2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Charlotte Hornets
Despite having had Kemba Walker under contract at a rate of $12MM annually for the last four years, the Hornets were unable to build a legit contender around him, loading their cap with long-term, oversized contracts for role players. Now, after another season in the lottery, the Hornets enter the summer with many of those pricey contracts still on their books and Walker headed for unrestricted free agency.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Hornets financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Nicolas Batum ($25,565,217)
- Bismack Biyombo ($17,000,000): Exercised player option
- Cody Zeller ($14,471,910)
- Malik Monk ($4,028,400)
- Miles Bridges ($3,755,400)
- Devonte’ Graham ($1,416,852)
- Total: $66,237,779
Player Options
- Marvin Williams ($15,006,250): Plans to exercise player option
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($13,000,000)
- Total: $28,006,250
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Tony Parker ($5,250,000) 1
- Willy Hernangomez ($1,676,735) 2
- Dwayne Bacon ($1,618,520) 3
- Total: $8,545,255
Restricted Free Agents
- Frank Kaminsky ($4,485,665 qualifying offer / $10,883,526 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total: $10,883,526
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Kemba Walker ($18,000,000): Bird rights
- Jeremy Lamb ($14,227,907): Bird rights
- No. 13 overall pick ($3,826,920)
- Shelvin Mack ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Brian Roberts ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 4
- Joe Chealey ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- J.P. Macura ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Marcus Paige ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights 4
- Total: $43,623,325
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- If Williams or Kidd-Gilchrist unexpectedly opt out, perhaps the Hornets could carve out a little cap room. But assuming both players return, Charlotte would only be able to get up to about $8.2MM in cap room by renouncing all their free agents and waiving all their players on non-guaranteed contracts. The mid-level exception will be worth more than that, so the Hornets figure to just remain over the cap.
- Should the Hornets re-sign Walker to a maximum salary contract, they’ll likely have to shed a little salary to stay out of tax territory.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $7,819,725 (expires 7/6/19)
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 5
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 5
Footnotes
- Parker’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 4.
- Hernangomez’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 28.
- Bacon’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 1.
- Roberts’ and Paige’s cap holds remain on the Hornets’ 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. If the Hornets 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: New Orleans Pelicans
Coming off an impressive 2017/18 season in which they advanced to the Western Semifinals, the Pelicans had hopes of contending in 2018/19. Instead, New Orleans played sub-.500 ball in the first half and saw things go from bad to worse when Anthony Davis made a public trade request in January. Now, new head of basketball operations David Griffin will be tasked with determining the next move in the Davis saga, which will have significant impact on the future of the franchise.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Pelicans financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Anthony Davis ($27,093,018)
- Jrue Holiday ($26,231,111)
- Solomon Hill ($12,758,781)
- E’Twaun Moore ($8,664,928)
- Frank Jackson ($506,143) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- Total: $75,253,981
Player Options
- Julius Randle ($9,073,050)
- Total: $9,073,050
Team Options
- Jahlil Okafor ($1,702,486) 2
- Total: $1,702,486
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Christian Wood ($1,645,357)
- Dairis Bertans ($1,416,852) 3
- Kenrich Williams ($1,416,852) 4
- Frank Jackson ($1,112,377) 1
- Total: $5,591,438
Restricted Free Agents
- Stanley Johnson ($4,485,665 qualifying offer / $11,821,206 cap hold): Bird rights
- Cheick Diallo ($1,931,189 qualifying offer / $1,931,189 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total: $13,752,395
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- No. 1 overall pick ($9,744,840)
- Elfrid Payton ($3,600,000): Non-Bird rights
- Darius Miller ($2,866,500): Early Bird rights
- Ian Clark ($1,618,486): Early Bird rights
- Jordan Crawford ($1,618,486): Early Bird rights 5
- Trevon Bluiett ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $16,447,714
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $16MM
- There are a lot of wild cards at play in the Pelicans’ offseason. Davis’ future is the biggest one, but there are a number of free agents or players on non-guaranteed salaries on the roster whose fates are unclear too. Our projection assumes the Pelicans keep their four players with fully guaranteed salaries, plus Jackson, Okafor, and Wood, who all have reasonable contracts.
- New Orleans’ actual summer may – and probably will – end up playing out much differently. If the Pelicans want to re-sign Randle and/or some other free agents, they might not use cap room at all. On the other hand, if the Pels trade Davis for a pick-heavy package and don’t take back a ton of salary, they could end up with substantially more cap room than we project.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 6
Footnotes
- Jackson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
- If Okafor’s team option is exercised, his salary is still only partially guaranteed for $54,323.
- Bertans’ salary becomes partially guaranteed ($150K) after August 1.
- Williams’ salary becomes partially guaranteed ($200K) after July 20.
- Crawford’s cap hold remains on the Pelicans’ books because he hasn’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. If the Pelicans remain over the cap, they’d instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000) and their lone remaining trade exception ($3,109,598; 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.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Miami Heat
While the Heat weren’t considered a championship contender entering the 2018/19 season, they were viewed as a solid playoff team with the opportunity to increase their ceiling by making a trade for Jimmy Butler. Despite a steady stream of trade rumors in the fall, Butler was ultimately sent to Philadelphia instead of Miami, and the Heat’s star-less roster struggled to perform consistently during Dwyane Wade‘s farewell tour. With Wade calling it a career, the Heat are entering a new era in 2019/20 after missing the postseason this spring.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Heat financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Ryan Anderson ($15,643,750) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- James Johnson ($15,349,400)
- Justise Winslow ($13,000,000)
- Kelly Olynyk ($12,667,885)
- Dion Waiters ($12,100,000)
- Josh Richardson ($10,116,576)
- Bam Adebayo ($3,454,080)
- A.J. Hammons ($350,087) — Waived via stretch provision
- Duncan Robinson ($250,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 2
- Yante Maten ($100,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 3
- Total: $83,031,778
Player Options
- Hassan Whiteside ($27,093,018)
- Goran Dragic ($19,217,900)
- Total: $46,310,918
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Ryan Anderson ($5,620,885) 1
- Derrick Jones ($1,645,357) 4
- Kendrick Nunn ($1,416,852) 5
- Yante Maten ($1,316,852) 3
- Duncan Robinson ($1,166,852) 2
- Total: $11,166,798
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- No. 13 overall pick ($3,635,520)
- Luke Babbitt ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 6
- Udonis Haslem ($1,618,486): Bird rights
- Jordan Mickey ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 6
- Dwyane Wade ($1,618,486): Retiring
- Total: $10,109,464
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- Although Whiteside and Dragic have said they’re still undecided on their respective player options, it’s hard to imagine either player opting out. Assuming those options are exercised, that would push the Heat’s team salary over $132MM for just eight players and a first-round pick. Even if the club can shed some salary, staying out of the tax will be a challenge and creating cap room is extremely unlikely.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $6,270,000 (expires 2/6/20)
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,711,000 7
Footnotes
- Anderson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 10.
- Robinson’s salary guarantee increases to $1MM after July 15.
- Maten’s salary guarantee increases to $150K after August 1.
- Jones’ salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 1.
- Nunn’s salary becomes partially guaranteed to $50K after July 1 and to $150K after August 1.
- Babbitt’s and Mickey’s cap holds remain on the Heat’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.
- This is a projected value. If the Heat 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: Sacramento Kings
Projected by oddsmakers to be the worst team in the Western Conference in 2018/19, the Kings surpassed all expectations, emerging as one of the most entertaining young clubs in the league behind breakout seasons from De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. The year wasn’t without the usual Sacramento drama, as an end-of-season coaching change proved, but the franchise finally appears to be pointed in the right direction after spending over a decade in the lottery.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Kings financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Bogdan Bogdanovic ($8,529,386)
- Marvin Bagley ($8,556,120)
- Nemanja Bjelica ($6,825,000)
- De’Aaron Fox ($6,392,760)
- Buddy Hield ($4,861,208)
- Harry Giles ($2,578,800)
- Matt Barnes ($2,133,541) — Waived via stretch provision
- Caleb Swanigan ($2,033,160)
- Total: $41,909,975
Player Options
- Harrison Barnes ($25,102,512)
- Total: $25,102,512
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Yogi Ferrell ($3,150,000) 1
- Frank Mason ($1,618,520) 2
- B.J. Johnson ($1,416,852)
- Total: $6,185,372
Restricted Free Agents
- Willie Cauley-Stein ($6,265,631 qualifying offer / $14,090,625 cap hold): Bird rights
- Troy Williams (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 3
- Total: $15,534,467
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Alec Burks ($17,304,773): Bird rights
- Kosta Koufos ($16,605,050): Bird rights
- Corey Brewer ($2,400,000): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $36,309,823
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $38.4MM
- This projection may not be the most realistic outcome for the Kings, as it hinges on them only retaining their seven players on guaranteed contracts, plus Barnes, renouncing their free agents and waiving all their players on non-guaranteed salaries.
- If the Kings were to bring back Ferrell and Mason, their available cap room would dip to $35.4MM. If they were to retain both of those players and also keep Cauley-Stein’s cap hold on their books, that number would decline further, to $22.2MM.
- On the other hand, if Barnes decides to test the market, the Kings could theoretically get all the way up to $62.6MM in cap space by only keeping their seven players on guaranteed salaries.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 4
Footnotes
- Ferrell’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 4.
- Mason’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after October 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. If the Kings 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: Washington Wizards
Projected by most fans and experts to be a playoff team in 2018/19, the Wizards dropped 11 of their first 13 games and never recovered. Things went from bad to worse when John Wall suffered a season-ending heel injury, then later ruptured his Achilles tendon, putting his 2019/20 season in jeopardy — just as his super-max contract is set to begin. Ernie Grunfeld‘s replacement in the Wizards’ basketball operations department will inherit a challenging situation.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Wizards financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- John Wall ($38,150,000) 1
- Bradley Beal ($27,093,018)
- Ian Mahinmi ($15,450,051)
- Dwight Howard ($5,603,850): Exercised player option
- Troy Brown ($3,219,480)
- Total: $89,516,399
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Jabari Parker ($20,000,000)
- Total: $20,000,000
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Jordan McRae ($1,645,357)
- Tarik Phillip ($1,416,852)
- Total: $3,062,209
Restricted Free Agents
- Sam Dekker ($3,916,575 qualifying offer / $8,280,285 cap hold): Bird rights
- Bobby Portis ($3,611,813 qualifying offer / $7,483,038 cap hold): Bird rights
- Tomas Satoransky ($3,911,484 qualifying offer / $5,945,455 cap hold): Bird rights
- Thomas Bryant ($3,021,354 qualifying offer / $3,021,354 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Chasson Randle ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $9,429,180
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Trevor Ariza ($18,000,000): Non-Bird rights
- No. 9 overall pick ($4,463,400)
- Jeff Green ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Ty Lawson ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 2
- Ramon Sessions ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 2
- Devin Robinson ($1,443,842): Early Bird rights
- Total: $26,868,528
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- Even if they’re only accounting for their five players on guaranteed salaries, cap holds for Satoransky and their first-round pick, and their mid-level exception, the Wizards will be an over-the-cap team. If they want to bring back any other free agents, such as Portis, Bryant, Ariza, or Green, they’ll go further over the cap. Barring major cost-cutting moves, there’s no path to cap room, but it’s reasonable to expect them to stay out of the tax.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $957,609 (expires 6/26/19)
- Trade exception: $694,405 (expires 10/15/19)
- Trade exception: $2,955,654 (expires 12/9/19)
- Trade exception: $3,208,630 (expires 12/17/19)
- Trade exception: $6,011,913 (expires 2/6/20)
- Trade exception: $8,600,000 (expires 2/7/20)
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 3
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 3
Footnotes
- This is a projected value.
- Lawson’s and Sessions’ cap holds remain on the Wizards’ 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. The Wizards will not be able to use these exceptions if their team salary exceeds the tax apron. In that scenario, they’d instead receive the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth a projected $5,711,000.
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: Minnesota Timberwolves
After ending a long playoff drought last spring, the Timberwolves took a step backward in 2018/19, as they were forced to move on from one of the players (Jimmy Butler) who helped them reach new heights. With franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns locked up for the next five years, there’s reason to believe Minnesota can have sustained success, but the club might first need to get out from under some pricey contracts for non-stars.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Timberwolves financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Andrew Wiggins ($27,504,630)
- Karl-Anthony Towns ($27,250,000) 1
- Jeff Teague ($19,000,000): Exercised player option
- Gorgui Dieng ($16,229,213)
- Robert Covington ($11,301,219)
- Dario Saric ($3,481,986)
- Josh Okogie ($2,530,680)
- Keita Bates-Diop ($1,416,852)
- Cole Aldrich ($685,340) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $109,399,920
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Cameron Reynolds ($1,416,852)
- Total: $1,416,852
Restricted Free Agents
- Tyus Jones ($3,573,205 qualifying offer / $7,332,159 cap hold): Bird rights
- Mitch Creek ($1,643,842 qualifying offer / $1,643,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Jared Terrell (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 2
- C.J. Williams (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 2
- Total: $11,863,685
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Taj Gibson ($18,200,000): Early Bird rights
- Jerryd Bayless ($16,294,240): Bird rights
- Anthony Tolliver ($6,900,000): Non-Bird rights
- No. 11 overall pick ($4,028,400)
- Aaron Brooks ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights 3
- Luol Deng ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Derrick Rose ($1,618,486): Early Bird rights
- Total: $50,713,098
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- Even without accounting for any of their free agents or players on non-guaranteed salaries, the Timberwolves project to be over the cap this summer. They’ll go further over the cap if Towns is named to an All-NBA team, which would increase his salary by approximately $5.5MM. In that scenario, they’ll probably be more concerned with staying under the tax line than carving out any cap space.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $2,667,600 (expires 11/12/19)
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 4
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 4
Footnotes
- This is a projected value. Additionally, if Towns earns All-NBA honors, his projected salary would increase to $32,700,000.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- Brooks’ cap hold remains on the Timberwolves’ 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. In the unlikely event the Timberwolves use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions (and their trade exception) and would instead would gain access to the $4,760,000 room exception. Additionally, the Wolves will not be able to use these exceptions if their team salary exceeds the tax apron. In that scenario, they’d instead receive the taxpayer mid-level exception, worth a projected $5,711,000.
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: New York Knicks
There was plenty not to like about the Knicks‘ 2018/19 season. They lost an NBA-worst 65 games; they traded a potential franchise player, Kristaps Porzingis, to Dallas in a deal primarily aimed at creating cap flexibility and acquiring far-off assets; and young prospects Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox looked shaky. Still, there’s optimism in New York heading into the 2019 offseason, given the club’s two maximum salary contract slots and whispers that top free agents will seriously consider the Knicks.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Knicks financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Joakim Noah ($6,431,667) — Waived via stretch provision
- Frank Ntilikina ($4,855,800)
- Dennis Smith ($4,463,640)
- Kevin Knox ($4,380,120)
- Mitchell Robinson ($1,559,712)
- Total: $21,690,939
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Allonzo Trier ($3,551,100)
- John Jenkins ($1,988,119)
- Henry Ellenson ($1,645,357)
- Billy Garrett ($1,416,852)
- Total: $8,601,428
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Lance Thomas ($7,583,975) 1
- Damyean Dotson ($1,618,520) 2
- Total: $9,202,495
Restricted Free Agents
- Emmanuel Mudiay ($5,758,898 qualifying offer / $12,883,440 cap hold): Bird rights
- Luke Kornet ($2,024,075 qualifying offer / $2,105,038 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Total: $14,988,478
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- DeAndre Jordan ($27,476,640): Non-Bird rights
- No. 3 overall pick ($7,829,880)
- Mario Hezonja ($7,800,000): Non-Bird rights
- Noah Vonleh ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Isaiah Hicks ($1,443,842): Early Bird rights
- Total: $48,083,808
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Maximum cap room projection: $73.2MM
- This cap projection assumes the Knicks renounce all their free agents, decline their team options, and waive their players on non-guaranteed salaries. It would give the Knicks enough cap space for two maximum salary contracts, assuming at least one of those two players isn’t a 10-year veteran.
- If the Knicks don’t need every cent of their cap room for two max contracts, they may not be quite as aggressive in purging their lower-priced players. If the club were to retain Trier and Dotson, for instance, that would reduce its cap room projection to $69.8MM.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 3
Footnotes
- Thomas’ salary becomes partially guaranteed ($1MM) after June 30.
- Dotson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
- This is a projected value. Assuming the Knicks use cap room, they’ll lose access to one trade exception ($1,435,750; 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.
2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Memphis Grizzlies
An era came to an end for the Grizzlies in 2018/19, as the franchise moved on from longtime center Marc Gasol in a deadline deal. With a potential rebuild looming, Memphis now must determine whether the time is right to trade Gasol’s longtime running mate Mike Conley, or whether the veteran point guard can still be a cornerstone piece going forward.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Grizzlies financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Mike Conley ($32,511,624)
- Chandler Parsons ($25,102,512)
- Kyle Anderson ($9,073,050)
- C.J. Miles ($8,730,158): Exercised player option
- Jaren Jackson ($6,927,480)
- Avery Bradley ($2,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 1
- Jevon Carter ($1,416,852)
- Dakari Johnson ($459,414) — Waived via stretch provision
- Ivan Rabb ($371,758) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. 2
- Julian Washburn (two-way) 3
- Yuta Watanabe (two-way) 3
- Total: $86,592,848
Player Options
- Jonas Valanciunas ($17,617,976)
- Total: $17,617,976
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Avery Bradley ($10,960,000) 1
- Bruno Caboclo ($1,845,301) 4
- Dillon Brooks ($1,618,520) 5
- Ivan Rabb ($1,246,762) 2
- Total: $15,670,583
Restricted Free Agents
- Delon Wright ($3,635,375 qualifying offer / $7,610,694 cap hold): Bird rights
- Tyler Dorsey ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Total: $9,429,180
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- No. 2 overall pick ($8,718,960)
- Justin Holiday ($5,700,001): Early Bird rights
- Joakim Noah ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Tyler Zeller ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $13,792,773
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- Although the Grizzlies only have about $86.5MM in guaranteed salaries on their books, they’re unlikely to create cap room – barring cost-cutting moves – due to Valanciunas’ option and the cap hold for their first-round pick.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Trade exception: $1,544,951 (expires 7/17/19)
- Trade exception: $2,416,222 (expires 7/23/19)
- Trade exception: $8,000,000 (expires 2/7/20)
- Trade exception: $1,512,601 (expires 2/7/20)
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 6
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 6
Footnotes
- Bradley’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 3.
- Rabb’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap.
- Caboclo’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($300K) after July 10.
- Brooks’ salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 5.
- These are projected values. In the unlikely event the Grizzlies use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions (and their trade 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: Chicago Bulls
It was another disappointing season for the Bulls in 2018/19, but the franchise at least secured a few more potential building blocks, having drafted Wendell Carter, extended Zach LaVine, and acquired Otto Porter in a trade. Those last two moves will limit Chicago’s spending flexibility for the 2019 offseason, but the club wasn’t expected to be a major player in free agency anyway.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Bulls financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Otto Porter ($27,250,576)
- Zach LaVine ($19,500,000)
- Cristiano Felicio ($8,156,500)
- Kris Dunn ($5,348,007)
- Lauri Markkanen ($5,300,400)
- Wendell Carter ($5,201,400)
- Denzel Valentine ($3,377,569)
- Omer Asik ($3,000,001) — Waived
- Chandler Hutchison ($2,332,320)
- Antonio Blakeney ($1,588,231)
- Total: $81,055,004
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Shaquille Harrison ($1,588,231) 1
- Walter Lemon Jr. ($1,588,231)
- Total: $3,176,462
Restricted Free Agents
- Wayne Selden ($1,931,189 qualifying offer / $1,931,189 cap hold): Bird rights
- Ryan Arcidiacono ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Rawle Alkins (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 2
- Brandon Sampson (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights 2
- Total: $6,637,359
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Robin Lopez ($21,536,625): Bird rights
- No. 7 overall pick ($5,300,400)
- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($2,529,684): Bird rights 3
- Total: $32,031,140
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $19.9MM
- The Bulls have just over $81MM in guaranteed salaries on their books for 2019/20, and will have to account for the cap hold for their first-round pick. Outside of those cap charges though, they shouldn’t have to carry many more. In the cap projection above, I’ve assumed that the team will hang onto Arcidiacono and try to re-sign him, while renouncing their other free agents and waiving their non-guaranteed salaries. They could clear an extra $3MM if their request to remove Asik from their cap is approved.
- If the Bulls make an effort to re-sign some of their other free agents, they could opt to stay over the cap this summer. That would allow the club to keep its full mid-level exception and bi-annual exception, as noted below.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Room exception: $4,760,000 4
Footnotes
- Harrison’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($175K) after August 15.
- The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
- Because Luwawu-Cabarrot’s fourth-year rookie scale option was declined, the Bulls are ineligible to offer him a starting salary greater than his cap hold.
- This is a projected value. If the Bulls 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 ($1,183,573; expires 1/3/20).
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: Phoenix Suns
The Suns approached the 2018 offseason as if they planned to contend, signing Trevor Ariza in free agency to fortify their starting lineup. However, the team didn’t have enough talent – particularly at point guard – to remain in the playoff hunt in the West, and quickly shifted gears, looking toward the future. That focus on the long term figures to continue this summer, as Phoenix likely won’t have the cap flexibility to be a major player in free agency.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Suns financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:
Guaranteed Salary
- Devin Booker ($27,250,000)
- T.J. Warren ($10,810,000)
- Deandre Ayton ($9,562,920)
- Josh Jackson ($7,059,480)
- Mikal Bridges ($4,161,000)
- De’Anthony Melton ($1,416,852)
- Elie Okobo ($1,416,852)
- Total: $61,677,104
Player Options
- Tyler Johnson ($19,245,370)
- Total: $19,245,370
Team Options
- Jimmer Fredette ($1,988,119)
- Ray Spalding ($1,416,852)
- Total: $3,404,971
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- Kelly Oubre ($4,915,726 qualifying offer / $9,625,890 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total: $9,625,890
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Troy Daniels ($6,191,224): Bird rights
- Dragan Bender ($5,896,519): Bird rights 1
- No. 6 overall pick ($5,806,200)
- Jamal Crawford ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
- Richaun Holmes ($1,618,486): Bird rights
- George King ($1,443,842): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $24,598,437
Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000
Offseason Cap Outlook
- Realistic cap room projection: $0
- With less than $62MM in guaranteed salary on their books for 2019/20, the Suns seemingly should be in position to create cap room. However, that figure doesn’t account for Johnson’s $19.2MM player option (a lock to be exercised), Oubre’s $9.6MM cap hold, and a $5.8MM cap hold for their first-round pick. Add those figures and Phoenix’s team salary increases to over $96MM, putting the club in position for its exceptions to push it right to the projected $109MM cap.
- Max cap room scenario: Let’s say the Suns want to create cap space to pursue a marquee free agent. They could, in theory, renounce Oubre and waive-and-stretch Johnson. That would leave the team with approximately $31.5MM in cap room. That’s probably an unlikely series of events though.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 2
- Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 2
Footnotes
- Because Bender’s fourth-year rookie scale option was declined, the Suns are ineligible to offer him a starting salary greater than his cap hold.
- These are projected values. If the Suns use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions and 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.