Offseason Salary Cap Digest

2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Charlotte Hornets

May 2nd, 2019 at 9:51am CST by Luke Adams

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

May 1st, 2019 at 10:24am CST by Luke Adams

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

April 30th, 2019 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

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

April 29th, 2019 at 3:51pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 26th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 26th, 2019 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 25th, 2019 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 24th, 2019 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 23rd, 2019 at 3:16pm CST by Luke Adams

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

April 22nd, 2019 at 11:58am CST by Luke Adams

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.

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