NBA Free Agency: How Trade Deadline Deals Will Impact the Free Agent Search

A busy NBA trade deadline saw a number of impactful moves, yet no superstars changed their addresses.

Many teams crafted their deadline trading strategies around shifting pieces and contracts that would allow them to go after this summer's marquee free agents.

With a deep free-agent class featuring many talented youngsters and a few soon-to-be Hall of Famers with some gas left in their tanks, this summer's signings can change the fortunes of several franchises.

Some teams will be able to accelerate their rebuilding programs, while others will add the final piece to their championship puzzle.

Here's what every team's trade deadline moves mean for their chances at landing a star free agent this offseason.

Golden State Warriors

Incoming Players: Andrew Bogut, Richard Jefferson

Outgoing Players: Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, Kwame Brown

The Warriors really wanted a center who could play defense, and they traded for theirs in Bogut.

The Warriors are currently on the books for around $55 million. That number can quickly escalate if they sign Stephen Curry to an extension and re-sign Brandon Rush, who'll be a restricted free agent this summer. 

With Golden State already acquiring the asset they desired and headed towards the luxury tax line, they won't be making any big splashes in free agency.

Milwaukee Bucks

Incoming Players: Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, Kwame Brown

Outgoing Players: Andrew Bogut, Stephen Jackson

Milwaukee will have a good deal of cap space opening up for them. They could use a legit center to replace the departing Bogut as well as help on the wings.

That said, the Bucks have been cautious about their spending recently. Also, they'll want to maintain their cap flexibility for a Brandon Jennings trade that seems more and more inevitable.

Ultimately, their plan may just be to try and re-sign economical producers Ersan Ilyasova and Carlos Delfino, who'll both be unrestricted free agents. Ilyasova should be in line for a big pay raise.

Denver Nuggets

Incoming Players: JaVale McGee, Ronny Turiaf

Outgoing Players: Nene

The Nuggets could have had significant cap room heading into this summer, but they spent a lot of it yesterday when they signed Wilson Chandler to a long-term deal.

Denver will still have some wiggle room left thanks to clearing Nene's deal, and that space is likely reserved for extending the newly acquired McGee, who will be a restricted free agent at season's end.

Washington Wizards

Incoming Players: Nene, Brian Cook

Outgoing Players: JaVale McGee, Nick Young, Ronny Turiaf

The Wizards could be major players in free agency this offseason if they use their amnesty provision on Rashard Lewis, who's due to make nearly $24 million next season.

Washington could really use a wing scorer to pair with John Wall and Nene, preferably one who passes the ball every now and then. I'd expect them to take a hard run at a guy like Eric Gordon or O.J. Mayo.

Los Angeles Clippers

Incoming Players: Nick Young

Outgoing Players: Brian Cook

While the Clippers could really use a long-term solution at shooting guard, they will already be at the salary cap next season with only seven players under contract. That is, unless Mo Williams decides to opt out.

Even if that's the case, the Clippers will have a lot of holes to fill on their roster and their top priority this offseason will definitely be to sign Blake Griffin to a long-term extension.

New Jersey Nets

Incoming Players: Gerald Wallace

Outgoing Players: Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams

The Nets have been selling their fans on the summer of 2012 for the last couple seasons, so pressure is high on management to have stars on hand to fill the new arena in Brooklyn.

While trading for Wallace may provide them with more trade bait to acquire Dwight Howard, Wallace has the option of becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer. 

The bigger question for the Nets, though, is if they can hang on to Deron Williams. They have the cap room to do it, and to re-sign productive bigs Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries.

With several big contracts coming off the books, expect the Nets to be extremely busy during free agency. They have a lot of work to do.

Portland Trail Blazers

Incoming Players: Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams

Outgoing Players: Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby

The Blazers will have a lot of cap room this summer, especially if an unhappy Jamal Crawford opts out of the remaining year on his deal and the team declines to pick up the options for Thabeet and Flynn.

The first order of business for Portland will be to re-sign restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, who'll probably have a lot of big offers thrown his way after the season.

The Blazers have shown over the past few seasons that they are willing to practice patience in building their team, so re-upping Batum may be the only action they take.

Portland has also gone through two general managers in that time, though, and currently have no one installed as the GM. They could go any direction from here.

San Antonio Spurs

Incoming Players: Stephen Jackson

Outgoing Players: Richard Jefferson

The Spurs will have cap room this summer as their franchise cornerstone Tim Duncan hits free agency.

I can't see the Spurs letting Duncan retire anywhere but in San Antonio. The only question is, how much of a hometown discount will he take to let the Spurs go after other free agents?

Houston Rockets

Incoming Players: Marcus Camby, Derek Fisher (bought out)

Outgoing Players: Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill

Once again, the Rockets will have a ton of cap space this summer, especially if they cut bait on Samuel Dalembert.

After coming up empty last offseason, Houston will be looking to make a big splash in free agency this time around. 

Rockets GM Daryl Morey has been coveting a center for years, so I'd expect the Rockets to pursue Brook Lopez, Roy Hibbert and maybe even JaVale McGee.

You never know what great bargain finds Houston can come up with.

Los Angeles Lakers

Incoming Players: Ramon Sessions, Christian Eyenga, Jordan Hill

Outgoing Players: Derek Fisher, Luke Walton

The Lakers won't have any room to go after a major free agent, even if they do amnesty away Metta World Peace. The team will surely pick up the option on the final year of Andrew Bynum's contract, sending them into the luxury tax once more.

Having said that, the moves that L.A. made at the deadline did greatly increase their financial flexibility. They can re-sign Sessions if he opts out and explore trades to flip Pau Gasol for more long-term assets.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Incoming Players: Luke Walton

Outgoing Players: Ramon Sessions, Christian Eyenga

With Antawn Jamison finally coming off the books, the Cavs will have a boatload of cap space this summer. In fact, they could have had $5 million more had they not absorbed Walton's horrendous contract.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert has the money to pursue anyone he wants in free agency. Unfortunately for him, LeBron James proved that Cleveland isn't exactly a hot destination for NBA free agents. 

Expect the Cavs to be in the hunt for every big name, but ultimately settle for overpaying a mid-tier free agent or two. I'm looking at you, Nick Young.

Memphis Grizzlies

Incoming Players: None

Outgoing Players: Sam Young

Memphis has an awful lot of money committed to four players over the next several seasons (Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley). 

Being a small-market club, the Grizzlies won't have the ability to go after any pricey free agents. They will also probably have to watch their own restricted free agent, O.J. Mayo, sign somewhere else.

Philadelphia 76ers

Incoming Players: Sam Young

Outgoing Players: None

This was like one of those baseball trades that involve "a player to be named later." Sam Young is basically that player after the Sixers sent Marreese Speights to Memphis earlier this year.

The Sixers can use Young as depth for their playoff run, but as they sent back no salary to the Grizzlies, they still have no cap space to splurge on a big free-agent addition this offseason.

Toronto Raptors

Incoming Players: None

Outgoing Players: Leandro Barbosa

Toronto has a boatload of cap space and are still armed with their amnesty waiver, which they can use on Jose Calderon is they so choose. 

More likely though, they will hang onto Calderon, who has value as a useful player with a big expiring contract next season. Regardless, they should have enough cap room to chase anyone they want.

The Raptors need whatever help they can get, but with Jerryd Bayless a restricted free agent and Calderon likely to be moved, the point guard position should be a top priority. 

There's probably less than zero chance that Deron Williams signs with Toronto, but a short-term deal for Steve Nash to retire in his native country wouldn't be a terrible move for this slowly rebuilding franchise.

Indiana Pacers

Incoming Players: Leandro Barbosa

Outgoing Players: None

With Barbosa's contract up at the end of this season, Indiana's cap room for this offseason is still sizable.

In fact, the Pacers can re-sign restricted free agents Roy Hibbert and George Hill and still chase another marquee free agent.

Rumors have been swirling for years that the Pacers are going to make a run at Eric Gordon—who played his college ball at Indiana—and they'll have their chance this summer as Gordon hits restricted free agency.

A Gordon signing would cement the team's core rotation for years to come, while also giving them the freedom to try and move former All-Star Danny Granger for additional pieces.