2018 NBA Free Agency: Top Players and Latest Salary-Cap Info for Each Team
The start of NBA free agency is still over three months away, but it's never too early to do some homework on one of the most chaotic periods on the NBA calendar.
Here, we'll provide an overview of each team's salary-cap standing before the start of the new league year and analyse a handful of high-profile free agents who are sure to command the most attention when summer rolls around.
As a reminder, the 2018-19 salary cap has been projected at $101 million, according to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania, which would peg the luxury-tax threshold at $123 million.
Note: All estimated cap figures were retrieved from Spotrac.com and assume existing cap holds will be renounced. Numbers are subject to change before the start of free agency.
Projected Cap Room
- 1. Los Angeles Lakers: $61,856,635
- 2. Chicago Bulls: $41,520,513
- 3. Philadelphia 76ers: $31,190,934
- 4. Atlanta Hawks: $29,069,837
- 5. Dallas Mavericks: $23,850,301
- 6. Houston Rockets: $22,112,015
- 7. Sacramento Kings: $21,648,450
- 8. Brooklyn Nets: $16,680,449
- 9. Orlando Magic: $16,441,103
- 10. Phoenix Suns: $13,244,005
- 11. Utah Jazz: $11,666,390
- 12. Indiana Pacers: $9,729,149
- 13. New York Knicks: $1,277,960
- 14. New Orleans Pelicans: $1,189,326
- 15. San Antonio Spurs: $671,231
- 16. Memphis Grizzlies: $-2,423,162
- 17. Boston Celtics: $-6,433,525
- 18. Denver Nuggets: $-6,475,362
- 19. Milwaukee Bucks: $-6,513,151
- 20. Los Angeles Clippers: $-11,036,772
- 21. Portland Trail Blazers: $-12,616,587
- 22. Detroit Pistons: $-15,300,545
- 23. Charlotte Hornets: $-18,529,843
- 24. Miami Heat: $-19,203,818
- 25. Minnesota Timberwolves: $-20,473,395
- 26. Washington Wizards: $-23,800,998
- 27. Toronto Raptors: $-26,334,761
- 28. Golden State Warriors: $-27,311,051
- 29. Oklahoma City Thunder: $-36,538,745
- 30. Cleveland Cavaliers: $-36,976,710
Free Agents to Watch
LeBron James, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (Player Option)
The free-agency floodgates won't open until LeBron James makes his decision. That's the way it went in 2010, and the same rules applied in 2014.
This time around, it's safe to assume that trend will hold assuming James declines his $35.6 million player option.
And while James has refused to discuss his potential destination during the regular season, word has started circulating that he's already narrowed his list of prospective employers down to a few lucky teams.
Citing league sources, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported March 8 that James has whittled his options down to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.
James, though, has publicly expressed no desire to indulge speculation.
"I think it's a discredit to what I'm trying to do here," he told reporters in February. "It's a discredit to my teammates and the coaching staff here. My only focus right now is trying to figure out how we can become a championship-caliber team these next few months. There's been so many stories about me the last few months and the last few days about where I'm going and where I'm at and what place I'm in. ... If you don't hear something coming from my voice, then it's not true. ... If it's not from me, it's not true."
Buzz should continue to build as the summer approaches, but for now it's anyone's best guess as to where LeBron will be suiting up on opening night come October.
Paul George, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (Player Option)
Beyond LeBron, the biggest free-agency question is whether or not Paul George will wind up with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
USA Today's Sam Amick reported over a year ago that George was "hell-bent" on becoming a member of the Purple and Gold, and all signs seemed to point to him eventually landing in Southern California through one avenue or another.
However, circumstances changed last summer when the Indiana Pacers shipped the two-way star to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since then, George has heaped praise on his new team and shied away from divulging much information about the possibility of heading to the Lakers.
"I don't know if whether I'm going to LA, or what I'm going to do this offseason," George told Amick in February this year. "But I can say I am happy about being here. I'm happy with playing with Russ, happy with playing with Melo, and this organization. This front office has shown what they can do to go get pieces and how active they are about winning."
The Lakers, of course, have been preparing to make a run at George for some time now by keeping their books clean.
Some nifty trade-deadline maneuvering allowed them to open up room for a second max contract for additional flexibility.
Luring George away from the Thunder won't be easy—especially if they make a deep playoff run—but the stage has been set for the Lakers to make a compelling pitch once July rolls around.
DeMarcus Cousins, C, New Orleans Pelicans (Unrestricted)
Before rupturing his Achilles in January, DeMarcus Cousins was a lock to sign a max contract. He was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game, on track for a First Team All-NBA selection and had just captured his fourth straight All-Star nod.
Now, Cousins' financial future is up in the air.
That said, it seems like the New Orleans Pelicans—and power forward Anthony Davis, in particular—will make a strong push to keep Cousins in the Big Easy long term.
"I hope so," Davis told the New York Times' Marc Stein of Cousins re-signing. "That's a decision he has to make. I'm pretty confident that he'll stay. From what I hear, he plans on it. But I'm going to keep selling the dream here. I'll be very involved—I want him here."
If a robust market develops for Cousins' services despite the debilitating diagnosis, the Pelicans may not have a choice but to shell out max dollars. But in the event other teams don't come calling with top-dollar offers, New Orleans could realistically find itself in possession of some serious leverage at the bargaining table.
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