2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Boston Celtics
After making the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018 without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward in their lineup, the Celtics were widely viewed as the favorites to come out of the East in 2019. Instead, Boston struggled all season to live up to those preseason expectations, with fit and role concerns plaguing the team’s veterans and young players alike. Bringing back the same group seems unpalatable, so it could be a summer of change in New England.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Celtics financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Gordon Hayward ($32,700,690)
- Marcus Smart ($12,553,571)
- Jayson Tatum ($7,830,000)
- Jaylen Brown ($6,534,829)
- Guerschon Yabusele ($3,117,240)
- Robert Williams ($1,937,520)
- Demetrius Jackson ($92,857) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $64,766,707
Player Options
- Al Horford ($30,123,015)
- Kyrie Irving ($21,329,752)
- Aron Baynes ($5,453,280)
- Total: $56,906,047
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Semi Ojeleye ($1,618,520) 1
- Total: $1,618,520
Restricted Free Agents
- Terry Rozier ($4,285,798 qualifying offer / $9,151,170 cap hold): Bird rights
- Jonathan Gibson ($1,876,700 qualifying offer / $1,876,700 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Daniel Theis ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Brad Wanamaker ($1,643,842 qualifying offer / $1,643,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $14,490,198
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Marcus Morris ($10,212,500): Bird rights
- No. 14 overall pick ($3,454,080)
- No. 20 overall pick ($2,578,800)
- No. 22 overall pick ($2,376,840)
- Shane Larkin ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 2
- P.J. Dozier ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- R.J. Hunter ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $23,128,390
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- With less than $65MM in guaranteed money on their books, the Celtics have a path to cap room, but unless they clean house, it’s hard to imagine them getting there. If Horford exercises his player option, that would make Boston an over-the-cap team. The team also must consider Baynes’ player option, Rozier’s cap hold, cap holds for three draft picks, and a new salary for Irving. Perhaps Rozier and/or Irving depart, but it seems likely that at least one of them is retained.
- If we account for the Celtics’ six players on guaranteed contracts and their three first-round picks, the team could create up to $33.1MM in cap room. But that figure wouldn’t include any of Horford, Irving, Baynes, Rozier, Morris, or Ojeleye, making it a real long shot.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $450,000 (expires 7/23/19) 3
- Trade exception: $1,349,383 (expires 2/7/20) 3
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 4
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 4
Footnotes
- Ojeleye’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 1.
- Larkin’s cap hold remains on the Celtics’ books because he hasn’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- The Celtics will lose these exceptions if they go under the cap to use room.
- These are projected values. If the Celtics are at risk of going into tax territory, they may forfeit the bi-annual exception and have to use the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,711,000) rather than the full mid-level exception. In the event they use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions and would instead would gain access to the $4,760,000 room exception.
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Utah Jazz
For a second straight year, the Jazz finished the regular season with a strong home stretch after an up-and-down first half. And for a second straight year, they ran into the Rockets in the playoffs, unable to mount a serious threat against James Harden‘s squad. With the current squad having perhaps reached its ceiling, the Jazz will likely look to make some changes to their roster this summer.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Jazz financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Rudy Gobert ($25,008,427)
- Joe Ingles ($11,954,546)
- Dante Exum ($9,600,000)
- Jae Crowder ($7,815,533)
- Donovan Mitchell ($3,635,760)
- Kyle Korver ($3,440,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- Grayson Allen ($2,429,400)
- Tony Bradley ($1,962,360)
- Total: $65,846,026
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Derrick Favors ($17,650,000) 2
- Kyle Korver ($4,120,000) 1
- Raul Neto ($2,150,000) 3
- Georges Niang ($1,645,357)
- Royce O’Neale ($1,618,520)
- Total: $27,183,877
Restricted Free Agents
- Tyler Cavanaugh (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 4
- Naz Mitrou-Long (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Early Bird rights 4
- Total: $2,887,684
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Ricky Rubio ($22,462,500): Bird rights
- Thabo Sefolosha ($6,825,000): Early Bird rights
- Ekpe Udoh ($4,368,000): Early Bird rights
- No. 23 overall pick ($2,281,800)
- Erik McCree ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights 5
- Total: $37,381,142
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Maximum cap room projection: $38.9MM
- This projection takes into account Utah’s seven players on fully guaranteed salaries, O’Neale’s non-guaranteed salary, and the cap hold for their first-round pick. It also assumes that Korver is waived and stretched.
- The Jazz could end up with significantly less cap room. If Favors is retained, for example, his cap hit would reduce Utah’s cap space by nearly $17MM. Retaining other non-guaranteed players like Neto and Niang would further cut into that space. If the Jazz were to waive-and-stretch Korver but retained Favors, Neto, and O’Neale, they’d have $20.8MM in cap room.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 6
Footnotes
- Favors’ salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 6.
- Korver’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 7.
- Neto’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 6.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- McCree can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. In the event the Jazz remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000), the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000), and their lone trade exception ($3,976,515; expires 11/29/19).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Indiana Pacers
The Pacers proved in the early going this season that their 2017/18 success was no fluke, then proved they were capable of winning games without their star player after Victor Oladipo went down with a season-ending quad injury. Ultimately, the Oladipo-less Pacers couldn’t make any noise in the playoffs, but there’s plenty of reason for optimism as they enter an important offseason.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Pacers financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Victor Oladipo ($21,000,000)
- Myles Turner ($18,000,000)
- Doug McDermott ($7,333,333)
- Domantas Sabonis ($3,529,555)
- T.J. Leaf ($2,813,280)
- Monta Ellis ($2,245,400) — Waived via stretch provision
- Aaron Holiday ($2,239,200)
- Alize Johnson ($761,536) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- Total: $57,922,304
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Edmond Sumner ($1,588,231)
- Total: $1,588,231
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Alize Johnson ($655,316) 1
- Total: $655,316
Restricted Free Agents
- Davon Reed (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 2
- Total: $1,443,842
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Thaddeus Young ($20,646,068): Bird rights
- Cory Joseph ($15,095,500): Bird rights
- Tyreke Evans ($14,880,000): Non-Bird rights
- Bojan Bogdanovic ($13,650,000): Early Bird rights
- Darren Collison ($13,000,000): Early Bird rights
- Kyle O’Quinn ($5,338,800): Non-Bird rights
- No. 18 overall pick ($2,813,280)
- Wesley Matthews ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $87,042,134
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Maximum cap room projection: $44MM
- This cap projection assumes the Pacers keep their seven players with salary guarantees (including Johnson, since waiving him would mean eating his guarantee and replacing him with an empty roster charge) and their first-round pick.
- In reality, if the Pacers plan on re-signing two or three of their free agents, it’s possible they’ll have much less cap room. They could even operate as an over-the-cap team if they bring back a few players. For what it’s worth, retaining Bogdanovic’s cap hold along with their other seven players and their pick would result in about $31.3MM in cap space.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 3
Footnotes
- Johnson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- This is a projected value. In the event the Pacers remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000) and the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder‘s 2017 trade for Paul George paid off in a big way during the 2018 offseason when they convinced the All-Star forward to sign a long-term deal with the franchise. However, despite a terrific season from George, Oklahoma City was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round for a third consecutive year, raising questions about the long-term ceiling of the current core.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Thunder financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Russell Westbrook ($38,506,482)
- Paul George ($33,005,556)
- Steven Adams ($25,842,697)
- Dennis Schroder ($15,500,000)
- Andre Roberson ($10,740,740)
- Jerami Grant ($9,346,153)
- Patrick Patterson ($5,711,200): Exercised player option
- Terrance Ferguson ($2,475,840)
- Hamidou Diallo ($1,416,852)
- Kyle Singler ($999,200) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $143,544,720
Player Options
- Nerlens Noel ($1,988,119)
- Total: $1,988,119
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Abdel Nader ($1,618,520) 1
- Deonte Burton ($1,416,852) 2
- Total: $3,035,372
Restricted Free Agents
- Jawun Evans (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 3
- Total: $1,443,842
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- No. 21 overall pick ($2,475,720)
- Raymond Felton ($1,618,486): Early Bird rights
- Markieff Morris ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Norris Cole ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 4
- Nick Collison ($1,618,486): Bird rights 4
- Total: $10,109,464
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- After paying the highest luxury tax bill in the NBA in 2018/19, the Thunder appear poised to blow past the tax threshold again in 2019/20. It’s possible they’ll find a way to sneak below that line, but there’s no chance they’ll have cap room and little chance they’ll gain access to the full mid-level exception and bi-annual exception.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $10,883,189 (expires 7/25/19)
- Trade exception: $1,544,951 (expires 2/3/20)
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,711,000 5
Footnotes
- Nader’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 5.
- Burton’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($1MM) after August 1.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- Cole’s and Collison’s cap holds remain on the Thunder’s books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in previous offseasons. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. If the Thunder were to reduce salary and stay out of tax territory, they could instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000) and the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Brooklyn Nets
A long, challenging rebuild began to pay dividends for the Nets in 2018/19, as the team finished sixth in the Eastern Conference, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2015.
With promising young players like Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and Rodions Kurucs still on rookie deals and reliable contributors like Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris also locked up for next season, Brooklyn is set up well for the future. But the Nets will have to answer two crucial questions this summer: Will they invest big money in D’Angelo Russell, and will they be able to land a star in free agency?
Here’s where things currently stand for the Nets financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Allen Crabbe ($18,500,000) — Exercised player option
- Spencer Dinwiddie ($10,605,084)
- Joe Harris ($7,666,667)
- Deron Williams ($5,474,787) — Waived via stretch provision
- Caris LeVert ($2,625,718)
- Jarrett Allen ($2,376,840)
- Dzanan Musa ($1,911,600)
- Rodions Kurucs ($1,699,236)
- Total: $50,859,932
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Shabazz Napier ($1,845,301) 1
- Treveon Graham ($1,645,357) 2
- Total: $3,490,658
Restricted Free Agents
- D’Angelo Russell ($9,160,706 qualifying offer / $21,059,094 cap hold): Bird rights
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($3,594,369 qualifying offer / $7,411,071 cap hold): Bird rights
- Theo Pinson ($1,643,842 qualifying offer / $1,643,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Alan Williams (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 3
- Total: $31,557,849
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- DeMarre Carroll ($23,100,000): Bird rights
- Jared Dudley ($14,295,000): Bird rights
- Ed Davis ($5,338,800): Non-Bird rights
- No. 17 overall pick ($2,961,000)
- No. 27 overall pick ($1,974,360)
- Total: $47,669,160
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Standard cap room projection: $30.4MM
- For all the talk of the Nets being a player for a maximum-salary free agent, they’d have to shed some money to create enough room for one. This projection takes into account their seven guaranteed salaries, Russell’s cap hold, and the cap holds for their two first-round picks.
- More aggressive cap room projection: $50MM
- If the Nets want to open up more space, waiving-and-stretching Crabbe would be one option, but it might make more sense to trade him, using one of their first-round picks as a sweetener to convince a team to take on his contract. This projection assumes the Nets trade Crabbe along with the No. 17 overall pick without taking back any salary.
- Other scenarios:
- The most aggressive scenario I can envision for the Nets would involve trading Crabbe and both of their two first-round picks while also renouncing Russell’s cap hold. That’s probably not a likely outcome, but it would get Brooklyn all the way up to $71.3MM in space, enough for two maximum contracts.
- If the Nets were to retain their first-round picks and Russell’s cap hold and simply waived-and-stretched Crabbe, their cap room would increase from $30.4MM (our initial projection) to $41.8MM. This would be the simplest way to create a max slot if the team doesn’t want to sacrifice a first-round pick and doesn’t mind spreading out Crabbe’s salary across three years.
- Attaching their No. 27 pick to Crabbe in a trade while retaining Russell’s cap hold and their No. 17 pick would leave the Nets with $49MM in cap room.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 4
Footnotes
- Napier’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 10.
- Graham’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 10.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- This is a projected value. In the unlikely event the Nets remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000) and the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: San Antonio Spurs
After a tumultuous offseason that included the departures of three longtime core players – Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker – the revamped Spurs did what they always do and earned a playoff spot for the 22nd consecutive year. The current roster may not have the same upside as the title-winning squads led by Tim Duncan, but with Derrick White on the rise and Dejounte Murray on the mend, there’s still room for San Antonio to improve.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Spurs financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- DeMar DeRozan ($27,739,975)
- LaMarcus Aldridge ($26,000,000)
- Patty Mills ($12,428,571)
- Davis Bertans ($7,000,000)
- Marco Belinelli ($5,846,154)
- Pau Gasol ($5,074,856) — Waived
- Jakob Poeltl ($3,754,886)
- Bryn Forbes ($2,875,000)
- Lonnie Walker ($2,760,480)
- Dejounte Murray ($2,321,735)
- Derrick White ($1,948,080)
- Chimezie Metu ($1,416,852)
- Total: $99,166,589
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Rudy Gay ($13,113,360): Early Bird rights
- Dante Cunningham ($2,984,400): Non-Bird rights
- No. 19 overall pick ($2,686,440)
- Nikola Milutinov ($2,033,160) 1
- No. 29 overall pick ($1,947,960)
- Joffrey Lauvergne ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 2
- Donatas Motiejunas ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Quincy Pondexter ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Matt Costello ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights 2
- Darrun Hilliard ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights 2
- Ben Moore ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $31,952,304
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- Barring a cost-cutting move or two, the Spurs project to have $103.8MM on their books for 11 guaranteed salaries plus two first-round picks. Working as an over-the-cap team and retaining their mid-level and bi-annual exceptions makes more sense than renouncing those exceptions for a mere $5.2MM in potential cap room. If they want to re-sign Gay, going under the cap becomes even less realistic.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 3
Footnotes
- Milutinov was the 26th overall pick in the 2015 draft. His cap hold (the equivalent to the 26th overall pick in the 2019 draft) will remain on the Spurs’ books unless the team receives permission to remove it, which would ensure Milutinov won’t be signed in 2019/20.
- Lauvergne’s, Costello’s, and Hilliard’s cap holds remain on the Spurs’ books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. In the unlikely event the Spurs risk going into the tax, they may forfeit the bi-annual exception and have to use the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,711,000) rather than the full mid-level exception.
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Orlando Magic
The 2018/19 season was widely expected to be a rebuilding season for the Magic, and the team even made the ultimate rebuilding at the move at the trade deadline, acquiring injured prospect Markelle Fultz. However, an All-Star performance from Nikola Vucevic and the eighth-best defense in the NBA helped buoy Orlando to a playoff spot.
Now, the team will have to decide whether to try to build on that success by re-signing key contributors like Vucevic and Terrence Ross, or whether to pivot to a full-fledged youth movement.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Magic financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Aaron Gordon ($19,863,636)
- Evan Fournier ($17,000,000)
- Timofey Mozgov ($16,720,000)
- Markelle Fultz ($9,745,200)
- D.J. Augustin ($7,250,000)
- Jonathan Isaac ($5,806,440)
- Mohamed Bamba ($5,697,600)
- Melvin Frazier ($1,416,852)
- C.J. Watson ($333,333) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $83,833,061
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Wesley Iwundu ($1,618,520)
- Total: $1,618,520
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- Jerian Grant ($3,763,662 qualifying offer / $7,917,942 cap hold): Bird rights
- Jarell Martin ($3,549,430 qualifying offer / $7,248,666 cap hold): Bird rights
- Khem Birch ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Amile Jefferson (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 1
- Total: $18,428,936
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Nikola Vucevic ($19,125,000): Bird rights
- Terrence Ross ($15,750,000): Bird rights
- Fran Vazquez ($4,028,400) 2
- No. 16 overall pick ($3,117,000)
- Arron Afflalo ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 3
- Michael Carter-Williams ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Marreese Speights ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 3
- Troy Caupain ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $48,319,700
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- This projection assumes that the Magic keep either Vucevic’s or Ross’ cap hold on their books in an attempt to re-sign them. Retaining even one of those holds would make Orlando an over-the-cap team.
- If the Magic let both of their top free agents walk, there’s a path to possible cap room. Waiving all their non-guaranteed contracts and renouncing their free agents could create as much as about $19.4MM in space. I’m not sure that’s a likely scenario though. I expect the Magic to try to re-sign at least one of Vucevic or Ross, and even if they don’t, bringing back less expensive players like Iwundu and Birch would also cut into that projected room.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 4
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 4
Footnotes
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- Vazquez was the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft. His cap hold (the equivalent to the 11th overall pick in the 2019 draft) will remain on the Magic’s books unless the team receives permission to remove it, ensuring Vazquez won’t be signed in 2019/20.
- Afflalo’s and Speights’ cap holds remain on the Magic’s books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- These are projected values. In the event the Magic use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions and would instead would gain access to the $4,760,000 room exception.
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Los Angeles Clippers
After trading away Chris Paul in the summer of 2017 and Blake Griffin at the 2018 trade deadline, the Clippers moved leading scorer Tobias Harris at 2019’s deadline. Somehow, the club looked better than ever after the exodus of its stars, posting a 18-8 record down the stretch and securing a playoff spot. While Los Angeles’ playoff run was brief, the team notched a pair of impressive victories over the Warriors before being eliminated, and now heads into the offseason well positioned to land a star.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Clippers financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Danilo Gallinari ($22,615,559)
- Lou Williams ($8,000,000)
- Montrezl Harrell ($6,000,000)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($3,952,920)
- Jerome Robinson ($3,567,720)
- Landry Shamet ($1,995,120)
- Total: $46,131,319
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Sindarius Thornwell ($1,618,520) 1
- Tyrone Wallace ($1,588,231) 2
- Total: $3,206,751
Restricted Free Agents
- Rodney McGruder ($3,021,354 qualifying offer / $3,021,354 cap hold): Bird rights
- Ivica Zubac ($1,931,189 qualifying offer / $1,931,189 cap hold): Bird rights
- Johnathan Motley (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Early Bird rights 3
- Total: $6,396,385
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Wilson Chandler ($19,200,843): Bird rights
- Garrett Temple ($15,200,000): Bird rights
- JaMychal Green ($14,566,667): Bird rights
- Patrick Beverley ($9,551,353): Bird rights
- Angel Delgado ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $59,962,705
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $56.5MM
- This projection assumes that the Clippers retain their six players on guaranteed contracts and keep Zubac’s cap hold on their books. Hanging onto any other players would reduce this figure.
- On the other hand, if the Clips were able to trade Gallinari without taking back any salary, they could keep Zubac and their other five guaranteed contracts and increase their cap projection to $78.2MM. That would be more than enough space for two maximum salary free agents.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 4
Footnotes
- Thornwell’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 20.
- Wallace’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($300K) after September 12.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- This is a projected value. In the unlikely event the Clippers remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000), the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000), and three trade exceptions (their most valuable TPE is worth $9,800,000 and expires on 2/6/20).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Detroit Pistons
The Pistons‘ first full season with Blake Griffin on the roster and Dwane Casey on the sidelines was a relative success, as the team fought its way back into the postseason after a two-year absence. Of course, a No. 8 seed and a first-round sweep at the hands of the Bucks showed that Detroit still has a ways to go to join the upper echelon of the East, and the club will have limited resources to upgrade its roster this summer.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Pistons financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Blake Griffin ($34,449,964)
- Andre Drummond ($27,093,019)
- Reggie Jackson ($18,086,956)
- Jon Leuer ($9,508,043)
- Langston Galloway ($7,333,333)
- Josh Smith ($5,331,729) — Waived via stretch provision
- Luke Kennard ($3,827,160)
- Thon Maker ($3,569,643)
- Bruce Brown ($1,416,852)
- Khyri Thomas ($1,416,852)
- Total: $112,033,551
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Glenn Robinson III ($4,278,750)
- Total: $4,278,750
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk ($1,416,852) 1
- Total: $1,416,852
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Ish Smith ($11,400,000): Bird rights
- No. 15 overall pick ($3,280,920)
- Wayne Ellington ($2,859,691): Non-Bird rights
- Jose Calderon ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Jameer Nelson ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 2
- Zaza Pachulia ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Kalin Lucas ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Isaiah Whitehead ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $25,283,753
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- The Pistons would have to make major cost-cutting moves to create cap room, which is unlikely. The good news is that, taking into account nine players on guaranteed salaries and the cap hold for their first-round pick, they’re still about $16.7MM away from the projected tax line, so using the full mid-level exception is viable.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $2,500,000 (expires 2/6/20)
- Trade exception: $1,140,682 (expires 2/7/20)
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 3
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 3
Footnotes
- Mykhailiuk’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 5.
- Nelson’s cap hold remains on the Pistons’ books because he hasn’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- These are projected values. If the Pistons are at risk of going into tax territory, they may forfeit the bi-annual exception and have to use the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,711,000) rather than the full mid-level exception.
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Los Angeles Lakers
After years of building through the draft and steadily improving their record, adding LeBron James to the mix was supposed to be the move that pushed the Lakers back into the playoffs. Early returns were positive, as the team held a top-four seed in the West through Christmas, but things took a sharp downturn from there. LeBron’s groin injury, a series of leaked Anthony Davis trade offers, and Magic Johnson‘s abrupt resignation from his president of basketball operations role has left the franchise in a state of a flux entering a crucial summer.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Lakers financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- LeBron James ($37,436,858)
- Lonzo Ball ($8,719,320)
- Brandon Ingram ($7,265,485)
- Luol Deng ($5,000,000) — Waived via stretch provision
- Moritz Wagner ($2,063,520)
- Kyle Kuzma ($1,974,600)
- Josh Hart ($1,934,160)
- Isaac Bonga ($1,416,852)
- Total: $65,810,795
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Jemerrio Jones ($1,416,852)
- Total: $1,416,852
Restricted Free Agents
- Alex Caruso ($1,618,486 qualifying offer / $1,618,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights 1
- Johnathan Williams (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 1
- Total: $3,062,328
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($15,600,000): Early Bird rights
- Rajon Rondo ($10,800,000): Non-Bird rights
- Mike Muscala ($9,500,000): Bird rights
- No. 4 overall pick ($7,059,360)
- Lance Stephenson ($5,338,800): Non-Bird rights
- Reggie Bullock ($4,750,000): Bird rights
- Tyson Chandler ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- JaVale McGee ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $53,254,172
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $32.5MM
- There aren’t many complicating factors we have to consider when projecting the Lakers’ cap room, since none of their pending free agents are players who absolutely must be retained. If we account for their seven players on guaranteed contracts and the cap hold for their first-round pick, that leaves about $32.5MM in cap room, assuming they renounce all their FAs-to-be and waive Jones. That wouldn’t be quite enough space for a maximum salary free agent, so the Lakers would have to make an additional move to shed salary.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 2
Footnotes
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- This is a projected value. If the Lakers remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000), the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000), and their lone remaining trade exception ($1,544,951; expires 2/7/20).
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.