How Much Money Does Your NBA Team Have to Spend in 2016 Free Agency?
Your favorite NBA team doesn't have as much cap space ahead of free agency as you might think.
For now.
Tales of offseason grandeur are always in vogue this time of year. That's especially true in 2016, as the NBA's salary cap gets set to hit $92 million, according to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt.
Almost every team could have ample money to spend. But that's only after taking stock of current financial outlooks and figuring out how to work around the various free-agent holds, non-guaranteed salaries, player and team options, first-round placeholders and any other financial commitments littering their books.
General managers and their capologist minions already know how they'll maximize their financial setups. This team-by-team cap-space breakdown is for our benefit—a primer on what every franchise can, can't or might be able to do over the summer.
Process Overview
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Guaranteed Salary: This section will house all salaries guaranteed for the 2016-17 season. Player options fall under this umbrella, even for those who are locks to opt out since their salaries aren't technically under team control.
Non-Guaranteed Salary: All deals that are not guaranteed for 2016-17 will be put here. This includes contracts with team options, as those salaries are under team control and, thus, not guaranteed.
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Cap holds for unrestricted and restricted free agents are put here. These amounts vary by contract types and player experience, the nuances of which are explained and laid out in Larry Coon's CBA FAQ.
We will not be including holds in place for players who aren't in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets, for example, still own the Early Bird rights for Andray Blatche, who hasn't played for them or any NBA team since 2013-14. These hits can be easily jettisoned and needn't be part of our projections.
First-Round Pick Holds: Any team with one or more first-rounders will be charged a hold for each selection. The amount varies by where its pick is located.
We will also be accounting for past first-round prospects who haven't made their NBA debuts. The San Antonio Spurs drafted Nikola Milutinov at No. 26 in 2015, and he has yet to come stateside. They will be assessed a charge for the 26th overall pick from the 2016 rookie scale, which will evaporate should he remain overseas.
Dead Money: Players who have been waived, flat-out or via the stretch provision, will count against a team's cap until remaining financial terms are met.
For example, the Detroit Pistons are paying Josh Smith $5.3 million per year through 2019-20 after waiving him using the stretch provision in 2014-15. Therefore, a $5.3 million roster hit will be added to their cap total for next season.
All-Inclusive Total: This will take into account all the figures from the previous sections.
Cap Space: Every team's initial cap projection, calculated by subtracting the all-inclusive total from the new $92 million ceiling. This number is not gospel. It's what an organization has to spend if nothing happens to the roster—no players opt out, no team options get declined, no non-guaranteed deals are waived, etc. Different methods of cap creation and reduction will be outlined in ensuing paragraphs.
Atlanta Hawks
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Guaranteed Salary: $51,701,657
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Mike Muscala ($1,015,696), Lamar Patterson ($874,636), Mike Scott ($3,333,334)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Kent Bazemore ($2,600,000), Kirk Hinrich ($5,692,415), Al Horford ($18,000,000), Kris Humphries ($1,200,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 21 ($1,249,800)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $85,667,538
Cap Space: $6,332,462
If the Atlanta Hawks are serious about keeping their core intact, they won't have much financial flexibility this summer.
Al Horford's $18 million cap hold is a monster, but that's actually less than he would earn in the first year of a max deal. And since the Hawks own his full Bird rights, they can go over the cap to re-sign him after staging other free-agent pursuits, all while using that $18 million as a placeholder.
Brandishing a little over $6.3 million in spending power, of course, won't get you much in the new salary-cap climate. But that number can climb to a more exciting $13.2 million if the Hawks renounce the holds on Kirk Hinrich (duh) and Kris Humphries (kind of duh).
There is only one problem. And its name is Kent Bazemore. The Hawks own his Early Bird rights, which means they can only offer him 175 percent of his current salary or 104.5 percent of the NBA's average income (roughly $4 million) before dipping into cap space.
League executives told ESPN.com's Zach Lowe back in January that Bazemore could command $12 million or more per year in his next contract. Ergo, to keep him, Atlanta will have to burn through all its cap space—and that's after cutting bait with Hinrich and Humphries.
The Hawks can carve out more cash by declining a team option on Mike Muscala (beyond unlikely) or waiving Mike Scott's non-guaranteed pact (also unlikely), but the difference would be marginal. So unless they're prepared to part ways with one or both of Bazemore and Horford, don't expect them to be very active on the free-agency front.
Boston Celtics
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Guaranteed Salary: $33,971,629
Non-Guaranteed Salary: John Holland ($874,636), Jonas Jerebko ($5,000,000), Amir Johnson ($12,000,000)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Jared Sullinger ($5,673,150), Evan Turner ($4,453,163), Tyler Zeller ($6,542,438)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 3 ($3,952,500), No. 16 ($1,573,500), No. 23 ($1,199,900)
All-Inclusive Total: $75,240,916
Cap Space: $16,759,084
"The [Boston] Celtics' cap space is fluid with so many roster decisions to make," The Vertical's Bobby Marks wrote. "With $16 million in room, Boston could have anywhere from $34 million to $48 million depending on what it decides."
Evan Turner's future is the most pressing of these decisions. He is expected to be a hot commodity over the offseason, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. With all this extra money floating around, the right (desperate) team could try tossing him a short-term max or near-max deal.
And since the Celtics only have Turner's Early Bird rights, they must cut into their own cap space to re-sign him. That will likely bilk them of all, if not more, of their current flexibility, assuming they remain idle.
But it's foolish to bank on Boston standing pat, even if it wants to keep this foundation in place.
Team president Danny Ainge, though not reckless, is notoriously aggressive. Turner or no Turner, he will fiddle around with the non-guaranteed deals of Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson, along with any necessary free-agent and first-round holds, to ensure the Celtics are in position to offer at least one max deal.
Brooklyn Nets
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Guaranteed Salary: $44,703,319
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Jarrett Jack ($6,300,000)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Markel Brown ($1,180,431), Sergey Karasev ($2,463,754), Willie Reed ($1,215,696), Henry Sims ($980,431), Donald Sloan ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: Andrea Bargnani ($323,599), Deron Williams ($5,474,787)
All-Inclusive Total: $63,622,448
Cap Space: $28,377,552
It's not entirely clear how new Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks intends to use the team's cap space.
Brooklyn doesn't control the rights to its own first-round pick until 2019 but has max-level clout without touching the roster, suggesting it will be a major player in free agency. Depending on how the various non-guaranteed deals, qualifying offers and player options shake out, Marks could be looking at close to $40 million in financial versatility.
But the Nets are also in the early stages of a rebuilding period. Short of Kevin Durant losing his mind and falling in love with Brooklyn, there is no combination of offseason signings that will make them an immediate contender.
That gives the Nets ample reason to eschew the overnight turnaround and throw money at scores of younger players with upside. They're more likely to start shopping veterans Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young than invest max money in any single player.
Charlotte Hornets
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Guaranteed Salary: $48,143,955
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Aaron Harrison ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Nicolas Batum ($19,687,961), Troy Daniels ($1,215,696), Jorge Gutierrez ($1,215,696), Tyler Hansbrough ($980,431), Al Jefferson ($20,250,000), Courtney Lee ($10,782,500), Marvin Williams ($9,100,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 22 ($1,199,900)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $113,450,775
Cap Space: -$21,450,775
Deep breaths, Charlotte Hornets fans. Your team won't stay more than $20 million over the cap unless it's irrationally high on the current nucleus.
Nixing Al Jefferson's hold alone almost makes the Hornets even with the new salary threshold. If we're operating under the assumption that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be healthy next season, Courtney Lee, and his $10.8 million cap hold, becomes unnecessary excess.
Only, that's about the extent of Charlotte's breathing room.
Nicolas Batum's hold will end up being smaller than whatever his next deal grants him, and the Hornets may need to pay Marvin Williams more than $9.1 million in 2016-17 just to keep him in town. This doesn't take into account Jeremy Lin's unavoidable raise. He will demand substantially more than a $2.2 million player option, which counts against the team's guaranteed salary, would pay him. And Charlotte doesn't even own his Early Bird rights, so re-signing him without using any of the cap space it can create is out of the question.
Barring Batum's unanticipated departure, the Hornets must bid farewell—or hand out massive pay cuts—to two or more of Jefferson, Lee, Lin and Williams before enjoying any breathing room in cap space.
Chicago Bulls
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Guaranteed Salary: $73,535,674
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Cameron Bairstow ($980,431), Cristiano Felicio ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Aaron Brooks ($2,925,000), E'Twaun Moore ($980,431), Joakim Noah ($20,100,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 14 ($1,743,500)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $101,139,672
Cap Space: -$9,139,672
Although the Chicago Bulls are noticeably above the cap, that could change.
Pau Gasol will cheapen their guaranteed commitments upon declining his $7.8 million player option, and no front office in the right frame of mind will actually pay the injury-prone, over-30 Joakim Noah more than $20 million in the first year of his next deal.
Noah's entire cap hit comes off the books if Chicago renounces his Bird rights and/or he decides to bolt. Either scenario is a distinct possibility.
One unnamed Bulls player revealed to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that Noah "has been telling teammates in recent weeks that he was done with the organization once free agency begins and 'has no trust in the front office getting this in the right direction.'" A source refuted this report to ESPN.com's Nick Friedell, but in a vacuum, a divorce makes sense for both sides.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg's offense isn't tailor made for a big man like Noah, who isn't a reliable scoring threat outside 10 feet of the basket. And the Bulls already have plenty of frontcourt options in Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, should-be-a-power-forward Doug McDermott and Bobby Portis.
On the bright side for Chicago fans who consider themselves Noah enthusiasts, should he and Gasol both leave, the Bulls will have tons of cap space—north of $20 million if they show Aaron Brooks the door.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Guaranteed Salary: $104,511,159
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Dahntay Jones ($1,551,659), Jordan McRae ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Matthew Dellavedova ($2,179,824), Richard Jefferson ($980,431), James Jones ($980,431), Timofey Mozgov ($9,405,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $120,483,140
Cap Space: -$28,483,140
The Cleveland Cavaliers will not have any money to spend over the offseason. They are well over the $92 million cap before adding in free-agent holds, and their guaranteed commitments will only rise once LeBron James and, presumably, J.R. Smith opt out of their contracts.
If the Cavaliers are feeling reckless, they could tell Matthew Dellavedova (restricted), James, Timofey Mozgov and Smith to hit the bricks. That would give them more than $10 million to cycle through.
Failing such a mental implosion, they will spend the summer surfing the capped-out bargain-bin ranks. That's the cost of Eastern Conference invincibility.
Dallas Mavericks
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Guaranteed Salary: $58,548,440
Non-Guaranteed Salary: JaVale McGee ($1,403,611), Salah Mejri ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Raymond Felton ($7,505,595), David Lee ($2,502,805), Zaza Pachulia ($9,880,000), Dwight Powell ($1,180,431), Charlie Villanueva ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: Gal Mekel ($315,759), Maurice N'dour ($753,077)
All-Inclusive Total: $83,629,026
Cap Space: $8,370,974
The Dallas Mavericks are another team with a fluid cap situation. They don't have a truckload of cap space as it stands, but that should change.
Dirk Nowitzki could re-sign for less than his $8.7 million player option, and the Mavericks are under no obligation to give Deron Williams, who owns a player option as well, any sort of raise. Disowning Raymond Felton, David Lee and Zaza Pachulia also opens up close to $20 million. And Dallas needs all that extra money.
Chandler Parsons (player option) will enter free agency on the max-contract radar, according to ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon, and the Mavericks will commence their usual offseason superstar search. Parsons, in fact, has already started recruiting Dwight Howard (player option), per MacMahon.
Frontcourt depth will become an issue if Dallas severs ties with Lee, Pachulia and even Dwight Powell. But any collateral damage will be in the name of pursuing high-end players (and overpaying Parsons).
Denver Nuggets
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Guaranteed Salary: $57,553,786
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Joffrey Lauvergne ($1,709,719), JaKarr Sampson ($980,431), Axel Toupane ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: D.J. Augustin ($3,900,000), Mike Miller ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 7 ($2,675,700), No. 15 ($1,656,200), No. 19 ($1,356,100)
Dead Money: Nick Johnson ($980,431)
Minimum Cap Holds: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $71,767,434
Cap Space: $20,232,566
Imagine if your favorite team could create max or near-max flexibility without gutting what is one of the NBA's most promising blends of young and veteran talent. Pretty cool, huh?
Of course, if you're a Denver Nuggets supporter, this is your reality.
Handing D.J. Augustin and Mike Miller their walking papers gets the Nuggets about $24 million in green. Their spending capacity soars above $26 million if Darrell Arthur opts out of his deal and signs elsewhere.
Armed with a pile of picks, prospects and reasonably priced impact players, the Nuggets figure to be more active on the trade market than inside the free-agency scrum. But if they get the urge to pitch superstars on running alongside Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokic, Joffrey Lauvergne, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jusuf Nurkic, et al., they have the maneuverability to make it happen.
Detroit Pistons
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Guaranteed Salary: $58,725,365
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Joel Anthony ($2,500,000), Lorenzo Brown ($1,015,696), Spencer Dinwiddie ($980,431), Darrun Hilliard ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Steve Blake ($2,821,605), Andre Drummond ($8,180,228), Anthony Tolliver ($3,900,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: $1,420,100
Dead Money: $5,331,729
All-Inclusive Total: $85,749,790
Cap Space: $6,250,210
Expect the Detroit Pistons to end up with way more than $6.3 million in shopping power.
Andre Drummond's restricted free-agency hold, which will more than double once he signs a new contract, presents coach-president Stan Van Gundy with a unique opportunity. If he renounces Steve Blake and Anthony Tolliver, then waives Joel Anthony, Detroit will have upward of $15 million to spend. That number increases ever so slightly if he ditches some of the team's other non-guaranteed deals.
No, the Pistons, unlike many other squads, cannot pony up max deals to outside free agents without selling off more pieces. But they have contractual fodder worth auctioning off.
Finding takers to absorb Aron Baynes, Reggie Bullock and even the oft-injured Jodie Meeks shouldn't be too hard if Van Gundy wants max-level influence—not that he needs it. He already pulled off a heist by dealing for Tobias Harris at the trade deadline.
Besides, he shouldn't need much more than $15 million in his pocket to get face time with Ryan Anderson.
Golden State Warriors
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Guaranteed Salary: $69,101,658
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Shaun Livingston ($5,782,450)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Leandro Barbosa ($3,250,000), Harrison Barnes ($9,683,495), Ian Clark ($1,215,696), Festus Ezeli ($5,021,870), James McAdoo ($1,180,431), Brandon Rush ($980,431), Marreese Speights ($7,248,500), Anderson Varejao ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 30 ($976,300)
Dead Money: Jason Thompson ($945,126)
All-Inclusive Total: $106,366,388
Cap Space: -$14,366,388
That noise you hear is the sound of the Golden State Warriors' chances of poaching Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder going up in flames.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical declared them legitimate free-agent threats back in February, and they still have the ability to summon the necessary cap space. They have nearly $30 million in free-agency holds that can be renounced. Shaun Livingston's salary for next season isn't guaranteed. Unloading one or both of Andrew Bogut's ($12,681,081) and Andre Iguodala's ($11,131,368) salaries onto another team should be fairly easy.
Moving both Bogut and Iguodala without taking back any guaranteed money even lets the Warriors entertain the idea of keeping Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli while pitching Durant. It would be tight, but parting ways with all other free agents and Kevon Looney, plus Bogut and Iguodala, gives them nearly $24 million in space after minimum roster charges, thanks to those curtailed restricted free-agent cap holds.
A max deal pays Durant slightly more, so the Warriors might need to swap out Looney's departure with Livingston's exit. But the above scenario brings them close enough to at least try selling the idea.
This all assumes Durant will even consider leaving Oklahoma City in free agency of course, an outcome that feels borderline impossible after the Thunder's Western Conference Finals push. Nevertheless, if the Warriors want cap space, be it for Durant or another potential addition, there are avenues that will help them get it.
Houston Rockets
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Guaranteed Salary: $68,880,765
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Michael Beasley ($1,403,611), Andrew Goudelock ($1,015,696)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Terrence Jones ($5,720,513), Donatas Motiejunas ($5,720,513), Josh Smith ($980,431), Jason Terry ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $84,701,960
Cap Space: $7,298,040
"To be honest, I have had some conversations with close friends on what would happen if I do opt out," Dwight Howard told ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan. "But I haven't really come out and said, 'I'm going to opt out and do this and that.' I just can't focus on that right now."
Come on, Dwight. We're all friends here. Just admit what we all know: You're going to decline a $23.3 million player option and explore free agency. And then you'll leave the Houston Rockets, probably to the extreme pleasure of superstar-obsessed general manager Daryl Morey.
Sans Howard, the Rockets will have around $30 million in play money—far more if they let restricted free agents Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas walk. Houston then plans on using its newfound wealth to seduce Al Horford, according to the Sporting News' Sean Deveney, who is a far better fit for James Harden's drive-heavy style as a center who spaces the floor out to the three-point line.
Some of this cap space must also be handed out to a secondary playmaker or two and another quality perimeter defender. Harden cannot be the offense's ball-handling lifeline forever, and the Rockets were defensive Silly Putty for most of 2015-16.
Indiana Pacers
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Guaranteed Salary: $57,230,006
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Glenn Robinson III ($1,050,500), Shayne Whittington ($980,431)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Jordan Hill ($4,800,000), Solomon Hill ($2,306,019), Ty Lawson ($980,431), Ian Mahinmi ($7,600,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 20 ($1,301,900)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $76,249,287
Cap Space: $15,750,713
Indiana Pacers team president Larry Bird essentially canned—er, decided not to renew the contract of—head coach Frank Vogel because the team isn't championing Warriors-esque small ball and pace. But promoting assistant Nate McMillan to guide this crew isn't enough of a change to actualize Bird's vision, as Tom Ziller wrote for SB Nation:
"Sure, Bird's demands of Vogel to turn this defense-first roster into a fleet scoring machine are absurd. If you crack wise about Vivek Ranadive for prioritizing aesthetics over effectiveness, sling some insults Larry Legend's way as well. Bird's centerpiece star, Paul George, wasn't interested in playing power forward after trying it for a couple of weeks. Vogel did the best he could to implement small lineups with a fairly big roster (including Myles Turner, the team's next star, who was drafted by Bird).
"
Personnel, not coaching, remains the biggest obstacle hindering Indiana's systemic face-lift. The Pacers must now spend their cap space on wings who guard multiple positions, plus a floor general who can play off Monta Ellis, George Hill and Paul George.
Bird can considerably drum up the Pacers' cap space by renouncing the rights to Jordan Hill and Ian Mahinmi. Myles Turner is a 5 in today's league, and Mahinmi, a defensive standout, could price himself out of Indiana anyway.
Throw in Solomon's Hill departure, as Indiana cannot pay him more than $2.3 million after declining his fourth-year option, and Bird will have the money necessary to start putting Indy's roster where his mind already sits.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Guaranteed Salary: $82,089,039
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Branden Dawson ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Jeff Ayres ($980,431), Jamal Crawford ($10,782,500), Jeff Green ($13,950,000), Luc Mbah a Moute ($980,431), Pablo Prigioni ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 25 ($1,061,600)
Dead Money: Carlos Delfino ($650,000), Jordan Farmar ($510,921), Miroslav Raduljica ($252,043)
All-Inclusive Total: $113,112,032
Cap Space: -$21,112,032
Those holding out hope that Los Angeles Clippers coach and president Doc Rivers will swing for the fences in free agency this summer better find something else in which they can emotionally invest.
Letting Jamal Crawford and Jeff Green take a hike gets the Clippers out of the red but just barely. Turning loose all their other free agents while hoping Cole Aldrich, Wesley Johnson and Austin Rivers opt out of their contracts hardly even gives them a $10 million chip.
Any free agent(s) the Clippers sign with that money wouldn't replace everyone they were losing: Aldrich, Crawford, Green, Johnson and Rivers all played a role in deepening Los Angeles' supporting cast.
Thus, with more than $71.5 million in guaranteed money committed to the Core Four of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, the Clippers are nothing more than blips on the free-agency radar.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Guaranteed Salary: $26,261,154
Non-Guaranteed Salary: $0
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Tarik Black ($1,180,431), Jordan Clarkson ($2,725,003), Roy Hibbert ($23,388,324), Marcelo Huertas ($1,074,636), Ryan Kelly ($3,276,075), Metta World Peace ($980,431), Robert Sacre ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 2 ($4,401,400)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $64,267,885
Cap Space: $27,732,115
What's better than one max-contract spot? Two.
Kobe Bryant's retirement gives the Los Angeles Lakers one such opening without touching the roster. They can chisel out another by playing a game of "Thanks for all the memories, but goodbye" with all their free-agent holds.
Jordan Clarkson's restricted free-agency hit is the only one that really needs to stay. And thanks to the Gilbert Arenas provision, as outlined in Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, they will have the means to match any offer he receives without cutting into cap space, even though they only own his Early Bird rights. (They can also sign him into cap space if they wish.)
The Lakers have struck out on big-time free agents in each of the last two summers, but this offseason is different. Bryant is gone, they have three foundational pieces in Clarkson, Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell, another on the way with the No. 2 pick, a new head coach in Luke Walton and gobs of money burning a whole in their proverbial pocket.
Successfully courting marquee talent should no longer be as difficult.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Guaranteed Salary: $45,493,858
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Vince Carter ($4,264,057), JaMychal Green ($980,431), Xavier Munford ($874,636), Lance Stephenson ($9,405,000)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Chris Andersen ($9,500,000), Matt Barnes ($6,730,750), Mike Conley ($14,082,639), Bryce Cotton ($1,180,431), Jordan Farmar ($980,431), P.J. Hairston ($1,253,160)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 17 ($1,494,800)
Dead Money: Jamaal Franklin ($163,296)
All-Inclusive Total: $96,403,489
Cap Space: -$4,403,489
Can the Memphis Grizzlies cook up a bunch of extra cap space? Yes.
Will they? We're not sure.
Mike Conley's free-agent hold is going to stick. The Grizzlies cannot deploy an NBA-level offense without him, and his $14 million placeholder is far less than he'll actually earn in the first season of any new deal—even if he accepts a discount.
Showing Chris Andersen and Matt Barnes the door will trim more than $15 million off the bottom line. From there, declining Lance Stephenson's team option results in more than $20 million worth of paper. That number jumps yet again if the Grizzlies waive Vince Carter.
Realistically, then, Memphis can grind out max space without renouncing Conley, then go over the salary cap to re-sign him. And max space will buy a lot of floor spacing, even in the brand-new financial climate. Sure, this cap manipulation comes at the expense of depth. But consolidating an underwhelming cast of role players into one or two flashier pieces is the best way for the Grizzlies to avoid a full reset.
Miami Heat
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Guaranteed Salary: $48,008,675
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Josh Richardson ($874,636), Briante Weber ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Luol Deng ($13,197,096), Gerald Green ($980,431), Udonis Haslem ($5,424,386), Joe Johnson ($980,431), Tyler Johnson ($1,180,431), Amar'e Stoudemire ($980,431), Dwyane Wade ($30,000,000), Hassan Whiteside ($980,431), Dorell Wright ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $104,462,015
Cap Space: -$12,462,015
It's a good thing salary-cap gymnastics are a specialty of Miami Heat president Pat Riley and his staff, because this team needs all the creativity it can muster.
Dwyane Wade's cap hold won't sit at $30 million for long. He has taken pay cuts in the past and will likely accept another one to help keep Miami relevant. But Hassan Whiteside's free agency looms large. The Heat own his Early Bird rights and cannot go over the cap to re-sign him, so Wade's next concession will have to be a measurable one just to keep both of them on the roster.
Even then, Riley will need to eject any other sizable free-agent holds, including those of Luol Deng and Udonis Haslem, just to make the math work. And making a play for top-tier wings, such as Kevin Durant, Nicolas Batum and Chandler Parsons, will be a moot venture.
Miami only sneaks into the running for outside stars if it lets Whiteside go while still getting Wade to sign for a generous discount—or if Riley finds a suitor ready and willing to absorb what's left on Chris Bosh's (three years, $75.9 million) or Goran Dragic's (four years, $70.2 million) cap-clogging deals.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Guaranteed Salary: $59,711,631
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Damien Inglis ($980,431), Johnny O'Bryant ($980,431)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Jerryd Bayless ($3,900,000), O.J. Mayo ($12,000,000), Steve Novak ($980,431), Miles Plumlee ($7,600,000), Greivis Vasquez ($9,900,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 10 ($2,140,500)
Dead Money: Larry Sanders ($1,865,547)
All-Inclusive Total: $100,058,971
Cap Space: -$8,058,971
The Milwaukee Bucks needn't do much to open up cap space—which is good, because they need some serious upgrades to re-enter the playoff discussion.
Signing Greg Monroe last summer didn't have the intended offensive effect. The Bucks improved their output by less than two points per 100 possessions and went from fielding a top-two defense to employing a bottom-10 unit.
Relinquishing the free-agent holds on Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo and Greivis Vasquez will give Milwaukee more than $17 million to spend on additional floor spacing, defense and another point guard not named Giannis Antetokounmpo. Torching ties with Miles Plumlee (restricted) drives that wiggle room closer to $25 million.
Most years, the Bucks might have trouble convincing household names to spurn bigger markets. But if they are willing to scrap together, then spend the requisite cash, their nucleus of Antetokounmpo, John Henson, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker and another top-10 pick will take care of the sales pitches.
Minnesota Timberwolves
19 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $60,264,642
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Damjan Rudez ($1,199,000), Greg Smith ($1,139,123)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Tayshaun Prince ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 5 ($3,227,100)
Dead Money: Kevin Martin ($1,380,305)
All-Inclusive Total: $68,190,601
Cap Space: $23,809,399
Unanimous Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns jumping center; Andrew Wiggins on the perimeter; Ricky Rubio breaking down defenses; Zach LaVine churning out highlight dunks and draining spot-up triples; Nemanja Bjelica doing the stretch-4 thing; Gorgui Dieng providing understated defensive support; another top-five draft prospect; Tom Thibodeau coaching up some of the NBA's premier kiddies.
Kevin Garnett whispering ceaselessly barking defensive wisdom into the ears of everyone in the vicinity.
What more could the Minnesota Timberwolves need?
How about $23.8 million in cap space and the ability to stir up even more?
The Timberwolves won't—or at least should't—be chasing an insta-turnaround just because Thibodeau is stalking the sidelines. But it's good/scary to know they can afford any free agent should they decide to gun for an immediate playoff berth.
New Orleans Pelicans
20 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $65,605,598
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Luke Babbitt ($1,227,286), Toney Douglas ($1,315,448)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Ryan Anderson ($12,750,000), Norris Cole ($5,770,163), James Ennis ($1,180,431), Tim Frazier ($1,180,431), Eric Gordon ($23,271,047), Kendrick Perkins ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 6 ($2,931,000)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $116,211,835
Cap Space: -$24,211,835
Wouldn't it be cool if, on the heels of a 30-win, injury-infested 2015-16, the New Orleans Pelicans had a boatload of cap space to effectively fill out the roster around Anthony Davis? It most definitely would.
But they don't.
New Orleans gets back more than $35 million in holds if, as expected, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon sign elsewhere. But it's already $24.2 million over the cap, and hatching a $10 million(-ish) budget won't pave the way for any special acquisitions amid this summer's financial boom.
Moving on from Norris Cole's decent-sized hold doesn't doesn't push the bill that much further either. About $17 million in spending room is something, but Anderson could earn that much on his own. Without any other large holds to abandon, that's the type of player New Orleans would be in line to sign.
And if general manager Dell Demps funnels all the Pelicans' potential money into one transaction, they better hope it yields more than a No. 3 or No. 4 option.
New York Knicks
21 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $67,964,567
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Tony Wroten Jr. ($1,050,961)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Lou Amundson ($2,126,119), Cleanthony Early ($1,180,431), Langston Galloway ($2,725,003), Kevin Seraphin ($3,376,800), Lance Thomas ($2,127,895), Sasha Vujacic ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $81,532,207
Cap Space: $10,467,793
Good news, triangle detractors: The New York Knicks' offense should look much different—and, therefore, better—under the recently, but unofficially, hired Jeff Hornacek. As Carmelo Anthony told the NBPA's Jared Zwerling:
"One thing I do know is he wants to play as a fast-paced team, up tempo. You just look at the teams that he's coached in Phoenix, and how quickly they wanted to get up the court and play. We still have time to figure everything out as far as sitting down and seeing what he wants and seeing what we want as a team. And we'll figure that part out.
"
The Knicks aren't built to play with exceptional pace at the moment (shout-out, Jose Calderon). But they will have enough cap space to bring in more athleticism, speed and, preferably, wings with three-point touch who play a lick of defense.
Arron Afflalo ($8 million) and Derrick Williams ($4.6 million) can help the cause by opting out of their contracts—and leaving for another team. Plus, the Knicks can bail on Lou Amundson's and Kevin Seraphin's holds to expand their free-agent horizons.
Generating the money to sign another star or multiple impact players becomes trickier if team president/resident yoga instructor Phil Jackson wants to keep Langston Galloway (restricted) and Lance Thomas. Both are due substantial raises, and New York only has their Early Bird rights. Trading or using the stretch provision on Calderon ($7.4 million) would likely cancel out one of those paydays, but the Knicks, like the free-agent market, are short on point guards.
All told, you can count on New York swinging around at least $10 million in space under the worst possible circumstances.
Oklahoma City Thunder
22 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $65,906,301
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Anthony Morrow ($3,488,000)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Kevin Durant ($25,894,800), Randy Foye ($5,956,500), Dion Waiters ($12,846,075)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $114,091,676
Cap Space: -$22,091,676
Oklahoma City won't know how much it can spend, if it can spend at all, until Kevin Durant makes his decision. But general manager Sam Presti will operate as if the 2013-14 MVP and his cap hold are staying. (It doesn't hurt that Durant is more likely than ever to stay considering the team's 2016 playoff push.)
And that, in turn, means the Thunder have no cap space.
Randy Foye and Dion Waiters (restricted) can leave, and Oklahoma City can waive Anthony Morrow. It won't matter. The Thunder cannot come up with extra money while paying Durant, Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter and Russell Westbrook. They're facing yet another imminent dilemma as it stands, courtesy of their pricey core, as explained by ESPN.com's Zach Lowe:
"There is no universe in which paying Kanter a hair more than Harden is a net-win -- not even if Harden's ball dominance makes him semi-redundant with the Thunder's centerpiece stars. Given that Westbrook, Durant, Serge Ibaka and Steven Adams stand to make at least $110 million combined when their next contracts kick in, it will be hard for the Thunder to keep even one of Kanter and Waiters on their roster beyond 2017.
"
Fret not, though. Something tells me the Thunder will welcome the absence of cap space and any forthcoming financial crisis if it means hanging onto Durant long term.
Orlando Magic
23 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $35,527,840
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Ersan Ilyasova ($8,400,000), Devyn Marble ($980,431)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Dewayne Dedmon ($1,215,696), Evan Fournier ($5,720,513), Brandon Jennings ($12,516,746), Andrew Nicholson ($5,951,483), Jason Smith ($5,160,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 11 ($2,033,500)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $77,506,209
Cap Space: $14,493,791
Clearly, the Orlando Magic are interested in making a free-agency splash. They wouldn't have flipped 23-year-old Tobias Harris at the trade deadline for what amounts to additional cap space if they intended to stand pat. Orlando can enter this summer peddling $14.5 million in spending power without doing anything. But that number, while respectable enough, is more likely to explode.
Brandon Jennings and his $12.5 million hold have no business being on the roster. The Magic need more playmaking behind Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton, but Jennings just returned from an Achilles injury and could cost starter's money as a projected backup.
Evan Fournier's restricted free-agent hit will stay. General manager Rob Hennigan has made that much clear, per Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Same goes for Ersan Ilyasova. His salary for next season isn't guaranteed, but good luck finding a sweet-shooting big in today's market for less than $10 million.
There are no such guarantees for Andrew Nicholson (restricted) and Jason Smith. Nicholson is still relatively young at 26, but the Magic have their primary frontcourt with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. And at 6'8", sophomore-to-be Mario Hezonja can function as a small-ball 4.
Forfeiting the rights to Jennings, Nicholson and Smith creates nearly $24 million more cap space. Tack that on to the $14.5 million the Magic already have, and they would be on track for a $40 million(-ish) shopping spree. Best of all, they can spend all that theoretical dough before exceeding the $92 million cap to retain Fournier.
Philadelphia 76ers
24 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $24,518,361
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Robert Covington ($1,015,696), Jerami Grant ($980,431), Kendall Marshall ($2,048,257), T.J. McConnell ($874,636), Hollis Thompson ($1,015,696)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Elton Brand ($980,431), Isaiah Canaan ($1,215,696), Ish Smith ($980,431), Christian Wood ($1,045,059)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 1 ($4,919,300), No. 24 ($1,105,800), No. 26 ($1,026,300), Dario Saric ($1,931,900)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $43,657,994
Cap Space: $48,342,006
Here's a definitive list of the Philadelphia 76ers' greatest needs:
- Shooting
- Point guard (not Rajon Rondo)
- More shooting
- Three-and-D combo forwards (Aside: Brandon Ingram says, "Pick me!")
- No more big men
- Even more shooting
Phew. That's an overwhelmingly extensive must-have shopping index worthy of the Sixers' $48.3 million rainy-day fund. This stash could easily break $50 million once Philly hammers out its non-guaranteed and incumbent free-agent dealings. And newly instated general manager Bryan Colangelo is ready for the windfall, per Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com:
"I think that this year is not so much about luring necessarily a key, absolute free agent. It might be about getting some complementary pieces or making short-term commitments so that we maintain our flexibility when we are ready to hit the market or a future free-agent market with a better narrative and an improved storyline we’re building.
"
Loosely translated: The Process-reformed Sixers know they have cap space, and they're prepared to use at least some of it.
Phoenix Suns
25 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $50,291,480
Non-Guaranteed Salary: John Jenkins ($1,050,961), P.J. Tucker ($5,300,000), Alan Williams ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Chase Budinger ($980,431), Jon Leuer ($1,966,500), Ronnie Price ($980,431), Mirza Teletovic ($6,600,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 4 ($3,563,600), No. 13 ($1,917,800), No. 28 ($1,035,200), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($996,700)
Dead Money: Michael Beasley ($777,777)
All-Inclusive Total: $76,335,516
Cap Space: $15,664,484
Nothing has changed for the Phoenix Suns since the regular season ended—not unless you qualify keeping Earl Watson as head coach. This team still has a good amount of cap space and, more notably, is presumably stuck in the gray area between rebuilding and competing.
Teenager Devin Booker, Alex Len, T.J. Warren and three first-round picks in this year's draft—one of them a top-five selection—are begging the Suns to rebuild. But Eric Bledsoe, Tyson Chandler and Brandon Knight, along with more established free agents such as Jon Leuer and Mirza Teletovic, are yanking them in the opposite direction.
What's a front office to do? Pick a direction. Auction off win-now players for picks and prospects or aggressively pursue playoff talent in free agency and the trade market.
But this is Phoenix's front office we're talking about. It would be ignorant to hazard a guess for the infamously unpredictable.
Just one thing is certain: Whatever the Suns decide to do should be complemented by approximately $15.7 million in cap space. They will have more than $20-25 million if they dump multiple non-guaranteed and free-agent holds (Teletovic, P.J. Tucker, etc.) but less than $15 million if they keep this group together and reinvest in Teletovic (non-Bird rights).
Portland Trail Blazers
26 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $45,118,737
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Cliff Alexander ($874,636), Luis Montero ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Allen Crabbe ($2,725,003), Maurice Harkless ($7,235,148), Gerald Henderson ($9,000,000), Chris Kaman ($6,520,800), Meyers Leonard ($7,689,700), Brian Roberts ($3,711,422)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: Anderson Varejao ($1,984,005)
All-Inclusive Total: $85,734,087
Cap Space: $6,265,913
Even with Damian Lillard's max deal kicking in this summer, the Portland Trail Blazers will have no trouble increasing their $6.3 million in initial cap space. Thank general manager Neil Olshey for filling out the roster with serviceable role players (Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, etc.) who don't break the bank.
Dropping the free-agent hits on Gerald Henderson, Chris Kaman and Brian Roberts is a no-brainer. They aren't integral parts of the future, and their departures carry the Blazers past the $20 million cap-space threshold without having to renounce any restricted free-agent holds.
Those restricted free agents are going to get paid. Allen Crabbe is an ideal three-and-D weapon who doesn't commit many turnovers, and Meyers Leonard, even after struggling for much of his injury-shortened 2015-16 campaign, remains a 7'1" tower with above-average three-point acumen. Both of them should cost eight figures annually.
Maurice Harkless may not be far behind. Consider this statistical tidbit from our ranking of this summer's top 50 free agents:
"Four other qualified non-centers since Harkless entered the league have averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and one block per 100 possessions at least once before their 23rd birthday. All of them are All-Stars or prospects with All-Star ceilings: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Aaron Gordon, Kawhi Leonard and John Wall.
"
Portland has the ultimate say-so on these matters. The curbed holds on restricted free agents permit Olshey to dole out other contracts before rising above the cap to re-sign any or all of his guys. The Blazers just need to decide whether they're prepared to expend all of their financial resources on building up a surprise 44-win nucleus.
Sacramento Kings
27 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $61,976,035
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Duje Dukan ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Quincy Acy ($980,431), James Anderson ($980,431), Seth Curry ($1,215,696), Eric Moreland ($1,180,431), Rajon Rondo ($11,400,000)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 8 ($2,451,200)
Dead Money: Wayne Ellington ($882,630)
All-Inclusive Total: $81,941,490
Cap Space: $10,058,510
Barely $10 million in guaranteed cap space is not a good enough consolation prize for the Sacramento Kings' 2015-16 campaign. They failed to eclipse 35 victories for an eighth straight season and still don't have the talent to end a 10-year playoff drought.
While the Kings' offseason wallet can double if they move on from Rajon Rondo, a portion of that uptick could go to Quincy Acy and Seth Curry (restricted). Both of them, as non-Bird free agents, must be signed into cap space. And surrendering their holds doesn't make much sense unless Sacramento has contingency options in place, as the financial hits are negligible.
Beyond that, there aren't many other options. The Kings don't have a ton of money wrapped up in free-agent holds and non-guaranteed salaries, and $10 million won't buy them more than a rotation player or two.
Scouring the trade market for salary dumps, should they wish to retain Rondo, is the only way for them to become major free-agent players.
San Antonio Spurs
28 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $78,315,448
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Boris Diaw ($7,000,000), Jonathan Simmons ($874,636)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Matt Bonner ($980,431), Rasual Butler ($980,431), Boban Marjanovic ($1,500,000), Kevin Martin ($980,431), Andre Miller ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 29 ($983,400), Livio Jean-Charles ($990,799), Nikola Milutinov ($1,026,300)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $94,612,307
Cap Space: -$2,612,307
Are we in for another summer of the San Antonio Spurs uncharacteristically trying to poach superstar free agents? Probably.
The Spurs have already been linked to Mike Conley and Kevin Durant, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and The Vertical's Chris Mannix. They don't technically have max—or any—cap space, but the path to offseason nirvana is clearly paved.
Tim Duncan ($6.4 million), Manu Ginobili ($2.9 million) and David West ($1.6 million) need to opt out and have their rights renounced; Boris Diaw's non-guaranteed salary must be traded; Danny Green's $10 million salary has to be dumped; all other free-agent holds must be ditched; and every first-round commitment, past and present, should be stashed or sent elsewhere.
In this scenario, Duncan and Ginobili would either retire or return at minimum deals that eradicate any potential holds.
If the Spurs have no desire to strip their core of depth, maintaining the status quo becomes the goal. Internet sensation Boban Marjanovic is a non-Bird rights restricted free agent, and they may need to bounce all other free-agent, first-round and non-guaranteed holds just to keep him around. And even that may not be enough, in which case San Antonio will hope Duncan's and Ginobili's opt-out discounts come through.
Basically, the Spurs must jump through financial hoops to assemble any cap space, the fruits of which will be spent on adding another star or doubling down on the current roster.
Toronto Raptors
29 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $83,000,529
Non-Guaranteed Salary:
Free-Agent Cap Holds: James Johnson ($3,250,000), Luis Scola ($3,480,000), Jason Thompson ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 9 ($2,253,300), No. 27 ($996,700)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $93,960,960.00
Cap Space: -$1,960,960
The Toronto Raptors are the rare team with an initial projection that's misleadingly bright.
DeMar DeRozan's $10.2 million player option counts against their guaranteed salary. But his hit will top $15.2 million when he elects to reach free agency. That's cheaper than the max deal he's assured, whether it's from Toronto or another team, but it still attaches an extra $5 million or so to the Raptors' bottom line.
Bismack Biyombo's $2.9 million player option, also included in the guaranteed salary, compounds Toronto's issue. His hold will increase to only $3.9 million when he opts out, but unlike DeRozan, the Raptors don't own his Bird rights and cannot travel above the salary cap to re-sign him.
Losing DeRozan doesn't even give them enough to cobble together a competitive offer for Biyombo. One Eastern Conference general manager told the Sporting News' Sean Deveney he might fetch between $16 and $17 million on the open market, maybe more. Toronto could cut the cord on all its free-agent holds, plus DeRozan, and still not have that much to spend.
With Terrence Ross' and Jonas Valanciunas' extensions kicking in next season, the Raptors, barring some epic salary dumps, will be acting as a capped-out team regardless of what happens with DeRozan. Luckily for them, that top-10 pick they snagged from the Andrea Bargnani trade will soften the blow of their financial constraints.
Utah Jazz
30 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $56,560,760
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Christapher Johnson ($1,050,961), Shelvin Mack ($2,433,334), Jeff Withey ($1,015,696)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Trevor Booker ($6,207,500)
First-Round Pick Holds: No. 12 ($1,931,900)
Dead Money: $0
All-Inclusive Total: $69,200,151
Cap Space: $22,799,849
Don't get too excited by the Utah Jazz's $22.8 million in cap space. And don't revel in their ability to approach $30 million in offseason funds by renouncing Trevor Booker and any non-guaranteed hold not owed to Shelvin Mack.
Summer splurging is not the Jazz's thing. They could use another point guard but are more apt to roll with Dante Exum and Mack, with a little bit of Trey Burke and Raul Neto sprinkled in. They could use some additional shooting in the frontcourt, but there's no point investing heavy money into outside names when Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trey Lyles have most of the minutes at power forward and center on lock.
So what are the Jazz going to do with all their money? Keep it in the family, perhaps, by restructuring Favors' deal. As Basketball Insiders' Eric Pincus explained:
"A one-year bump would help the Jazz reach the floor. Favors gets a sizable jump in pay for 2016-17, after which Utah can reduce his salary by 40 percent, down to $12.9 million for 2017-18 — almost a million more than he’s currently contracted to earn.
From there, Utah can add on up to two more seasons, either climbing or decreasing by approximately $971,000 a season. If Favors is willing to take an immediate jump in pay, in return, he can help his team down the road, with a salary as low as $11 million through 2019-20 (perhaps with a player option on the final year).
"
Sensible? Most definitely. Packing on additional years to Favors' contract makes him a more attractive trade target if the Jazz decide his partnership with Gobert has peaked.
Would this also be a boring move? Absolutely. But that just makes it par for Utah's course.
Washington Wizards
31 of 31
Guaranteed Salary: $44,258,521
Non-Guaranteed Salary: Jarell Eddie ($980,431), Drew Gooden ($3,547,000)
Free-Agent Cap Holds: Alan Anderson ($4,800,000), Bradley Beal ($14,236,685), Jared Dudley ($8,312,500), J.J. Hickson ($980,431), Nene ($19,500,000), Ramon Sessions ($2,821,605), Garrett Temple ($980,431), Marcus Thornton ($980,431)
First-Round Pick Holds: $0
Dead Money: Martell Webster ($833,334)
All-Inclusive Total: $102,231,369
Cap Space: -$10,231,369
Slow your roll, overreacting Oscars. The Washington Wizards' initial sub-zero cap space won't prevent them from opening up enough room to sign Kevin Durant. They have virtually no shot of actually stealing him from Oklahoma City. But when he declines their overtures, it won't be because they're asking him to take a pay cut.
Most of Washington's financial restrictions are tied up in free-agent cap hits—around $52.6 million of holds, to be more exact. And that's an easy fix.
Keep Bradley Beal's $14.2 million placeholder, dissolve the rest and poof! The Wizards will have a little more than $25 million in room after accounting for minimum cap hits. And they can manufacture even more space by waiving Drew Gooden (maybe) or deciding not to meet Beal's max-contract price tag (LOL times infinity).
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless otherwise cited. Salary information via Basketball Insiders and RealGM.
