The thrilling NBA playoffs ended with a new NBA champion, the Milwaukee Bucks. Now the process starts all over again for the Bucks and the other 29 teams that want to get to the top — a 2021 NBA free agency filled with big questions and big decisions.
Let’s run through all 30 teams with breakdowns on big-picture priorities, cap space, team needs, extension-eligible players, free agents and depth charts.
Depth charts include only players under contract for next season. Second-round picks, until they sign a contract, are excluded. We’ve included an explainer for Bird rights at the end of this story.
Atlanta Hawks
Offseason transactions: Delon Wright (trade), Jalen Johnson (draft) and Sharife Cooper (draft)
What to watch: The cost of retaining restricted free agent John Collins
General manager Travis Schlenk has made it known that Collins is a priority in the offseason. “I told John that I was extremely proud of the way he played this year. He made a decision to go to restricted free agency last fall. A lot of times, that can impact a player. I think what you saw from John, he wasn’t playing for his numbers. He was out there playing for the team to win. A lot of cases when guys are going into free agency, you can see the opposite. We didn’t see that at all in John this year. I think that speaks very highly of his character and what he’s about. He’s about being on a winning basketball team. I don’t have anything negative to say about John Collins.”
As in all cases in free agency, especially when it comes to the restricted market, supply and demand will dictate the cost when it comes to Collins. Unless Atlanta comes with an aggressive offer on the first day of free agency, Collins will certainly test the market to see if a team like Charlotte, Dallas, New York, Oklahoma City or San Antonio will make an offer sheet. However, the Hawks aren’t likely to let Collins walk away for nothing. Because of their cap situation, Atlanta has only $15 million in cap space to find a replacement, and although the Hawks have Danilo Gallinari and De’Andre Hunter on the bench, neither is a significant upgrade over Collins.
What else to watch in Atlanta
- Rookie extensions for Trae Young and Kevin Huerter
- Does extending Clint Capela make sense?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million (midlevel), $3.7 million biannual and veterans minimum
Room under the tax: $37 million
Players under contract: 10
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Backup point and shooting guard
- Continued development of Cam Reddish, De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu
Extension eligible: Young (rookie), Huerter (rookie), Capela and Wright
Free-agent status
- John Collins | Restricted | Bird
- Tony Snell | Bird
- Lou Williams | Bird
- Solomon Hill | Bird
- Brandon Goodwin | Restricted | Early Bird
- Skylar Mays | Restricted | Non Bird
- Nathan Knight | Restricted | Non Bird
Boston Celtics
Offseason transactions: Josh Richardson (trade), Kris Dunn (trade), Bruno Fernando (trade), Juhann Begarin (draft) and Sam Hauser (two-way contract)
What to watch: The expiring contract of Marcus Smart
Head coach Ime Udoka made it known that the three foundational players in Boston are Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Smart. “I’ve spent time with all three of those guys. … They all bring something different to the team. What Marcus brings is invaluable — he’s the heart and soul of the team at times. He’s another foundational piece. He’s been here through thick and thin, seen the winning and seen some downtimes. What he does for Jayson and Jaylen is invaluable in my eyes,” he told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak and Bertrand” show.
Smart, who earned first-team All-Defensive honors in 2018-19 and 2019-20, is on an expiring $14.4 million contract but is eligible for a contract extension. Boston or an acquiring team (six months after the trade) can add a total of four years and $74.4 million of new money. If there is no extension in place, Boston would have a decision to make concerning the future of Smart.
What else to watch in Boston
- Free agent Evan Fournier
- The direction with the $11M, $7.7M and $6.9M trade exception
- The rookie extension of Robert Williams
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million, veterans minimum and trade ($7.7 million, $6.9 million and $4.8 million)
Room under the tax: $951K
Room under the hard cap: $6.4 million
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Celtics use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Players under contract: 14
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- A big offseason of development with the former first-round draft picks
- Shooting off the bench
- Wing defender
Extension eligible: Robert Williams (rookie), Marcus Smart, Al Horford, Josh Richardson and Carsen Edwards.
Free-agent status
- Semi Ojeleye | Bird
- Tremont Waters | Early Bird
- Luke Kornet | Early Bird
- Evan Fournier | Bird
- Tacko Fall | Early Bird
Brooklyn Nets
Offseason transactions: Cameron Thomas (draft), Day’Ron Sharpe (draft), Marcus Zegarowski (draft), RaiQuan Gray (draft) and Jevon Carter (trade)
What to watch: The free agency of Spencer Dinwiddie
Although he played in only three games due to a partially torn ACL, Dinwiddie hasn’t suffered any setbacks in his rehab process and is one of the top point guards available in free agency this offseason. Before suffering the injury in late December, he was coming off a 2019-20 season in which he averaged a career-high 20.6 points and 6.8 assists.
Dinwiddie’s options could be tied to the futures of Kyle Lowry and Dennis Schroder. If the two players sign with Miami and Chicago, for example, Dinwiddie could be staring at the Knicks as the only team that has both cap space and a need at point guard. Charlotte, Dallas, Oklahoma City and San Antonio are all projected to have the necessary cap space to sign Dinwiddie, but they all have starting point guards in place and would be more likely to use their cap space to fill other positional needs. A sign-and-trade deal with a team that doesn’t have significant cap space is an option, but that would require Brooklyn to take back salary in the trade, adding to an already high luxury-tax bill. Brooklyn has a projected $53.4 million tax bill and would see that number double if the Nets took back $12 million in salary.
However, Brooklyn has limited means of adding to its roster in free agency, which means acquiring serviceable bench players or even draft assets should be an option the team considers.
What else to watch in Brooklyn
- The extensions: Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving
- The options with their free agents outside of Dinwiddie: Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown Jr., Jeff Green, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Tyler Johnson
- How to proceed with the $5.9 million tax midlevel exception
- Who/what are the tradable players/assets left on this roster?
- What is the financial cost that ownership is willing to absorb?
Available exceptions: $5.9 million tax midlevel and veterans minimum
Above the luxury tax: $23.5 million
Note: Because the Nets are over the hard cap, they cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Players under contract: 10
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- For the Big Three to stay healthy
- Bench depth: PG, SF and PF
Extension eligible: Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Nicolas Claxton and DeAndre Jordan
Free-agent status
- Spencer Dinwiddie | Bird
- Blake Griffin | Non-Bird
- Bruce Brown | Restricted | Bird
- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot | Early Bird
- Jeff Green | Non-Bird
- Tyler Johnson | Early Bird
- Reggie Perry | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Chris Chiozza | Restricted | Early Bird
- Mike James | Restricted | Non-Bird
Charlotte Hornets
Offseason transactions: Mason Plumlee (trade), James Bouknight (draft), Kai Jones (draft), Scottie Lewis (draft) and JT Thor (draft)
What to watch: The free agency of Devonte’ Graham
The Hornets started free agency early when they acquired Plumlee from the Pistons. The Plumlee addition filled a much-needed void at the center position and on a team-friendly contract. Because the Hornets did not have a trade exception, expect them to renounce free agents Cody Zeller and Malik Monk to create cap space. The Hornets can use the remaining $8.7 million in room before they commit to restricted free agent Devonte’ Graham.
The former second-round pick is one of the great success stories in the NBA, going from averaging 14.7 minutes his rookie season (and spending 13 games in the G League) to starting a combined 97 games over the past two seasons, averaging 16.6 PPG in that span. Although Graham has never shot above 40% in his career and 70% of his attempts come from 3, the 26-year old has found ways to make an impact. He had 19 games this season with at least seven assists and ranked No. 6 among all point guards in real plus-minus. He also cut down on turnovers, going from 2.9 per game in 2019-20 to 1.5 per game this season.
What else to watch in Charlotte
- The restricted free agency of Graham
- The extensions: Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges
Available exceptions: $4.9 million room and veterans minimum
Room under the cap: $8.7 million
Note: Cap space includes the $4.7 million free-agent hold of Graham
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Backup point and shooting guard
- Depth at power forward and center
Extension eligible: Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges (rookie), Cody Martin, Caleb Martin and Jalen McDaniels
Free-agent status
- Cody Zeller | Bird
- Devonte’ Graham | Restricted | Bird
- Malik Monk | Bird
- Bismack Biyombo | Bird
- Brad Wanamaker | Non-Bird
Nate Darling | Non-Bird - Grant Riller | Restricted | Non-Bird
Chicago Bulls
Offseason transactions: Ayo Dosunmu (draft)
What to watch: How does Chicago upgrade at point guard but without cap space?
There is a hole at the point guard position in Chicago, especially with the injury to Coby White, but generating the cap space necessary to fill that hole would likely come at the expense of restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen and possibly veterans Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky. If the Bulls stay over the cap, they will have their $9.5 million midlevel exception available. However, that exception likely gets them into the conversation for only backup point guards, such as T.J. McConnell, Cameron Payne and Ish Smith. The Bulls could explore sign-and-trade scenarios, but once again that would see them lose a combination of Markkanen, Young and Satoransky.
For example, does it make sense to call Brooklyn to explore a Spencer Dinwiddie for Young trade? “We’re going to add talent to our roster and from there get better and come back improved and better so we don’t have to sit out another postseason,” Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas told the media after the season ended. “I don’t like to watch postseason games now just because I’m not happy that we’re not in it. I’m a competitive guy. Talking to all the players, they’re disappointed. We’re disappointed. And we’re going into the next season to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
What else to watch in Chicago
- Zach LaVine: Last year of his contract
- The restricted free agency of Lauri Markkanen
- The expiring contracts: Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual and veterans minimum
Room over the cap: $8.9 million
Notes: Includes the $20.2 million free-agent hold of Lauri Markkanen and partially guaranteed contracts of Young and Satoransky
Players under contract: 9
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Starting point guard
- Bench depth at shooting guard, small forward and center
Extension eligible: Zach LaVine, Al-Farouq Aminu, Nikola Vucevic, Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky
Free-agent status
- Cristiano Felicio | Bird
- Lauri Markkanen | Restricted | Bird
- Garrett Temple | Non-Bird
- Denzel Valentine | Bird
- Daniel Theis | Bird
- Javonte Green | Early Bird
Cleveland Cavaliers
Offseason transactions: Evan Mobley (draft) and Ricky Rubio (trade)
What to watch: The restricted free agency of Jarrett Allen
“Obviously, we traded a draft asset to get him, so we certainly think highly of him,” general manager Koby Altman said after the season. “We want him to be here long term.” The question now becomes what cost Cleveland is willing to pay to re-sign Allen. It is easy to point at the five-year, $80 million Clint Capela contract signed in 2018 as a comp, but that contract was signed when the salary cap was just $101.8 million — and Capela had to wait until late July to re-sign in Houston, after cap space had evaporated from rival suitors.
Cleveland could let Allen shop for an offer sheet, but unlike Capela, who entered a tough market with few options, Allen is likely to have plenty of suitors, such as Charlotte, New York and Toronto. Despite the restricted tag, Allen has leverage. The Cavaliers gave up a first-round pick to get him, then bought out their starting center, Andre Drummond, to give Allen a bigger role. Even if they let him walk in free agency, they don’t have the cap space to sign a comparable replacement.
What else to watch in Cleveland
- The extension options for Collin Sexton
- The future of Kevin Love: $60M left on his contract
- What is the next step with this roster?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, trade ($4.3 and $1.8 million) and veterans minimum
Room under the tax: $29.5 million
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Closure on the future of Love
- A long-term contract for Allen
- Continued development with the recent draft pick
Extension eligible: Collin Sexton (rookie), Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr., Ricky Rubio and Cedi Osman
Free-agent status
- Isaiah Hartenstein | Restricted | Non-bird
- Jarrett Allen | Restricted | Bird | Qualifying offer is $7.7M
- Matthew Dellavedova | Unrestricted | Bird
- Brodric Thomas | Restricted | Non-bird
- Jeremiah Martin | Restricted | Non-bird
Dallas Mavericks
Offseason transactions: None
What to watch: Finding help for Luka Doncic
When the Mavericks traded for Kristaps Porzingis in 2019, the inclusion of Tim Hardaway Jr. was seen as a salary dump from the New York Knicks’ end. Few predicted that Hardaway would end up being the better contributor on the court. Now entering the offseason, the Mavericks and Hardaway have a decision to make regarding the future. Because of Hardaway’s $28.6 million free-agent cap hold, Dallas enters the summer over the salary cap despite having only $75 million in guaranteed contracts.
While it is highly unlikely that Hardaway will see a contract that resembles his cap hold from Dallas or a team with cap space, the guard has a salary projection in the $16 million to $18 million range. A starting salary in the $18 million range would put the Mavericks with $16 million in room left. With Doncic’s salary increasing from $11.1 million in 2021-22 to $34.7 million in 2022-23, the window for Dallas to use cap space on players outside of their own is closing. Of course, Dallas could have over $34 million in room, but that would come at the expense of Hardaway and Willie Cauley-Stein.
What else to watch in Dallas
- The blank check approach with Doncic: $200M rookie extension eligible
- The extension of Jalen Brunson
- Year 3 of Porzingis ($90M+ left on his contract)
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, trade ($10.8 million) and veterans minimum
Room over the cap: $2.8 million (includes the $28.4 million Hardaway cap hold)
Note: The Mavericks will have the $4.9 million midlevel if they go under the salary cap.
Players under contract: 11
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Shooting guard if Hardaway leaves in free agency
- Wing defender off the bench
- A power forward to compliment Porzingis
Extension eligible: Luka Doncic (rookie), Jalen Brunson, Dwight Powell, Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber
Free-agent status
- JJ Redick | Early Bird
- Tim Hardaway Jr. | Bird
- Boban Marjanovic | Early Bird
- Willie Cauley-Stein | Team | Early Bird
Denver Nuggets
Offseason transactions: Bones Hyland (draft)
What to watch: The Michael Porter Jr. rookie extension
Three years ago, Porter had the talent to be a top-five pick in the 2018 NBA draft, but he slid to the last pick of the lottery because of concerns about the back injury that limited him to three games at Missouri. After sitting out his first NBA season to rehab his back, Porter’s two seasons of action have had just as much range. He has shown flashes of that top-five potential but has also at times been unplayable because of his lapses on defense and effort. In the 34 games between March 4 to May 11, Porter played at an All-Star level, averaging 23.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, while shooting 57.5% from the field and 47.6% from 3. The forward was a +8.0 when he was on the court, and the Nuggets had a record of 25-9.
The Nuggets now have a decision on whether to extend Porter this offseason or wait and let him become a restricted free agent in 2022. The options for Denver range from offering him a five-year, $168 million extension but with language that protects the team in case he injures his back. They could also offer him a non-max extension for four seasons, comparable to the $107 million contract that Jaylen Brown signed in 2019.
What else to watch in Denver
- The extension options of Aaron Gordon
- The cost of free agents Will Barton and JaMychal Green
- The finances moving forward: Are they comfortable paying the luxury tax in 2022-23?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, veterans minimum and trade ($5.3, $2.2 and $1.6 million)
Room under the tax: $32 million
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Lakers use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Players under contract: 11
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Barton and Green
- A healthy Jamal Murray
Extension-eligible: Michael Porter Jr. (rookie), Aaron Gordon and Vlatko Cancar
Free-agent status
- Will Barton | Bird
- Paul Millsap | Bird
- JaMychal Green | Non-bird
- JaVale McGee | Bird
- Austin Rivers | Bird
- Shaquille Harrison | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Markus Howard | Restricted | Non-Bird
Detroit Pistons
Offseason transactions: Cade Cunningham (draft), Isaiah Livers (draft), Luka Garza (draft), Balsa Koprivica (draft) and Chris Smith (two-way contract)
What to watch: Restricted free agent Hamidou Diallo
Call the trade for Diallo at the deadline a six-week free-agent audition. It allowed the Pistons to learn whether they had a player they could build around or move on from, and the only true cost to the organization was a 2027 second-round pick that was acquired from Houston (Svi Mykhailiuk, whom the Pistons sent to OKC in the trade, is also set to become a free agent). In 20 games in Detroit, Diallo shot a career-high 39% from 3, had a career-high 35-point performance in a loss to Charlotte and solidified that the low-risk investment was justified. He is a restricted free agent, and at the minimum the Pistons will tender him a $2.1 million qualifying offer.
The hard part is gauging a starting salary for Diallo based on his three years in Oklahoma City and the 20 games in a Pistons uniform. Teams like New York and San Antonio all have cap space, and Detroit will need to decide the price point when it comes to matching an offer sheet. The likelihood is that Diallo will see offers from teams in the midlevel range, making the Pistons’ decision to match easy.
What else to watch in Detroit
- The direction with cap space: Can create up to $16 million
- Player Development 101: Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Sekou Doumbouya and this year’s lottery pick
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($8.2 and $2.0 million)
Room under the cap: $12.2 million
Players under contract: 9
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Backup point and shooting guard
- Continued development of the recent draft picks
Extension eligible: Rodney McGruder
Free-agent status
- Dennis Smith Jr. | Restricted | Bird
- Hamidou Diallo | Restricted | Bird
- Wayne Ellington | Non-Bird
- Saben Lee | Restricted | Non-bird
- Frank Jackson | Restricted | Non-bird
Golden State Warriors
Offseason transactions: Jonathan Kuminga (draft) and Moses Moody (draft)
What to watch: Kelly Oubre Jr. and the finances
The Warriors need to decide if Oubre is a priority or luxury. “I would love that,” Oubre said, when asked if he’d like to stay with the Warriors for years to come. “At the end of the day, this is a business. We got through one step, the next step is giving my all to this team so we can reach our goals this season. And then this summer, that’s another step, so I’m just kind of in the moment right now. I’m here. I’m a Warrior.” Signing Oubre to a conservative $10 million contract would cost the Warriors an additional $100 million toward the luxury tax. Similar to what Boston did with Gordon Hayward, the Warriors can work a sign-and-trade deal and create a large trade exception to use in the future.
However, the team acquiring Oubre would need to sign him to a three-year deal (only the first year would have to be guaranteed). The Warriors would also have the option of taking back players in a sign-and-trade, but adding salary would add to their tax bill. In a perfect world, Oubre would play the role of sixth man and strengthen the Warriors bench. However, Golden State ownership will need to decide what the breaking point is when it comes to spending. Besides using Oubre in a sign-and-trade, the Warriors have the $5.9 million tax midlevel and veterans minimum exceptions to use in free agency.
What else to watch at Golden State
- The Stephen Curry extension
- The $5.9 million tax midlevel and veterans minimum
Available exceptions: $5.9 million tax midlevel, veterans minimum and trade ($2.3 and $1.9 million)
Over the tax: $40 million
Note: The Warriors cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade
Players under contract: 15
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- A healthy Klay Thompson
- Stretch 4
- Point guard depth
Extension eligible: Stephen Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney, Alen Smailagic and Eric Paschall
Free-agent status
- Kelly Oubre Jr. | Bird
- Kent Bazemore | Non-Bird
- Nico Mannion | Restricted | Non-Bird
Houston Rockets
Offseason transactions: Jalen Green (draft), Alperen Sengun (draft), Usman Garuba (draft) and Josh Christopher (draft)
What to watch: The resources to retool the roster
GM Rafael Stone is fully aware of the task ahead on how to reshape this roster. “I know some teams have done wholesale rebuilds, going extraordinarily young,” Stone said. “I think one of the advantages to the various moves we made this year is that we do have a lot of future draft picks that are unprotected that aren’t just ours. I think that gives us the luxury of trying to be competitive and grow our young guys and have 30-something guys. The fact they may help us win a game or two extra, or five or six games, is not something that we’re worried about.”
The playbook on how to build sustainable success started with the Christian Wood sign-and-trade that also netted the Rockets a future first from Detroit and then moved to finding a home for their two disgruntled All-Stars, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Now with the addition of four first-round picks, what is the next step that Houston can take with its roster? The obvious direction is trying to steal a page out of the playbook with Oklahoma City and Chris Paul. The Thunder were able to trade Paul to the Suns for a future first and a package of players including Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre Jr. Both players were eventually traded for additional draft assets. Can the Rockets find a comparable package for the $91 million owed to John Wall?
What else to watch in Houston
- Do they take advantage of the high value with Wood?
- The free agency of Kelly Olynyk
- The veterans: DJ Augustin, Eric Gordon and Danuel House
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($8.2, $5.1, $2.2 and $1.8 million)
Room under the tax: $19.5 million
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Rockets use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Players under contract: 14
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Patience
- Priority in player development
Extension eligible: John Wall and Danuel House
Free-agent status
- Avery Bradley | Team | Non-Bird
- Kelly Olynyk | Bird
- Dante Exum | Bird
- Sterling Brown | Non-Bird
- David Nwaba | Early Bird
- Anthony Lamb | Non-Bird
- Armoni Brooks | Non-Bird
- D.J. Wilson | Bird
Indiana Pacers
Offseason transactions: Chris Duarte (draft), Isaiah Jackson (draft) and Duane Washington Jr. (two-way contract)
What to watch: Free agents T.J. McConnell and Doug McDermott
There are two words that do not mesh well in the NBA: lottery and tax. After losing in the play-in round, the Pacers are headed to the lottery. They were not a tax team this season and will dodge paying a penalty. However, Indiana enters the offseason with a projected payroll of $125 million (including their draft pick): $11 million below the 2021-22 tax threshold. The team’s top two reserves, Doug McDermott and T.J. McConnell, are set to become free agents, and retaining both players would require Indiana to pay the luxury tax for the first time since 2005-06 unless they move off salary at some point during the 2021-22 season.
What else to watch in Indiana
- What is the upside of this team when healthy?
- Five players eligible for an extension, including Brogdon, LeVert, Lamb and Turner
- The trade options: Six players who earn between $10.5M to $21.7M and all first-round picks
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($4.8,$4.0 and $2.9 million)
Room under the tax: $13 million
Room under the hard cap: $15.6 million
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Pacers use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Healthy T.J. Warren
- Replacements for McConnell and McDermott if both leave in free agency
- Stretch-4
Extension-eligible: Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner, TJ Warren, Jeremy Lamb and Edmond Sumner
Free-agent status
- Doug McDermott | Bird
- T.J. McConnell | Early Bird
- JaKarr Sampson | Early Bird
- Cassius Stanley | Non-Bird
- Amida Brimah | Non-Bird
LA Clippers
Offseason transactions: Keon Johnson (draft), Jason Preston (draft) and BJ Boston (draft)
What to watch: Kawhi Leonard
Back in December, Leonard was asked about his player option in 2021-22. “Obviously, if I’m healthy, the best decision is to decline the player option,” Leonard told ESPN at the time. “But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving or staying. I’m focused on the season, like I said. We’ll talk about that when the time is right.” Leonard is not healthy, having recently undergone surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. Despite the injury, Leonard still holds tremendous leverage despite the knee injury. The Clippers gutted their future when they traded an unprotected first in 2022, 2024, 2026 and pick swaps in 2023 and 2025 to the Thunder as part of the Paul George deal. They recently committed $190 million to George over the next five years and have no clear a path to build out the roster if they do not commit to Leonard long term even with his injury.
Before he injured his knee, the smart play would have been for Leonard to decline his player option and sign a two-year contract but with the option to become a free agent in 2022. That would allow him to sign a five-year contract with the Clippers next offseason. Now, the smart play financially is for Leonard to opt in to his $36 million contract and then sign a four-year $181.5 million extension that would start in 2022-23. Although Leonard would lose $3.3 million in 2021-22 (the difference between his salary and 35% of the cap), Leonard would be rewarded with a $50.2 million salary in the last year. Because of the early Bird rule, Leonard is restricted to signing a four-year $176.3 million contract if he declines the option. His $36 million would be replaced by a $39.3 million cap, but because the contract could be for only four years, Leonard would be forfeiting over $40 million.
What else to watch for the LA Clippers:
- The free agency of Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum
- What are the options outside of their free agents?
- Extension for Terance Mann
Available exceptions: $5.9 million, veterans minimum and trade ($2.1 and $2.0 million)
Note: The Clippers cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade unless a sufficient salary is sent out to stay below the hard cap.
Room over the tax: $15.3 million
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Starting point guard
- Depth at power forward and center
Extension-eligible: Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley and Terance Mann
Free-agent status
- Kawhi Leonard | Player | Early Bird
- DeMarcus Cousins | Non-Bird
- Patrick Patterson | Early Bird
- Reggie Jackson | Early Bird
- Nicolas Batum | Non-Bird
- Amir Coffey | Early Bird
Los Angeles Lakers
Offseason transactions: Russell Westbrook (trade), Austin Reaves (two-way contract) and Joel Ayayi (two-way contract)
What to watch: Their free agents and bargain shopping in free agency
There is work to do this offseason for the Lakers. Despite the addition of a third All-Star in Russell Westbrook, the Lakers have only five players under contract and are $6 million below the luxury tax. Expect the focus to be on signing free agents Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso. The Lakers can exceed the cap to bring both players back because of Bird rights. The addition of Westbrook likely rules out a return of point guard Dennis Schroder. However, the Lakers can try to bolster their bench by exploring sign-and-trade options with Schroder.
What else to watch for the L.A. Lakers
- What is the pecking order in free agency? Half the players on the roster are free agents
- What is the final cost of this roster?
Available exceptions: $5.9 million and veterans minimum
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Lakers use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $6.3 million
Room under the hard cap: $12.6 million
Players under contract: 5
two-way contract: 2
Team needs
- Starting shooting guard
- Bench depth at every position
Extension-eligible: Alfonzo McKinnie and Russell Westbrook
Free-agent status
- Dennis Schroder | Bird
- Wesley Matthews | Non-Bird
- Alex Caruso | Bird
- Ben McLemore | Non-Bird
- Andre Drummond | Non-Bird
- Talen Horton-Tucker | Restricted | Early Bird
- Markieff Morris | Early Bird
- Jared Dudley | Early Bird
- Devontae Cacok | Early Bird
- Kostas Antetokounmpo | Early Bird
Memphis Grizzlies
Offseason transactions: Steven Adams (trade), Eric Bledsoe (trade), Ziaire Williams (draft) and Santi Aldama (draft)
What to watch: Bledsoe
The Grizzlies were the wild-card team heading into the offseason based on the possibility of creating up to $24 million in cap space to go free-agent shopping. Instead, Memphis parlayed flexibility into Bledsoe, Adams and two coveted draft assets — the 10th pick this year and a 2022 Lakers top-10-protected first. The arrival of Bledsoe now presents a logjam at the point guard position with Tyus Jones. Bledsoe has an $18.1 million cap hit this year but only $3.9 million of his $19.4 million salary for the following year is non-guaranteed. Can Memphis now flip the Bledsoe contract to a team that has cap space (New York for an example) or in need of a short-term fix at the point guard position? Because the Grizzlies are acquiring him with cap space, there are no restrictions on when he can be traded.
What else to watch for in Memphis
- The rookie extension options for Jaren Jackson Jr.
- The extension-eligible core players: Kyle Anderson and Jones (all on expiring contracts)
Available exceptions: $4.9 million room midlevel and veterans minimum
Room over the cap: At the salary cap
Players under contract: 14
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- A healthy Jackson
- Veteran stretch 4
- Continued development of the recent draft picks
Extension eligible: Kyle Anderson, Tyus Jones, Jaren Jackson Jr. (rookie) and Grayson Allen (rookie)
Free-agent status
- Killian Tillie | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Tim Frazier | Non-Bird
Miami Heat
Offseason transactions: None
What to watch: Cap space or acting as a team over the cap?
Miami has made nearly every roster move over the past 18 months with one goal in mind: maintaining cap flexibility heading into the summer of 2021. Outside of Bam Adebayo’s max extension, every player Miami has signed or acquired in a trade starting with Andre Iguodala at the 2020 trade deadline has either been on a contract that expired following this season or had a team option for the 2021-22 season. That cap flexibility — originally intended to pursue the top players in a free-agent class that has since seen most of its big names (Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Paul George) sign extensions with their current teams — will now allow the Heat to retool the roster around the five players who have guaranteed contracts for 2021-22: Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala.
However, creating that $21 million cap space would be costly when it comes to retaining the veterans already on the roster. The Heat would need to decline the team options on Iguodala and Goran Dragic by Aug. 1, in addition to renouncing the free-agent rights to Trevor Ariza and Victor Oladipo. In that scenario, after using its cap space, Miami would have the $4.9 million room midlevel exception and the minimum exception to fill out the roster. The alternative for the Heat is operating as an over-the-cap team, which would give them the full $9.5 million midlevel exception, and allow them to bring back Dragic and Iguodala (or use their contracts in trades). They could also decline the team options but retain the cap holds for the duo, pursuing sign-and-trade options for both Dragic and Iguodala, as well as Ariza and Oladipo.
What else to watch in Miami
- The restricted free agency of Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn
- Do they entertain extension talks with Jimmy Butler (who could be a free agent in 2022)?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and none
Note: The Heat will have the $4.9 million room midlevel if they go below the salary cap
Room under the cap: None
Note: Miami can generate up to $21.5 million in cap space if its free agents are renounced and the team options of Dragic and Iguodala are declined.
Players under contract: 8
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Starting point guard (if no Nunn or Dragic)
- The restricted free agents: Nunn and Robinson
- Depth across the board (if team options are declined)
Extension eligible: Jimmy Butler and KZ Okpala
Free-agent status
- Goran Dragic | Team | Bird
- Andre Iguodala | Team | Bird
- Victor Oladipo | Bird
- Trevor Ariza | Early Bird
- Kendrick Nunn | Restricted | Bird
- Duncan Robinson | Restricted | Bird
- Nemanja Bjelica | Bird
- Dewayne Dedmon | Non-Bird
- Udonis Haslem | Bird
- Gabe Vincent | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Max Strus | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Omer Yurtseven | Team | Restricted | Non-Bird
Milwaukee Bucks
Offseason transactions: Sandro Mamukelashvili (draft) and Georgios Kalaitzakis (draft)
What to watch: PJ Tucker, Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes
Though the Bucks have a large portion of their roster already under contract for next season, they still have decisions to make on multiple key contributors this offseason. Because he is such a coveted defender, P.J. Tucker will likely have a choice of suitors at the $5.9 million tax exception and possibly up to the $9.5 million midlevel. Milwaukee is hamstrung financially, so the Bucks might have to overpay to keep Tucker. They did inherit his Bird rights when they acquired him via trade in March, so they can exceed the cap to re-sign him and wouldn’t have to use the taxpayer midlevel exception to do so. If Tucker leaves via free agency, Milwaukee has only the tax midlevel exception or a veterans minimum exception to find his replacement.
Things are more complicated for the Bucks when it comes to Portis and Forbes, both of whom outplayed their contracts this past season. The team doesn’t have Bird rights on either player, which means the maximum the Bucks can offer (not including giving one of them the full taxpayer midlevel of $5.9 million) would be a 120% raise over their 2020-21 salary, which would be an underpay based on what the duo did on the court this past season.
What else to watch in Milwaukee
- The rookie extension of Donte DiVincenzo
Available exceptions: $5.9 million tax midlevel, veterans minimum and trade ($4.9 and $1.7 million)
Room under the tax: $5.5 million
Note: The Bucks cannot acquire a player in a sign-and-trade unless sufficient salary is sent back.
Players under contract: 10
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Bench depth if Forbes and Portis do not return
- Backup stretch four
- Consistency at shooting guard
Extension eligible: Brook Lopez and Donte DiVincenzo (rookie)
Free-agent status
- P.J. Tucker | Bird
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo | Restricted | Bird
- Bobby Portis | Non-Bird
- Bryn Forbes | Non-Bird
- Justin Jackson | Non-Bird
- Axel Toupane | Non-Bird
Minnesota Timberwolves
Offseason transactions: Taurean Prince (trade) and McKinley Wright (two-way contract)
What to watch: The state of the roster
Head of basketball operations Gersson Rosas told the Star Tribune at the end of the season that to be successful, a team has to have seven or eight players it feels really good about to form a foundation. “Right now we are at five,” Rosas said. Those five likely consist of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden McDaniels and Malik Beasley. The question then comes down to how the Timberwolves build the roster outside of those five players. Or does Minnesota explore the trades with Russell, a former All-Star, as the centerpiece?
Minnesota is $10 million below the luxury tax and will likely use only $5.9 million of its midlevel exception. The Timberwolves do have $30 million in expiring contracts (Taurean Prince, Juancho Hernangomez, Jake Layman and former first-round pick Josh Okogie). Hernangomez does not have a non-guaranteed year in 2022-23. Jarrett Culver is set to enter his third season, but the former top-six pick recently had left ankle surgery, resulting in him missing the final nine games of the season. In the 34 games this season, Culver averaged 14.7 minutes (down from 23.9 last year), 5.3 points and shot 24.5% from three. The Timberwolves’ sixth foundation player could be last year’s first-round pick Leandro Bolmaro, who played this past year with FC Barcelona and was named Spanish ACB KIA Most Spectacular player.
What else to watch in Minnesota
- Evaluate the roster with Chris Finch as head coach
- How does the roster improve with limited flexibility?
- Do the Timberwolves entertain extending Towns for an additional two seasons (starting in 2024-25)?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, trade ($4.8 million) and veterans minimum
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Timberwolves use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $8.7 million
Room below the hard cap: $15 million
Players under contract: 12
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- A healthy Russell and Towns
- PF to compliment Towns
- Edwards to take a big step in his development
Extension eligible: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Naz Reid, Jaylen Nowell and Josh Okogie (rookie)
Free-agent status
- Ed Davis | Early Bird
- Jarred Vanderbilt | Restricted | Bird
- Jordan McLaughlin | Early Bird
New Orleans Pelicans
Offseason transactions: Jonas Valanciunas (trade), Trey Murphy (draft) and Herbert Jones (draft)
What to watch: Cap space or bring back Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart?
The Pelicans are a wild card team because of the multiple directions they can go in the offseason. New Orleans has $75 million in salary but are over the cap because of the free agent holds of Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart. The Pelicans can create up to $25 million in room if they do not sign Ball and will see that number increase to $35 million without Hart. If the Pelicans stay over the cap, they will have the $9.5 million midlevel exception and $3.7 million biannual exception. The trade with the Grizzlies also created an $18.2 and $3.1 million trade exception. Both exceptions (they also have a $3.9 million trade exception) will be extinguished if the Pelicans pick the path of cap space.
What else to watch in New Orleans
- Why the Pelicans cannot take Zion Williamson for granted: Two years in and no playoff appearances
- What is the timeline of the young players: Alexander-Walker, Lewis and Hayes?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($18.1 $3.9 and $3.1 million)
Note: The Pelicans will have the $4.9 million room midlevel if they go below the salary cap
Room over the cap: $3.9 million
Note: The Pelicans will have cap flexibility but at the cost of free agents Ball and Hart.
Players under contract: 10
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Starting PG
- Shooters to compliment Zion
- Defensive-minded wings
Extension eligible: None
Free-agent status
- James Johnson | Bird
- Lonzo Ball | Restricted | Bird
- Josh Hart | Restricted | Bird
- Willy Hernangomez | Non-Bird
- James Nunnally | Restricted | Non-Bird
- Didi Louzada | Restricted | Non-Bird
New York Knicks
Offseason transactions: Quentin Grimes (draft), Rokas Jokubaitis (draft), Miles McBride (draft) and Jericho Sims (draft)
What to watch: The direction with cap space
Last November, the Leon Rose-led front office took a conservative approach in its first offseason at the helm, mostly adding players on one-year contracts. Now, a season later, the Knicks are once again in a position to have more than $50 million in cap space available. The difference now is that the goalposts have moved; New York is no longer in the early stages of a rebuild. New York could make a big splash in free agency, but doing so would likely mean having to renounce some of their free agents, including Rose, Noel, Burks and Bullock.
It is unlikely that New York could re-sign all four players and still have significant room available to target a player like Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schroder or Lonzo Ball. The Knicks’ front office showed patience last offseason, and that should continue again if the primary targets are off the board.
What else to watch in New York
- Managing expectations
- The extension options for Julius Randle
- Are the Knicks in a position to acquire a superstar via a trade?
- The extension options for Mitchell Robinson
Available exceptions: $4.9 million midlevel and veterans minimum
Room under the tax: $52.5 million
Players under contract: 8
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Starting point guard, small forward and center
- Depth at every position except power forward
Extension eligible: Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox
Free-agent status
- Derrick Rose | Early Bird
- Frank Ntilikina | Restricted | Bird
- Alec Burks | Non-Bird
- Nerlens Noel | Non-Bird
- Elfrid Payton | Early Bird
- Reggie Bullock | Early Bird
- Taj Gibson | Early Bird
- Theo Pinson | Restricted | Early Bird
Oklahoma City Thunder
Offseason transactions: Derrick Favors (trade), Josh Giddey (draft), Tre Mann (draft), Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (draft) and Aaron Wiggins (draft)
What to watch: The rookie extension of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The rookie max extension of De’Aaron Fox last November and Jamal Murray the year before set the bar when it comes to extension talks of Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. “We have a big conversation that we’ll be able to have with Shai coming up in the offseason,” head of basketball operations Sam Presti said after the season. “We’re really looking forward to that. His impact on the team was pretty obvious, and we think he’s a very, very bright rising player in the NBA. We couldn’t be more excited about the growth he took, both as a player but also as a leader during the year.”
He is only 22-years old and is coming off a season in which he averaged 23.7 points, 5.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds and shot 50.8% from the field, 41.8% from 3. In the 35 games he played, Oklahoma City was 16-19. Without him in the lineup and Thunder were 6-31. Waiting until the next offseason to sign Gilgeous-Alexander would preserve $14 million in cap space because of his $16.8 million cap hold. However, the Thunder have preferred to build through the draft and trades rather than go after a big free agent.
What else to watch in Oklahoma City
- Do they create cap flexibility or act as a team over (trade exceptions)?
- The rookie extension options of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- The trade value of Kemba Walker
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($27.5, $12.8 and $9.7 million)
Room under the cap: None
Note: The Thunder are over the salary cap because of their trade exceptions.
Players under contract: 14
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Depth at shooting guard and small forward
- Continued development of their young players
Extension eligible: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rookie) and Isaiah Roby
Free-agent status
- Mike Muscala | Early Bird
- Svi Mykhailiuk | Restricted | Bird
- Josh Hall | Non-Bird
- Jaylen Hoard | Non-Bird
- Tony Bradley | Bird
Orlando Magic
Offseason transactions: Jalen Suggs (draft) and Franz Wagner (draft)
What to watch: The $17.2 million trade exception
One of the under-the-radar moves at the deadline was the Magic creating a $17.2 million trade exception as part of the Evan Fournier trade to Boston. Because the Magic are unlikely to be a big player in free agency, they can take the position similar to Oklahoma City and take back unwanted contracts but with draft picks attached to it. Including both lottery picks, the Magic are a projected $30 million below the luxury tax.
What else to watch in Orlando: The patience of a careful rebuild (not retool)
- The patience of a careful rebuild (not retool)
- The injured: Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac
- The recent lottery picks: Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr.
- The expiring contracts: Gary Harris and Terrence Ross
- The young core: Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke and RJ Hampton
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($17.2, $4.3 and $2.1 million)
Room under the tax: $29.5 million
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Patience
- A healthy Fultz and Isaac
- Starting small forward
- Consistency of Carter
- Bamba to develop into a rotational player
Extension eligible: Gary Harris, Terrence Ross, Mo Bamba (rookie) and Wendell Carter Jr. (rookie)
Free-agent status
- Otto Porter | Bird
- James Ennis | Early Bird
- Chasson Randle | Non-Bird
- Sindarius Thornwell | Non-Bird
- Moritz Wagner | Non-Bird
- Ignas Brazdeikis | Non-Bird
Philadelphia 76ers
Offseason transactions: Jaden Springer (draft), Filip Petrusev (draft), Charles Bassey (draft) and Aaron Henry (two-way contract)
What to watch: Daryl Morey
The big offseason addition could be more singles and doubles in free agency or on the trade market. “We don’t have a lot of buttons to push,” head of basketball operations Daryl Morey said after the season. “We have three top-level, max players. That’s actually the ideal situation you want as an NBA team. But it also starts to limit your options with sign-and-trades and how much midlevel you have and how much cap room you have to sign [players]. … Internal improvement is probably the bigger lever, and the nice thing is, because we have young players, because we have players that we think have areas you can obviously improve … it’s pretty rare, frankly, to have top players who are already performing at a very high level in this league who also have things that you can point to and say, ‘Hey, if we can improve that, the team can get a lot better.'”
Outside of a blockbuster Ben Simmons trade, the focus on Philadelphia is the free agency of Danny Green, Furkan Korkmaz and building out the bench with limited resources. Expect the Sixers to also explore different options as it relates to a sign-and-trade to acquire Kyle Lowry. The challenge will come with staying below the $143 million hard cap. As for Simmons, the easy approach is to put an artificial deadline at the end of the offseason and take the best offer that is on the table. That is not how it works, especially for a 24-year old player who is coming off back-to-back All-Defensive honors and has four years remaining on his contract.
What else to watch in Philadelphia
- The future of Simmons
- The supermax extension of Joel Embiid
- The free-agency options for Green: one-year contract or sign-and-trade?
- The depth at the 4 and 5
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($8.2 million)
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the 76ers use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $2.8 million
Room under the hard cap: $9 million
Players under contract: 11
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Depth at both forward spots and center
Extension eligible: Joel Embiid, Seth Curry, George Hill and Shake Milton
Free-agent status
- Danny Green | Bird
- Mike Scott | Bird
- Dwight Howard | Non-Bird
- Furkan Korkmaz | Bird
- Gary Clark | Non-Bird
- Rayjon Tucker | Non-Bird
Phoenix Suns
Offseason transactions: Landry Shamet (trade)
What to watch: Chris Paul
Now entering the offseason, Paul has a decision to make on his $44.2 million player option. He can opt in to his contract by Aug. 1 and sign an extension with the Suns once the moratorium is lifted on Aug. 6. Because of the over-38 rule, Paul can extend his contract for a maximum of only two years. There are no restrictions on how much the starting salary in the first year of the extension can decline. For example, the Suns can extend him for two years and $70 million, with a cap hit of $35 million in 2022-23.
Besides the LeBron James extension last December, no players 35 or older have signed a contract with a starting salary of $30 million in the first year. What will transpire from now until Aug. 1 is that Paul’s representatives from CAA and the Suns’ front office will converse on what the future holds. A compromise from both sides would be for Paul to decline his $44.2 million option but sign a new three-year, $105 million contract on Aug. 6. The $44.2 million salary in 2021-22 would be replaced with a $35 million cap hit, allowing Phoenix to re-sign backup point guard Cameron Payne and stay below the luxury tax. Opting in and extending will put Phoenix in the luxury tax for the next three seasons.
What else to watch in Phoenix
- The rookie extensions of Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges
- The free agency of Cameron Payne?
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual and veterans minimum
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Suns use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $11.7 million
Room under the hard cap: $17 million
Players under contract: 9
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Bench depth at point guard and power forward
- Insurance policy at backup center
Extension eligible: Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker
Free-agent status
- Chris Paul | Player | Bird
- E’Twaun Moore | Non-Bird
- Langston Galloway | Non-Bird
- Frank Kaminsky | Non-Bird
- Abdel Nader | Bird
- Cameron Payne | Early Bird
- Torrey Craig | Non-Bird
Portland Trail Blazers
Offseason transactions: Greg Brown (draft) and Trendon Watford (two-way contract)
What to watch: The free agency of Norman Powell
The Trail Blazers’ deadline-day deal to acquire Powell was a risk/reward move. The risk was that Powell had an $11.6 million player option, one he is now likely to decline to become a restricted free agent this summer. That means he could potentially sign with another team, leaving Portland nothing to show for a trade that cost the Blazers restricted free agent Gary Trent Jr. Declining the option wouldn’t necessarily signal Powell’s desire to leave. It would simply be a smart business decision for a player coming off a career season.
The reward aspect of the trade, beyond what Powell provided on the court for Portland in his two months there, is that the Blazers had an opportunity to recruit him early, and by acquiring his Bird rights, they can exceed the cap to sign him. The financial cost, however, could be substantial. If Powell leaves in free agency for another team, Portland would still be over the cap, and would only have the $9.5 million midlevel exception to replace him, leaving the Blazers with little leverage in negotiating a new deal for Powell.
What else to watch in Portland: The overall outlook of the roster and where does it go
- $70M backcourt: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum
- Own free agents: Zach Collins, Enes Kanter, Powell, Harry Giles and Carmelo Anthony
- The non-guaranteed contracts of Jusuf Nurkic and Rodney Hood
- Draft picks are now eligible to be traded
- Extension eligibility of Anfernee Simons
- Trending toward the bottom on the defensive end
- The restricted free agency of Collins
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($1.8 million)
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Trail Blazers use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $21 million
Under the hard cap: $26.3 million
Players under contract: 8
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Health
- Prioritizing Powell in free agency
- Backup power forward and center
Extension eligible: Jusuf Nurkic, Robert Covington and Anfernee Simons (rookie)
Free-agent status
- Zach Collins | Bird
- Norman Powell | Bird
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Non-Bird
- Enes Kanter | Early Bird
- Harry Giles | Non-Bird
- Carmelo Anthony | Early Bird
Sacramento Kings
Offseason transactions: Tristan Thompson (trade), Jalen Johnson (draft) and Sharife Cooper (draft)
What to watch: The options in free agency
This offseason, the Kings will need to continue to add NBA-level free agents who can contribute now. Because they are over the salary cap, the Kings have the $9.5 million midlevel, $3.9 million biannual and minimum exception available to use in free agency (the same as this past offseason). They can bring back Terence Davis, who will become a restricted free agent if the Kings tender him a $2.1 million qualifying offer. Davis has early Bird rights, and the Kings can sign him up to the average player salary ($10.7 million) without dipping into their midlevel exception. Harkless has found a new life in Sacramento after finding himself out of the rotation in Miami. In the 17 games since he was acquired, including 11 as a starter, the 27-year-old is averaging 6.2 points in 23.9 minutes. He scored a season-high 20 points in a loss to Minnesota. One option outside of the Kings’ available exceptions is to trade Harrison Barnes ($20.3M salary in 2021-22) or Buddy Hield ($22.8M) for two or three players who can bolster their depth. The downside would be losing a proven starter for bench support.
One scenario the Kings have to be wary of is starting center Richaun Holmes leaving in free agency, which would force Sacramento to use some of its midlevel exception to sign a replacement, rather than using it to add a wing defender or depth at forward. When the Kings signed Holmes to a two-year contract in 2019, it was thought that he would become their backup center. Instead, injuries to Marvin Bagley III in the past two seasons resulted in Holmes starting 88 games, averaging 13 points and 8.5 rebounds. Because Holmes has early Bird rights, the most Sacramento can offer in the first year is roughly $11 million ($1.5 million more than what another team could offer with the midlevel exception) and it has to be for a minimum of two seasons. The Kings did acquire Thompson as an insurance policy in case Holmes departs.
What else to watch in Sacramento
- What players work around De’Aaron Fox
- The rookie extension of Marvin Bagley III
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($3.7 and $2.1 million)
Room under the tax: $27.2 million
Players under contract: 12
two-way contract: 1
Team needs
- Can Bagley stay healthy?
- Bench depth
Extension eligible: Barnes and Justin James
Free-agent status
- Richaun Holmes | Early Bird
- Hassan Whiteside | Non-Bird
- Maurice Harkless | Non-Bird
- Terence Davis | Restricted | Early Bird
- Kyle Guy | Early Bird
San Antonio Spurs
Offseason transactions: Josh Primo (draft) and Joe Wieskamp (draft)
What to watch: Cap space, own free agents or a combination of both
The trend in San Antonio has been to draft, develop and eventually re-sign players when their rookie contracts expires or the year before in an extension. Will that change this offseason when the Spurs could have more than $50 million in cap space? The Spurs could jump into the deep end in free agency, but it would come at the cost of their free agents: DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills or perhaps Rudy Gay. The three players combined to average 43.8 points this season, 39% of the Spurs’ total production. Although the Spurs have $58 million in contracts, well below the projected $112.1 million salary cap, their cap holds have San Antonio over the cap right now.
What else to watch in San Antonio: The state of the roster
- What is the timeline of the young core?
Available exceptions: $4.9 million room and veterans minimum
Room under the tax: $48 million (Note: Cap space factors in all their free agents being renounced.)
Players under contract: 11
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Derrick White to stay healthy
- Bench depth at all positions
Extension eligible: Lonnie Walker IV (rookie)
Free-agent status
- DeMar DeRozan | Bird
- Rudy Gay | Bird
- Patty Mills | Bird
- Trey Lyles | Early Bird
- DaQuan Jeffries | Team | Restricted | Early Bird
- Keita Bates-Diop | Non-Bird
- Quinndary Weatherspoon | Early Bird
Toronto Raptors
Offseason transactions: Scottie Barnes (draft), Dalano Banton (draft) and David Johnson (draft)
What to watch: The future of Kyle Lowry
In an ideal world, Lowry would finish his career in a Raptors uniform. “I think we all know the respect and the sentiment about Kyle and this ball club, and what he’s done not only for the city, the team, the country, the league,” president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said. Just look at what Lowry has accomplished since he was traded to Toronto from Houston on July 12, 2011: seven consecutive playoff appearances, six All-Star games, All-NBA in 2016 and most importantly leading the Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019.
They can bring back Lowry, a free agent, on a multiyear contract or let him walk for nothing to sign with a team that has cap space (New York or Miami, as examples). The past two free-agent periods have proven that there are other resources to acquire high-level players outside of cap space. In 2019, the Heat had zero cap space but were able to acquire Jimmy Butler in a complex sign-and-trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. The same applied for the Rockets this past November when they acquired free agent Christian Wood. For Lowry, the sign-and-trade option comes into play if the pool of teams with cap space dries up or if the Raptors elect to go in a different direction and not sign him. Although the sign-and-trade is an option, it requires cooperation from the Raptors.
What else to watch in Toronto
- What is the cost associated with Gary Trent Jr.?
- The direction with cap space (if Lowry exits)
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.8 million biannual and veterans minimum exception
Room under the tax: $26.1 million
Players under contract: 12
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Starting shooting guard
- Bench depth
Extension eligible: None
Free-agent status
- Kyle Lowry | Bird
- Gary Trent Jr. | Restricted | Bird
- Stanley Johnson | Early Bird
- Khem Birch | Non-Bird
Utah Jazz
Offseason transactions: Jared Butler (draft)
What to watch: The free agency of Mike Conley
What is the going rate for a soon-to-be 34-year All-Star point guard who has been besieged by injuries the past two seasons? As unfair as that question might sound, that is what the Jazz are asking themselves as they head into the summer. The Jazz will have to weigh the risks against the rewards on any new contract for Conley. When Utah acquired Conley in 2019, the front office knew contract extensions for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were on the horizon, and the price tag to keep this team together would be expensive. They also had to know that because of their finances, there would be no easy way to replace Conley if they decided to end their relationship after two seasons.
What else to watch in Utah: The options of building out the bench
- $5.9M taxpayer midlevel exception
- The first-round pick in 2021
- Bargain hunting with the veterans minimum
- The comfort level of paying the luxury tax (again)
Available exceptions: $5.9 million tax, veterans minimum and trade ($9.2, $5.1 and $2.1 million)
Room under the tax: $13 million
Players under contract: 10
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- A healthy Conley back
- Depth at small and power forward
- Continued development of Elijah Hughes, Miye Oni and Udoka Azubuike
Extension eligible: Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Matt Thomas and Miye Oni
Free-agent status
- Mike Conley | Bird
- Georges Niang | Bird
- Juwan Morgan | Early Bird
- Ersan Ilyasova | Non-Bird
- Trent Forrest | Non-Bird
- Jarrell Brantley | Early Bird
Washington Wizards
Offseason transactions: Corey Kispert (draft), Isaiah Todd (draft), Aaron Holiday (trade), Kyle Kuzma (trade), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (trade) and Montrezl Harrell (trade)
What to watch: Bradley Beal and the luxury tax
Washington overcame much adversity this past season to earn an appearance in the postseason, but Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard is not content being conservative with the roster. “This is not a run-it-back team,” he said. “We have to get better.” Sheppard justified that statement when he reached an agreement to trade trade Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and a first-round pick. The Wizards would also acquire Aaron Holiday from the Pacers and grab much needed shooting in Corey Kispert in the first round. The trades now have given the Wizards the ability to use their full $9.5 million midlevel exception and remain below the salary cap. Beal will reach 10 years of service in 2022 and as a result, can sign an extension worth 35% of the salary cap starting on Oct. 1. A four-year extension that starts in 2022-23 — replacing his $36.4 million player option — would have a starting salary of $40.5 million and be worth a total of $181.5 million over the life of the deal.
The Wizards are on the same financial playing field with an extension as a team that could sign Beal with cap space in 2022. Beal’s total salary from a four-year extension would be only $7 million more than what he could get on a max contract from another team. Still, if Beal turns down the extension, the Wizards shouldn’t take it as an indication that he wants out. He could prefer to play out the season and explore his options in 2022, when he could sign a new five-year deal with Washington worth a total of $54 million more. Declining the extension could simply be a smart financial decision.
Available exceptions: $9.5 million midlevel, $3.7 million biannual, veterans minimum and trade ($4.5, $2.2 and $1.1 million)
Note: The $143 million hard cap gets triggered if the Wizards use more than $5.9 million of their midlevel exception or they acquire a player in a sign-and-trade.
Room under the tax: $16.3 million
Under the hard cap: $26.6 million
Players under contract: 13
two-way contract: 0
Team needs
- Avdija and Hachimura to take a big step in their development
- Wing defenders off the bench
- Depth at point, shooting guard and small forward
Extension eligible: Bradley Beal, Thomas Bryant, Daniel Gafford, Aaron Holiday and Chandler Hutchison (rookie)
Free-agent status
- Robin Lopez | Non-Bird
- Ish Smith | Early Bird
- Isaac Bonga | Bird
- Raul Neto | Non-Bird
- Garrison Mathews | Restricted | Early Bird
- Alex Len | Non-Bird
- Cassius Winston | Non-Bird
Bird rights explainer
Bird rights
A team can exceed the cap to sign a free agent who has played three consecutive seasons with his current team. Bird rights transfer to a new team in a trade.
Early Bird rights
Teams can exceed the cap to sign a player who has spent two consecutive seasons with a team (without being waived, carries over in a trade), but they are restricted to 175% of his previous salary or 105% of the average player salary. A team can exceed either limit with available cap space. A contract signed using the early Bird exception must be for a minimum of two years, not including options. It cannot exceed four years.
Non-Bird rights
A free agent who has played one season with a team can sign for 120% of his previous contract or 120% of the minimum salary exception. Teams can exceed either limit but only with cap space or an exception.
Restricted free agent
A free agent either coming off his first-round rookie contract or who has signed a three-year contract and has three or fewer years of service can be given a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. In that case, his current team would have the right to match any offer. If the player is coming off a one-year or two-year deal, the maximum salary in the first year on an offer sheet from another team cannot exceed the full midlevel.
NOTE: A first-round pick who had his third-year or fourth-year option in his rookie-scale contract declined cannot be extended a qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent. His current team is limited to offering a contract with a first-year salary worth up to the value of the declined option.
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