If the salary cap of the National Basketball Association

Yeah NEWKID, you are correct - it is a case of subjunctive mood - contrary to fact condition. C D and E are out for that reson.

It is between "A" and "B". initially i was inclined to "A" but you are correct "by at least two million dollars or more" is redundant.

new kid..

cud u please elloborate....I didnt get u.. I chose D initially...

Raja,

I was surfing the net for some explanations now.Did some googling and this is what I found:

English verbs have three moods:
indicative,
imperative,
and subjunctive.

The indicative mood (the most common) is used to state a fact or an opinion or to ask a question
Eg:I will go to sleep now.
Do you want to go to sleep now?


The imperative mood expresses a command, gives a direction, or makes a request
Eg: Got to sleep now!
Please, go to sleep now;
It omits the subject of the sentence – the implied you.


The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, suggestions, and other attitudes, using I were and other distinctive verb forms
Eg: If I were you, I would go to sleep now.

The "Subjunctive Mood" is a special verb-form that is used to show that the verb's action or state is not real. It might be a wish, a command, or a reference to something that might happen, or might have happened.

Generally, if you see "be" or "were" where you'd expect to see "am," "is," or "are," then that's the subjunctive

"If ... were" clauses express something that is not a fact:

If I were 18 years old, I'd go to see that horror movie.
I wonder if he were born in Tokyo.

Here is a common pattern to remember: "If ... were, then ... would be ..."

If I were a rich man, then my yard would be filled with turkeys and geese.
If he were here, then I would kill him.
If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
If "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers.

Since the question had if and was talking about an imaginary situation, we had to use 'were'.

The OA is B. Thanks for the great explanation Newkid!