Regarding the salary cap, if the year's BRI is lower than it was supposed to be then there will be a lowering of the salary cap the next year to make up for it.
http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm12. How is the salary cap set each year?
The salary cap is calculated based on projected amounts for Basketball Related Income (BRI) and benefits for the upcoming season. The projected BRI is a matter of negotiation between the league and players association. Each year the sides meet to try to agree on an amount. If they cannot agree by the end of the previous season (June 30), they instead use:
The set amount for national broadcast rights (which is determined in advance), plus
The BRI for the previous season (other than national broadcast rights), increased by 4.5%.
The salary cap calculation takes 44.74% of projected BRI, subtracts projected benefits, and divides by the number of teams in the league1. The following adjustments are then made to the result:
If the league didn't pay the players enough the previous season, i.e., if they had to cut the players a supplemental check to make their guarantee, then the shortfall, divided by the number of teams in the league1, is added to the cap. For example, in 2015-16 there was a shortfall of $130.9 million, which led to a $4.36 million increase in the 2016-17 cap.
If there is an overage -- i.e., if the players were paid more (pre-escrow) than their guaranteed share in the previous season -- and the system is getting close to exceeding what the league can get back through the escrow system, then the cap (and tax level) may be reduced in order to put on the brakes (see question number 17 for more information).
So pretty sure Dons is right and the players get paid no matter what and it's up to the team to come up with the cash flow to pay for it. Don't feel bad for the owners. They will still get their huge national television contract rights payments.
I do wonder if games are cancelled if ownership has insurance to cover such occasions.