Best-Case and Worst-Case Scenarios for NBA Teams Saving Cap Space for 2013

With the 2013 NBA free-agent class headlined by two cornerstone centers and a franchise point guard—and underlined by a plethora of stars and potent reserves—the long-term planning of league executives looks more than justified.

For some of these clubs, the best-case scenario is simply finding the missing piece for their already talented rosters. For others, it's adding value without overspending.

The worst case for these clubs? How about signing the next namesake of a future amnesty clause in the next collective bargaining agreement? (Cough, cough, Allan Houston, cough.)

The market for these players is far from set, and even the list of players is relatively unknown.

But there are already some inklings about how these teams could transform into contenders...or be set back for years.

Atlanta Hawks

How they got here

New Hawks GM Danny Ferry shocked the hoops world when he sent six-time All-Star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets in a five-for-one trade in early July.

The hoops world wasn't shocked that Ferry cut ties with a player of Johnson's caliber. Rather, they were impressed that he managed to find an organization willing to take on the remaining four years and $85 million on his deal.

With a slew of players in their final year of their deal, Ferry has already primed Atlanta to be one of the league's most active franchises next summer.

Best-case scenario

With a trio of Josh Smith, Al Horford and Jeff Teague still in town (along with free-agent signee Lou Williams), Atlanta has the pieces to contend for a playoff spot this season.

Not only does this showcase the type of destination that Atlanta can be for prospective free agents, but also may be enough to convince the oft-disgruntled Smith (a pending free agent) that the grass is not always greener.

If Teague is able to lead his team to the postseason and Smith is convinced he should stay, Ferry could focus his efforts on Atlanta native Dwight Howard to solidify his front line.

Should Howard opt to remain in Los Angeles, Ferry's options would be anything but limited with Andrew Bynum, Al Jefferson and Chris Kaman all potentially hitting the market.

Worst-case scenario

A trigger-happy Williams, a trigger-happy Smith and an obviously still-developing Teague leave Atlanta watching the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season. 

Smith walks, Bynum and Howard extend with their new clubs, and Atlanta inks a second-tier player (Paul Millsap, Andre Iguodala or even Brandon Jennings perhaps) or two to a deal that rivals Johnson's.

And since this is the worst-case scenario, Johnson and new teammate Deron Williams lead the Brooklyn Nets to an NBA championship.

Cleveland Cavaliers

How they got here

With Baron Davis' amnestied contract off the books and their talented players on rookie contracts, the Cavaliers are one of the rare NBA franchises without a player making $10 million on their roster. The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls have four each.

In other words, their reported interest in acquiring Andrew Bynum to facilitate an old Dwight-Howard-to-Los-Angeles rumor was more than just words.

Best-case scenario

The most important thing for the Cavaliers this season is for their rising superstar point guard, Kyrie Irving, to continue his development.

The former Duke Blue Devil dazzled in his rookie season, garnering 117 of a possible 120 first-place votes in the Rookie of the Year voting.

Irving has the skill set to attract big-name players to Cleveland, and Cavaliers' owner Dan Gilbert has the funds to sign those players.

Cleveland could even potentially have enough to lure in a star player to share the backcourt with Irving, such as Milwaukee's Monta Ellis or Oklahoma City's James Harden.

Worst-case scenario

Irving's no stranger to injury (his lone season at Duke was cut to 11 games thanks to a ligament injury in his right big toe) and the injury bug has already bit him this offseason.

With Irving sidelined and Tristan Thompson treading water as simply a serviceable NBA power forward, Cleveland fails to show enough to lure Bynum from Philadelphia or Howard from L.A.

In addition, Ellis opts in to his final year with Milwaukee, Harden heads to Phoenix and Utah decides to keep Jefferson over Millsap.

In other words, Cleveland hits the free-agent market with deep pockets and no one near worth spending on.

Dallas Mavericks

How they got here

The 2012-13 Dallas Mavericks bear almost no resemblance to the 2010-11 group that brought owner Mark Cuban a long-awaited NBA championship.

Dirk Nowitzki's still around. Likewise for Shawn Marion, Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones. But that's it.

Cuban's tolerance of the mass exodus out of Dallas may have looked Florida (er...Miami) Marlins-esque, but this was more forward-thinking and less straight dollar-shredding.

Cuban and GM Donnie Nelson have managed to field a playoff contender without losing the cap space they collected as Jason Kidd, Tyson Chandler and company fled in free agency.

Best-case scenario

Nowitzki hits camp in peak shape, the one-year rentals (Chris Kaman, Elton Brand, Dahntay Jones and possibly O.J. Mayo) play like they don't have a contract next year and Dallas entrenches itself in the Western Conference playoff picture.

Dwight Howard is the obvious preference for Cuban, and he's previously indicated interest in joining the Mavericks.

If Howard sticks with the Lakers, though, Dallas has enough funds to shore up a few positions.

Darren Collison and Beaubois offer intrigue at the point guard position, but any other members of Collison's famed 2009 point guard class that do not get extensions (Stephen Curry?) would be considerable upgrades. Dallas' pursuit of Deron Williams could hint a future chase of Chris Paul.

O.J. Mayo could exercise his $4.2 million player option, but if he declines, Dallas could chase the likes of James Harden or Monta Ellis as a backcourt complement for Nowitzki.

Worst-case scenario

Nowitzki's scoring, rebounding and minutes decrease for the fourth straight season and Dallas lacks the assets to attract the big name free agents.

Dallas is forced to role the dice on an overpriced Al Jefferson or even throw major money toward unproven unrestricted free agent Nikola Pekovic.

Houston Rockets

How they got here

Rockets GM Daryl Morey has not been quiet in his pursuit of bringing a superstar (or two) to Houston.

But his public searching has coincided with cost-conscious decisions that included the departures of Kyle Lowry, Marcus Camby, Goran Dragic, Luis Scola, Chase Budinger and Samuel Dalembert this offseason.

With two seasons remaining before free-agent signees Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik see their poison pills (which will pay the duo nearly $30 million combined in 2014-15), this may be the best time for Morey to swing for the fences (again).

Best-case scenario

Morey's name becomes an expletive on Chicago and New York message boards as Lin shows that he's not a fluke and Asik produces in waves.

Morey finds a taker for Kevin Martin (and his expiring $13 million contract) at the trade deadline, finding the final piece to convince Howard that his future should be in Houston.

Morey then declines team options on Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris and Carlos Delfino to lure Howard's confidant (Josh Smith) to Texas.

Worst-case scenario

Lin looks like a player who was waived twice in less than three weeks, and Asik plays to his career averages (2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds).

The trio of Houston rookies (Jeremy Lamb, Royce White and Terrence Jones) show why they fell out of the top 10.

Houston's future looks in jeopardy with the looming pay increases for Lin and Asik, but that concern moves to the back burner after they throw max money Al Jefferson's way.

San Antonio Spurs

How they got here

How many franchises could win multiple championships with largely the same core pieces and not have to shell out max contracts for at least one of them?

The answer? One. The San Antonio freakin' Spurs.

Tim Duncan could've set out for a final pay day when he hit the free-agent market this summer, but even he probably thought it would be weird seeing him in a different uniform.

Tony Parker's remaining three years, $37.5 million looks like a steal given his MVP-level play last season.

And now it's Manu Ginobili who's in the final year of his contract. It's probably safe to say he's a Spur this time next season and probably just as safe to say it's for less than the $14 million he'll earn this season.

But San Antonio earns a spot on this list largely due to the $10.5 million expiring contract of Stephen Jackson and the player/team options that could free up another $14 million. That $24 million might be chump change in New York or L.A., but that can go a long way when paired with the chance to play with this kind of talent in Gregg Popovich's system.

Best-case scenario

Duncan doesn't look 36 years old, and the Spurs enjoy a deep playoff run.

Ginobili returns for a Duncan-type contract (roughly three years, $30 million) while Boris Diaw declines his $4.7 million option, leaving San Antonio with more than enough money to widen the gap between them and the second deepest team in the league.

Worst-case scenario

San Antonio becomes Tony Parker and Co. as Duncan and Ginobili struggle to produce consistently.

Diaw opts in, which causes the Spurs to decline Tiago Splitter's $4.9 million option.

Diaw hits training camp even more overweight than usual, the budget acquisitions the Spurs manage to add (J.J. Redick and Elton Brand perhaps) show why they came so cheap, and San Antonio loses its depth but adds to its average age.

Utah Jazz

How they got here

In short, their two best players (Jefferson and Millsap) share the same final year of their contracts.

In addition, Utah has acquired a few one-year rentals (Mo Williams and Randy Foye) and has the majority of their remaining roster on rookie-scale contracts.

Not that this will happen, but according to salary figures from hoopshype.com should Utah decline all pending team options and should Marvin Williams be crazy enough to decline his $7.5 million option, the only Jazz player with a contract for next season would be Jeremy Evans (at $1.6 million).

Best-case scenario

Jefferson gets the contract over Millsap, as Derrick Favors clearly needs more playing time but his 250-pound frame is better suited at the power forward spot.

Jefferson takes a reasonable contract, allowing Utah to pursue the backcourt complements to their potent front line.

The Clippers disappoint and their roster looks old, so Chris Paul heads to Salt Lake City where he's met by the reasonably priced, productive Kevin Martin and Shawn Marion.

Worst-case scenario

Tyrone Corbin convinces the front office that his Jefferson-Favors-Millsap lineup is the future of the franchise, and the team blows their cap space on retaining their two talented bigs.

Mo Williams plays himself out of Utah's price range, leaving new Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey in bidding wars for Devin Harris and Jose Calderon.