During each NBA league year, teams face limits on the amount of cash they can send out and receive in trades. Once they reach those limits, they’re no longer permitted to include cash in a deal until the following league year.
For the 2021/22 NBA season, the limit is $5,785,000. If a team is including cash in a deal, the minimum amount required is $110,000.
The limits on sending and receiving cash are separate and aren’t dependent on one another, so if a team sends out $5,785,000 in one trade, then receives $5,785,000 in another, they aren’t back to square one — they’ve reached both limits for the season and can’t make another deal that includes cash.
Adding cash to a deal can serve multiple purposes. It can be a sweetener to encourage a team to make a deal in the first place – like when a team acquires a second-round pick in exchange for cash – or it can be a necessity to meet CBA requirements.
For instance, when the Knicks agreed to turn their signing of Evan Fournier into a sign-and-trade deal to allow the Celtics to create a trade exception, New York acquired two extra second-round picks (one was heavily-protected) along with Fournier. Since the Celtics had to receive something in the deal besides just creating their trade exception, the Knicks agreed to send Boston $110K, the minimum amount that can change hands in any trade involving cash.
We’ll use the space below to track each team’s cash sent and received in trades for the 2021/22 season, updating the info as necessary leading up to the 2022 trade deadline and for the first part of the 2022 offseason next June. These totals will reset once the ’22/23 league year begins next July.
Note: Data from Basketball Insiders and various media reports was used in the creation of this post.
Atlanta Hawks
- Cash available to send: $4,950,411
- Sent $834,589 to Knicks.
- Cash available to receive: $3,785,000
- Received $2,000,000 from Warriors.
Boston Celtics
- Cash available to send: $0
- Cash available to receive: $5,675,000
- Received $110,000 from Knicks.
Brooklyn Nets
- Cash available to send: $0
- Sent $5,785,000 to Pistons.
- Cash available to receive: $3,675,000
Charlotte Hornets
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $3,785,000
- Received $2,000,000 from Pelicans.
Chicago Bulls
- Cash available to send: $4,585,000
- Sent $1,200,000 to Pelicans.
- Cash available to receive: $4,685,000
- Received $1,100,000 from Rockets.
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cash available to send: $4,035,000
- Sent $1,750,000 to Kings.
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Dallas Mavericks
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Denver Nuggets
- Cash available to send: $5,585,000
- Sent $200,000 to Spurs.
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Detroit Pistons
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $0
- Received $5,785,000 from Nets.
Golden State Warriors
- Cash available to send: $3,785,000
- Sent $2,000,000 to Hawks.
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Houston Rockets
- Cash available to send: $4,575,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Indiana Pacers
- Cash available to send: $4,675,000
- Sent $1,000,000 to Wizards.
- Sent $110,000 to Suns.
- Sent an unknown amount to Timberwolves.
- Cash available to receive: $4,785,000
- Received $1,000,000 from Bucks.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Cash available to send: $0
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Los Angeles Lakers
- Cash available to send: $4,285,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Memphis Grizzlies
- Cash available to send: $3,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,535,000
- Received $250,000 from Lakers.
Miami Heat
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Milwaukee Bucks
- Cash available to send: $4,785,000
- Sent $1,000,000 to Pacers.
- Cash available to receive: $1,500,000
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
- Received an unknown amount from Pacers.
New Orleans Pelicans
- Cash available to send: $3,785,000
- Sent $2,000,000 to Hornets.
- Cash available to receive: $2,085,000
New York Knicks
- Cash available to send: $5,675,000
- Sent $110,000 to Celtics.
- Cash available to receive: $3,850,411
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cash available to send: $4,785,000
- Sent $1,000,000 to Jazz.
- Cash available to receive: $4,895,000
- Received a conditional $890,000 from Jazz. *
Orlando Magic
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $0
Philadelphia 76ers
- Cash available to send: $3,785,000
- Sent $2,000,000 to Nets. ^
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Phoenix Suns
- Cash available to send: $5,675,000
- Sent $110,000 to Wizards.
- Cash available to receive: $5,675,000
- Received $110,000 from Pacers.
Portland Trail Blazers
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Sacramento Kings
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $4,035,000
- Received $1,750,000 from Cavaliers.
San Antonio Spurs
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $2,435,000
Toronto Raptors
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,785,000
Utah Jazz
- Cash available to send: $4,895,000
- Sent a conditional $890,000 to Thunder. *
- Cash available to receive: $4,785,000
- Received $1,000,000 from Thunder.
Washington Wizards
- Cash available to send: $5,785,000
- Cash available to receive: $4,675,000
* Note: The Jazz owe the Thunder a 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected). If that pick is protected and isn’t conveyed in 2024, 2025, or 2026, the Jazz would instead owe the Thunder $890K in cash.
^ Note: The Sixers owe the Nets a 2027 first-round pick (top-eight protected). If that pick is protected and isn’t conveyed in 2027 or 2028, the Sixers would instead owe the Nets a 2028 second-round pick and $2MM in cash.