Max Amount Each NBA Team Can Offer FAs

We’re nearly three weeks into the NBA offseason, and cap room around the league has dried up. Only the Kings still have substantial cap room, with more than $20MM in space still available.

However, Sacramento isn’t the only team capable of making a competitive offer to the remaining free agents. Many other clubs around the league still have various exception money available that could be put toward a free agent signing.

With the help of information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Basketball Insiders, we’ve listed below the maximum starting salary that each of the NBA’s 30 teams can offer an outside free agent right now. Teams can potentially offer more to their own free agents if they hold some form of Bird rights.

Because we’re listing the maximum starting salary a team has to offer, this list doesn’t necessarily take into account every one of a club’s exceptions. For instance, if a team has its $8.64MM mid-level exception and its $3.38MM bi-annual exception available, we won’t list their BAE here.

These figures could change if teams make other roster moves, and in some cases using the maximum available amount on a free agent would create a hard cap or tax-related concerns for the club.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Sacramento Kings: $20.52MM (cap room)
   • Note: Kings’ cap room will be reduced slightly by their new two-year, $6.2MM deal with Yogi Ferrell.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers: $8.64MM (MLE)
3. Utah Jazz: $8.64MM (MLE)
4. Orlando Magic: $6.75MM (MLE)
5. Boston Celtics: $5.34MM (tax MLE)
6. Houston Rockets: $5.34MM (tax MLE)
7. Miami Heat: $5.34MM (tax MLE)
8. Oklahoma City Thunder: $5.34MM (tax MLE)
9. Toronto Raptors: $5.34MM (tax MLE)
10. Atlanta Hawks: $4.45MM (room exception)
11. Chicago Bulls: $4.45MM (room exception)
12. Dallas Mavericks: $4.45MM (room exception)
    • The Mavericks are reportedly using their remaining cap room (more than $4.45MM) to re-sign Dirk Nowitzki.
13. Los Angeles Lakers: $4.45MM (room exception)
14. Philadelphia 76ers: $4.45MM (room exception)
15. Phoenix Suns: $4.45MM (room exception)
16. Detroit Pistons: $3.73MM (MLE)
17. Charlotte Hornets: $3.38MM (bi-annual exception)
18. Los Angeles Clippers: $3.38MM (bi-annual exception)
19. Minnesota Timberwolves: $3.38MM (bi-annual exception)
20. New York Knicks: $3.38MM (bi-annual exception)
21. San Antonio Spurs: $3.38MM (bi-annual exception)
22. Denver Nuggets: $2.5MM (tax MLE)
23. Portland Trail Blazers: $1.7MM (tax MLE)
    • For players with five or more years of NBA experience, the minimum salary would be worth more.
24. Milwaukee Bucks: $1.64MM (MLE)
    • For players with five or more years of NBA experience, the minimum salary would be worth more.
25. Brooklyn Nets: Minimum salary
    • The Nets are reportedly using their $4.45MM to sign Ed Davis.
26. Golden State Warriors: Minimum salary
27. Indiana Pacers: Minimum salary
28. Memphis Grizzlies: Minimum salary
29. New Orleans Pelicans: Minimum salary
30. Washington Wizards: Minimum salary