Breaking Down the Salary Cap Situation of Every NBA Team

The NBA set the salary cap at $58.044 million and the luxury tax level at $70.307 million for the 2012-2013 season, so where do each of the 30 teams' salary cap situations stand right now?

Which teams are over the cap and which are even over the luxury tax threshold after their most recent acquisitions? 

Does anyone have money left to spend?

All of those questions will be answered in this article, which illuminates the financial situation for each and every team in the NBA, using contract information from Hoopsworld and Spotrac.

As a housekeeping note, average salaries per year were counted when full breakdowns of a contract had not yet been released.  

Atlanta Hawks

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Josh Smith ($13,200,000)

Total Salary: $64,589,032

The Atlanta Hawks have a qualifying offer of $962,195 for Ivan Johnson, but will remain below the luxury tax threshold even if they retain the old rookie's services. 

Trading away Joe Johnson really freed up a lot of space for the Hawks, especially for the 2013-2014 when they only have John Jenkins, Al Horford and Lou Williams under guaranteed contracts. 

Atlanta still has a biannual exception worth $1.957 million and has not signed recent second-round picks Mike Scott, Cenk Akyol, Alain Digbeu and Sergiy Gladyr. The team may also still use the amnesty clause. 

Boston Celtics

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Paul Pierce ($16,790,345)

Total Salary: $73,414,328

The Boston Celtics went into the offseason with very few players on the roster but managed to re-sign nearly everyone. Ray Allen and Greg Stiemsma have been the only exceptions. 

With the additions of Courtney Lee, Jason Terry and the rest of the re-signings, the Celtics are already over the luxury tax threshold and can't make any more big impact moves. 

Brooklyn Nets

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Joe Johnson ($19,752,645)

Total Salary: $81,329,344

The Brooklyn Nets, owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King made some major moves during their first offseason outside of New Jersey. 

Trading for Joe Johnson, re-signing Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries and the other moves the Nets made have pushed them well over the luxury tax threshold. 

Brooklyn has already used its amnesty clause on Travis Outlaw and has three unsigned second-round picks, but there is no financial flexibility left here. 

Charlotte Bobcats

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Ben Gordon ($12,400,000)

Total Salary: $56,299,627

The Charlotte Bobcats still have some room to work with before they make it to the luxury tax level, but they have enough solid players under contract, and it's hard to lure in the big names. 

The fact that Ben Gordon is the highest paid player on the roster should say a lot about the Bobcats' chances during the 2012-2013 season. 

Chicago Bulls

Players Under Contract: 10

Highest Paid Player: Derrick Rose ($16,402,552)

Total Salary: $67,191,083

Derrick Rose is still the highest paid player on the Chicago Bulls, even if he'll be missing a lot of the 2012-2013 season as he recovers from an ACL injury. 

After signing Marco Belinelli to a one-year, $1,957,000 contract, the Bulls are well over the salary cap but still have a few spots left to fill. 

Chicago can still use its amnesty clause and has yet to sign former first-round pick Nikola Mirotic. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

Players Under Contract: 11

Highest Paid Player: Anderson Varejao ($8,368,182)

Total Salary: $38,751,909

Kevin Jones has yet to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the team will need to get his salary on the books quickly. 

Unlike many up-and-coming teams, the Cavs actually have to spend a lot more money. The minimum acceptable payroll for this season is $46,435,000 and Cleveland is still well below that total. 

Amazingly enough, Anderson Varejao and Luke Walton are the two highest paid players. 

Dallas Mavericks

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Dirk Nowitzki ($20,907,128)

Total Salary: $51,045,859

O.J. Mayo and Jae Crowder have both signed contracts with the Dallas Mavericks, but neither contract's terms have been disclosed yet. Therefore, their salaries have not been included in the calculation. 

Once those new acquisitions join fellow incoming players like Elton Brand and Chris Kaman on the roster, the Mavericks will be right around the soft salary cap. 

There isn't much room left for new players, but the Mavericks' roster is just about set after a flurry of moves late in the offseason proceedings. 

Denver Nuggets

Players Under Contract: 15

Highest Paid Player: JaVale McGee ($11,000,000 average salary)

Total Salary: $65,594,212

The Denver Nuggets overpaid for JaVale McGee—although I could end up eating my words if he finally gains a bit of maturity—but the majority of the roster is comprised of good values. 

That's why the Nuggets have such a deep team. 

There isn't any space left to make moves if the Nuggets wish to avoid the luxury tax, but they don't really need to add anyone else at this point. 

Detroit Pistons

Players Under Contract: 14

Highest Paid Player: Corey Maggette ($10,924,138)

Total Salary: $67,252,271

The Detroit Pistons are still paying Rip Hamilton's contract, and they're taking on Corey Maggette's massive expiring deal, which is part of the reason why the team is over the cap and still not expected to compete in the Eastern Conference. 

Detroit won't be adding any big free agents at this point and could possibly use the amnesty clause to get rid of Charlie Villanueva's contract. 

The roster contains plenty of young players at value prices though, and this team will be in much better financial shape next year. 

Golden State Warriors

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Andrew Bogut ($13,000,000)

Total Salary: $61,270,097

The Golden State Warriors still haven't signed draft picks Draymond Green, Ognjen Kuzmic and Mladen Sekularac, plus they've used their amnesty clause on Charlie Bell's contract. 

With a qualifying offer extended to Brandon Rush, the Dubs are already over the soft cap, but they should be able to stay out of the luxury tax area. 

After drafting and signing Harrison Barnes to shore up the small forward position, Golden State doesn't need to make any major moves. 

Houston Rockets

Players Under Contract: 22

Highest Paid Player: Kevin Martin ($12,439,675)

Total Salary: $54,225,609

The Houston Rockets' roster isn't going to make any sense if they don't manage to land Dwight Howard. 

Including non-guaranteed contracts (Shaun Livingston, Greg Smith, Diamon Simpson, E'Twaun Moore, Courtney Fortson and Josh Harrellson), the Rockets have a massive 22 players under contract. 

Obviously, not all of those will be sticking around, but the Rockets don't have a huge salary even with all of them, despite the recent signing of Omer Asik. 

Indiana Pacers

Players Under Contract: 11

Highest Paid Player: Roy Hibbert ($14,750,000 on average)

Total Salary: $65,011,262

After signing Roy Hibbert to a max deal, the Indiana Pacers pushed themselves over the soft cap and are in danger of eventually moving into the luxury tax area. 

The Pacers have a lot of money committed to Danny Granger over the next two years as well, and could look to trade his contract at some point before it expires following the 2013-2014 season. 

Los Angeles Clippers

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Chris Paul ($17,779,458)

Total Salary: $66,782,826

Blake Griffin's massive bump in salary won't take place until the 2013-2014 season, which keeps the Los Angeles Clippers below the luxury tax threshold. 

Even with the new additions of Jamal Crawford and Grant Hill, the Clippers are still in decent financial shape. 

The Clippers have a hard cap set at $74.307 million this season because of the usage of the mid-level exception. 

Los Angeles Lakers

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Kobe Bryant ($27,849,149)

Total Salary: $95,471,884

The Los Angeles Lakers are well over the luxury tax threshold and will be paying a pretty large penalty for rostering so many star players. 

However, if Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Andrew Bynum can all work together successfully, it will be well worth it. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Zach Randolph ($16,500,000)

Total Salary: $73,860,535

Unless the Memphis Grizzlies use their amnesty clause, the roster is locked and loaded for the next few seasons. 

Memphis is already over the luxury tax threshold—although just barely—and will probably be there once more when next offseason rolls around. If all options are exercised, only Tony Allen's contract will come off the books. 

Miami Heat

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: LeBron James/Chris Bosh ($17,545,000)

Total Salary: $82,653,251

After using the mini mid-level exception to bring Ray Allen on board the Miami Heat roster, nothing is left but the veteran's minimum and the amnesty clause for this team. 

With as many star players as the Heat have under contract, that won't be a problem. 

Although they're over the luxury tax threshold, the Heat are fine with that as long as they keep winning. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Monta Ellis ($11,000,000)

Total Salary: $60,853,770

The Milwaukee Bucks' top priority this offseason was re-signing Ersan Ilyasova, and that's exactly what happened. 

Now, the breakout forward is the second-highest paid player on the roster. 

Milwaukee still has its mid-level and biannual exception left, but it's unlikely that the team uses either one. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Kevin Love ($15,000,000 on average)

Total Salary: $63,491,540

The Minnesota Timberwolves made a ton of big moves during the 2012 NBA offseason. Most recently, David Kahn decided to bring Andrei Kirilenko aboard for the next two years at a price of $10 million per season on average. 

With Brandon Roy, Kirilenko, Chase Budinger and Alexey Shved joining the Wolves' cause, this could very well be a playoff team next season. 

Even if they aren't participating in the postseason, they'll be paying their players like they are. 

New Orleans Hornets

Players Under Contract: 11

Highest Paid Player: Eric Gordon ($13,668,750)

Total Salary: $58,733,960

The New Orleans Hornets have yet to sign second-round draft pick Darius Miller, so they won't be done making moves quite yet. 

After inking Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers to their rookie contracts, New Orleans is now right around the salary cap though. 

The Hornets could still use a few more pieces, and they have the financial means to do so. 

New York Knicks

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Carmelo Anthony ($20,463,024)

Total Salary: $78,499,527

Even without bringing Jeremy Lin back, James Dolan is still going to pay the luxury tax. 

That's just what happens when you're paying Amar'e Stoudemire way too much money and also rostering Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. 

If the money they're spending can result in a few playoff wins for the first time in what seems like forever, the Knicks will feel content. 

Otherwise, expect this roster to be blown up soon. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Players Under Contract: 15

Highest Paid Player: Kevin Durant ($16,669,630)

Total Salary: $66,208,909

The job that Sam Presti has done with the Oklahoma City Thunder is almost unfair. He's put together a championship-contending team with multiple young stars, and he's still below the luxury tax. 

It's all going to change when James Harden and Serge Ibaka are restricted free agents and likely to receive maximum offer sheets, but let's enjoy this while it lasts. 

Orlando Magic

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Dwight Howard ($19,536,360)

Total Salary: $69,389,590

Obviously, this slide is going to change quite a bit once Dwight Howard is traded to a different squad. That hasn't happened yet though, so we're still analyzing the salary cap situation under the pretense that Howard will be with the team throughout the 2012-2013 season. 

Trading Ryan Anderson helps the team stay under the luxury tax, but the Orlando Magic don't have any flexibility until next year. 

Then Howard and J.J. Redick's contracts will expire and new players can be brought in. 

Philadelphia 76ers

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Andre Iguodala ($14,968,250)

Total Salary: $57,570,396

After using the amnesty clause on Elton Brand, the Philadelphia 76ers are in great shape from a financial standpoint. 

Their roster might not make much sense thanks to the overwhelming presences of too many swingmen and combo-forwards, but at least they aren't paying too much for them. 

Andre Iguodala has an early termination option next offseason and could be moved during the season as his services and expiring contract are both valuable. 

Phoenix Suns

Players Under Contract: 11

Highest Paid Player: Goran Dragic ($7,500,000 on average)

Total Salary: $48,473,220

Now that the Phoenix Suns have traded Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team has a lot more financial flexibility in the future. 

Despite the recent acquisitions of Goran Dragic, Michael Beasley and Shannon Brown, the Suns are still only barely over the minimum payroll threshold and have plenty of room to add more pieces whenever possible. 

This roster, plus the inevitable new additions with the free money, will be the roster you see for the foreseeable future as only Sebastian Telfair's contract expires after this season. 

Portland Trail Blazers

Players Under Contract: 15

Highest Paid Player: LaMarcus Aldridge ($13,500,000)

Total Salary: $56,786,970

Even after committing too much money to Nicolas Batum's potential, the Portland Trail Blazers are still in great salary cap shape. 

Portland is employing quite a few young players, which has allowed the team to commit a lot of money to the top players on the roster. 

If any of the young players (cough, Damian Lillard, cough) pan out, this could be a dangerous and cheap team. 

Sacramento Kings

Players Under Contract: 14

Highest Paid Player: John Salmons ($8,083,000)

Total Salary: $57,924,381

Seeing as he'll be a restricted free agent next offseason, Tyreke Evans won't have to worry about adding to the Sacramento Kings' payroll for much longer. Even without the versatile backcourt player, though, the Kings are in fine shape. 

Not a single player on the roster is receiving 10 figures per year, and that won't change until DeMarcus Cousins signs the inevitable extension, which may be a max deal when it happens. 

The Kings are a team on the rise and have an almost complete lack of salary problems. 

San Antonio Spurs

Players Under Contract: 15

Highest Paid Player: Manu Ginobili ($14,107,492)

Total Salary: $70,012,254

The San Antonio Spurs are dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, but the shrewd organization has managed to bring back the face of the franchise and still stay under. 

Tim Duncan is on the books for three more years—he has a player option in the third year—which allows the team to focus on retaining Manu Ginobili now. 

As always, San Antonio has made good moves and remained in contention, even if they've had to spend money to do so. 

Toronto Raptors

Players Under Contract: 11

Highest Paid Player: Jose Calderon ($10,561,982)

Total Salary: $55,316,232

The Toronto Raptors still have some room to work with, which is good because the team can't be done adding players quite yet. 

Even if the Landry Fields gamble didn't pay off and the team got stuck with his contract for nothing, the Raptors are still in great shape with the salary cap. 

They should keep Jose Calderon's expiring contract on the books for one more year instead of using the amnesty clause on a player who could still help them win games. 

Utah Jazz

Players Under Contract: 13

Highest Paid Player: Al Jefferson ($15,000,000)

Total Salary: $64,096,786

While the Utah Jazz are getting close to the luxury tax threshold this season, they'll have a lot more room to work with next year.

After all, Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Mo Williams, Raja Bell, Earl Watson, Jamaal Tinsley and DeMarre Carroll all have contracts that expire at the end of the year. 

Look for the Jazz to trade at least one of those expiring contracts in an effort to bring more players in while freeing up an opportunity for the wealth of young players on the roster. 

Washington Wizards

Players Under Contract: 12

Highest Paid Player: Emeka Okafor ($13,490,000)

Total Salary: $61,669,526

Shedding the contracts of Rashard Lewis and Andray Blatche helped the Washington Wizards keep the money they're paying their players at least somewhat reasonable. 

Between Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor though, there's still too much money committed to an aging frontcourt. 

With their recent moves, the Wizards have put themselves in a position to win now (at least until the playoffs start) and the roster reflects that.