Which teams can compete for superstar free agents like LeBron?
Now that another NBA offseason full of high-profile transactions and spending is in the books, let's look ahead to the summer of 2018.
Which teams could and should have the cap space to sign top free agents such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Chris Paul, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan and Jabari Parker?
Most of the franchises with projected cap space -- the Hawks, Nets, Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers, Lakers, 76ers and Kings -- are in the early stages of rebuilding.
After two seasons of excessive spending in free agency, players next summer will likely need to weigh signing with their current teams or a team years away from competing for a championship. Also, the current list of eight teams will not increase even if James, Cousins, George or Jordan leaves in free agency. Cleveland, New Orleans, Oklahoma City and the Clippers would still be over the cap if they were to lose their All-Stars.
Two max slots (but will need some help)
Los Angeles Lakers | Projected cap space: $68 million
The public perception is that L.A. is the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to cap space next summer. Although that theory could prove to be true, the Lakers have work to do if they wish to create two max salary slots.
Wiping out the $60 million in free agent holds of Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Corey Brewer leaves the Lakers with $35 million in room, good enough for one max player. Crating another max slot will come with obstacles and some help (likely from a team in the East).
For starters, moving the contract of Jordan Clarkson and Luol Deng will be challenging based on both players' having two years (2018-19 and 2019-20) left on their deals. As evident with the salary dump of the Raptors' DeMarre Carroll to Brooklyn, Lakers management will probably need to attach an unprotected first-round pick to each player. Moving both Deng and Clarkson could create up to $64 million in room, including the $12.5 million free-agent hold of Julius Randle.
The Lakers also can take the approach of stretching the Deng contract and finding a new home for Clarkson. L.A. would have $68 million in room with Deng stretched, Clarkson traded and the Randle cap hold renounced. The Lakers would then be able to sign a $35 million max player and a $30 million max player on the open market.
One max slot (or the ability to get close)
Atlanta Hawks | Projected cap space: $25 million
Two years removed from spending significant cap space on Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard, Hawks management has turned its attention to rebuilding and not a quick fix in free agency. That was evident this past summer, when Atlanta turned cap space into future draft assets.
Once the $23 million in combined free-agent cap holds of Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli is removed, Atlanta will project to have $33 million in cap space in July. Factor in a potential lottery pick and 2018 first-rounders from Houston and Minnesota, and the Hawks' cap space shrinks to $25 million.
Brooklyn Nets | Projected cap space: $12 million
Cap space has been a rude awakening for the Nets the past two years. Flushed with money to spend, Brooklyn has learned that building a roster with trades is more beneficial than the uncertainty of free agency (even at the risk of future cap space). The Nets did their 2018 free-agent shopping on the trade front this summer, when they acquired Timofey Mozgov, Allen Crabbe, D'Angelo Russell and DeMarre Carroll. All four players have $57 million in combined salaries for 2018-19.
If the Nets are going to have significant cap space, point guard Jeremy Lin will need to opt out of his $12.5 million contract. However, now that Lin is lost for the season because of a ruptured right knee patella, the likelihood of him opting-out is remote. Brooklyn currently projects to have $12 million in room, a figure that could increase to $24 million if Lin does opt out.
Chicago Bulls | Projected cap space: $23 million
The Bulls are in a similar position to Atlanta: a perennial playoff team that has moved from building a roster around veterans to short-term contracts and draft assets.
The third-youngest roster in the NBA projects to have $23 million in cap space next July. The room factors in the $9.6 million Zach LaVine free-agent cap hold, the $12.5 million team option for Nikola Mirotic and the $7 million first-round hold for a potential lottery pick. That room would increase to $35 million if the option for Mirotic is not exercised. If Chicago continues to follow the steps in rebuilding, expect the Bulls to take a conservative approach with cap space and sign LaVine to a long-term contract.
Dallas Mavericks | Projected cap space: $22 million
The Mavericks caught a break this summer when Nerlens Noel turned down a $75 million contract. Had Noel committed long-term, Dallas would likely have entered next summer with no cap flexibility. With Noel's $7.9 million free-agent hold, Dallas is projected to have $22 million in room -- a figure that could increase to $30 million if Noel signs elsewhere. The room factors in the Mavericks' first-round pick.
While Wesley Matthews is unlikely to opt out of his $18.6 million contract, Dallas does have flexibility with Dirk Nowitzki's $5 million team option and combined $5 million free-agent holds from Seth Curry and Yogi Ferrell. Both Curry and Ferrell factor into part of the Mavericks' future, and Dallas could sign either player with early bird rights instead of dipping into its available cap space.
Philadelphia 76ers | Projected cap space: $25 million
How Philadelphia handles the Robert Covington renegotiation or extension will dictate the Sixers' cap space. Philadelphia -- currently with $15.2 million in room -- can renegotiate or extend Covington starting Nov. 15.
After the Joel Embiid rookie extension, a projected $10 million salary for Covington, the 76ers' own first-rounder and possibly the Lakers' lottery pick, Philly's cap room shrinks to $25 million next season. (The Sixers get L.A.'s pick if it lands at No. 1 or Nos. 6-30; otherwise it goes to Boston). The room takes into account removing the $40 million in free-agent holds of free agents JJ Redikk and Amir Johnson and trading the $6.3 million Jahlil Okafor contract.
The Sixers could have $35 million if they elect to wait until the summer to sign Covington, but then they run the risk of the losing the unrestricted free agent to a new team.
Wait for the summer of 2019
Indiana Pacers | Projected cap space: None (but fluid)
Indiana will enter the offseason over the salary cap but with the flexibility to create room. The direction the Pacers choose with the non-guaranteed contracts of Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison and Al Jefferson will dictate their cap space. All three players combine for $30 million in salary, with only $7.5 million guaranteed. If Indiana elects to waive each player, cap space will increase to $25 million. The room factors in a potential top-five pick.
The best approach for the rebuilding Pacers is to retain all three players and take advantage of the free-agent market in 2019. Indiana will have only four players -- Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, T.J. Leaf and Myles Turner (cap hold) -- counting against the cap and could have up to $72 million in room.
Sacramento Kings | Projected cap space: $15 million
Sacramento projects to have $15 million in cap space next summer. However, with Vince Carter the lone free agent, look for the Kings to roll over room to 2019, when the contracts of Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos, Garrett Temple and possibly George Hill are off the books.
By 2019, Sacramento could have $50 million or more in cap space.
In a holding pattern
New York Knicks | Projected cap space: None
The Knicks' cap situation in the summer of 2018 is based on the future of Enes Kanter (player option), along with veterans Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee.
Although stretching the Noah contract would save New York $10 million in cap room in 2018-19, the Knicks would have a cap hit of $7.5 million in each season until the summer of 2022.
Currently, the Knicks have $91 million in guaranteed contracts (factoring in all three of Kanter, Noah and Lee). The free-agent cap holds of Doug McDermott and a projected 2018 lottery pick have the Knicks at the cap.
Orlando Magic | Projected cap space: None
The restricted free agency of former lottery picks Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon has the Magic right at the salary cap.
Until there is a resolution with both players, Orlando will not have the flexibility to add a player outright next summer.
