With the NBA draft complete, as the 2022 offseason continues, teams will turn to free agency for the opportunity to reshape their rosters.
To illustrate what to expect this offseason, we’ve separated all 30 teams into six tiers, ranging from teams that can easily generate salary-cap space to those already in the luxury tax for next season. We’ve also highlighted which prospects teams can sign while addressing the challenges that lie ahead.
As a reminder, the salary cap for the 2022-23 season is projected to be $122 million, and the luxury tax line is projected to be at $149 million.
Will teams such as Detroit, Indiana, Orlando or San Antonio make a splashy signing? Or can title contenders finagle a way to acquire another cornerstone player? Here’s the latest intel on what each franchise could do.
Tier 1: Cap-space teams
Since COVID-19 altered the economics of the NBA, a total of just nine teams have entered the past two offseasons with cap space. That trend is expected to continue this summer, as just five teams — Detroit, Indiana, New York, Orlando and San Antonio — are projected to have significant financial flexibility.
However, despite the limited cap space leaguewide, that does not mean players like restricted free agents Deandre Ayton or Miles Bridges are out of options if they want to sign with a team that does not have cap space. Last year, we saw Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan orchestrate separate sign-and-trades to join the Chicago Bulls despite Chicago not having cap space.
A total of 16 free agents in the past two offseasons have been signed and were eventually traded to a team that did not have cap space.
Zach LaVine and the more expensive free agents face obstacles, however, in that the acquiring team would trigger the hard cap, and the mechanics of the NBA’s complicated base-year compensation rules make executing a trade more difficult.
The cap-space free agents: Jalen Brunson, Tyus Jones, Zach LaVine, James Harden (player option), Bradley Beal (player option), Donte DiVincenzo (restricted), Anfernee Simons (restricted), Collin Sexton (restricted), Lonnie Walker IV (restricted), Miles Bridges (restricted), Deandre Ayton (restricted), Mo Bamba (restricted), Bobby Portis, Marvin Bagley III (restricted), Mitchell Robinson and Jusuf Nurkic
Note: The above list of cap-space free agents is based on those players not re-signing with their current team.
Projected room: $23 million
Note: The room does not factor in the free agent hold of Marvin Bagley III. The Pistons tendered Bagley III a $7.2 million Qualifying Offer.
Who returns/joins: Kelly Olynyk, Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Cory Joseph, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Kemba Walker, Saben Lee, Isaiah Livers, Hamidou Diallo, Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren
Who might be gone: Carsen Edwards (non-guaranteed), Frank Jackson, Luka Garza, Marvin Bagley III and Rodney McGruder
Projected room: $25 million
Who returns/joins: Malcolm Brogdon, Buddy Hield, Myles Turner, TJ McConnell, Tyrese Haliburton, Goga Bitadze, Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson, Oshae Brissett (team option exercised), Terry Taylor (contract guaranteed), Duane Washington Jr. (contract guaranteed) and Bennedict Mathurin
Who might be gone: Ricky Rubio, T.J. Warren, Jalen Smith and Lance Stephenson
Below the cap: $30 million
Who returns/joins: Julius Randle, Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Taj Gibson (non-guaranteed), Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride
Who might be gone: Ryan Arcidiacono
Key free agent: Mitchell Robinson
Projected room: $27 million
Note: Room does not factor in the $22.7 million free-agent hold of Mo Bamba
Who returns/joins: Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Wendell Carter Jr., Terrence Ross, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, R.J. Hampton, Moritz Wagner (contract guaranteed), Devin Cannady (non-guaranteed) and Paolo Banchero
Key free agent: Bamba
Who might be gone: Gary Harris, Robin Lopez and Bol Bol
Projected room: $31 million
Note: Room does not include the $13.3 million free agent hold of Lonnie Walker IV
Who returns/joins: Dejounte Murray, Doug McDermott, Josh Richardson, Jakob Poeltl, Romeo Langford, Devin Vassell, Josh Primo, Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins, Keita Bates-Diop (contract guaranteed), Tre Jones (contract guaranteed), Jock Landale (contract guaranteed), Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley
Key free agent: Walker
Who might be gone: Devontae Cacok and Joe Wieskamp
Tier 2: Cap space, but at a cost
There is a significant cost associated with Memphis joining the above group of teams that have financial flexibility. The Grizzlies could create up to $18 million in room, but at the expense of two key backups: Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson. If Memphis elects to stay over, the Grizzlies will have access to their $10.5 million midlevel and $4.1 million biannual exception.
Below the tax: $45 million
Who returns/joins: Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, Ja Morant, Danny Green, Ziaire Williams, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, Killian Tillie, Santi Aldama, Xavier Tillman, John Konchar (contract guaranteed), Jake LaRavia and David Roddy
Key free agents: Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson
Who might be gone: Jarrett Culver
Tier 3: The wild cards
Minnesota and Washington are right at the salary cap but have the financial flexibility with expiring and non-guaranteed contracts to create room if needed. Each team has a pressing need for a point guard with Jalen Brunson and Tyus Jones as the best available free agents (unless Kyrie Irving opts out).
The Wizards’ path to a player like Jones is complicated because they are $10 million over the cap when factoring in a new contract for Bradley Beal.
Washington does have the $14 million partially guaranteed salary of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and $4.7 million non-guaranteed Ish Smith contract to work with, but it would have to trade multiple players to create $14-15 million in room.
Sacramento has $110 million in guaranteed salary and $40 million in expiring contracts that could be traded to create more space.
Each team will have access to the $10.5 million midlevel exception if they bypass creating room.
Below the tax: $18 million
Who returns/joins: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Anthony Edwards, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, Jaden McDaniels, Jordan McLaughlin, Taurean Prince, Naz Reid (team option exercised), Jaylen Nowell (team option exercised), Walker Kessler and Wendell Moore Jr.
Who might be gone: Josh Okogie, Jake Layman and Greg Monroe
Below the tax: $16 million
Note: The room below the tax factors in a $43.3 million contract for Bradley Beal
Trade exceptions: $5.3M and $4.0M
Who returns/joins: Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Daniel Gafford, Vernon Carey Jr., Isaiah Todd, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (contract guaranteed), Ish Smith (contract guaranteed) and Johnny Davis
Key free agent: Bradley Beal
Who might be gone: Thomas Bryant, Anthony Gill, Raul Neto and Tomas Satoransky
Below the tax: $36 million
Trade exceptions: $4.1M and $1.7M
Who returns/joins: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes, Justin Holiday, Davion Mitchell, Maurice Harkless, Terence Davis, Alex Len, Trey Lyles (team option exercised), Chimezie Metu (contract guaranteed) and Keegan Murray
Key free agent: Donte DiVincenzo
Who might be gone: Jeremy Lamb, Josh Jackson and Damian Jones
Tier 4: The midlevel exception club
These teams are not in a position to have cap space but can use all of their $10.3 million midlevel exception and still avoid the luxury tax. That will be valuable in this constricted market.
The Raptors can retain their key free agents — Thaddeus Young and Chris Boucher — and have enough room to use the full midlevel.
The $6.5 to $10.5 million midlevel free agents: Patty Mills (player option), Gary Harris, Gary Payton II, Dennis Schroder, Ricky Rubio, Bruce Brown, Malik Monk, Victor Oladipo, T.J. Warren, Kyle Anderson, Nicolas Batum, Joe Ingles, P.J. Tucker, Thaddeus Young, Chris Boucher, Kevon Looney, Nic Claxton (restricted), Ivica Zubac (team option), Montrezl Harrell and Jalen Smith
Below the tax: $30 million
Who returns/joins: Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, Jalen Green, David Nwaba, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Usman Garuba, Josh Christopher, Daishen Nix, Sterling Brown, Boban Marjanovic, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, Garrison Mathews, Kenyon Martin Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason and TyTy Washington Jr.
Who might be gone: Dennis Schroder and Bruno Fernando
1:54
Bobby Marks breaks down the trade between the Mavericks and Rockets that has Christian Wood headed to Dallas.
Below the tax: $17 million
Who returns/joins: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Derrick Favors, Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley, Ty Jerome, Aleksej Pokusevski, Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Aaron Wiggins, JaMychal Green, Mike Muscala (team option exercised), Kenrich Williams (contract guaranteed), Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Roby (team option exercised), Theo Maledon (contract guaranteed), Vit Krejci (contract guaranteed), Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng and Jalen Williams
Who might be gone: None
Below the tax: $45 million
Note: The Trail Blazers are over the cap because of the free-agent holds of Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic. The amount below the tax factors in waiving the partially guaranteed contract of Eric Bledsoe.
Trade exceptions: $6.6M and $3.3M
Who returns/joins: Damian Lillard, Jerami Grant, Nassir Little, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, Didi Louzada, Greg Brown III, Trendon Watford, Josh Hart and Shaedon Sharpe
Key free agents: Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic
Who might be gone: Eric Bledsoe (waived), Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes, CJ Elleby and Ben McLemore
Below the tax: $36 million
Trade exceptions: $5.3M and $3.1M
Who returns/joins: Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes, Khem Birch, Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn, Svi Mykhailiuk, Dalano Banton (contract guaranteed) and Armoni Brooks (non-guaranteed contract)
Key free agents: Thaddeus Young and Chris Boucher
Who might be gone: Yuta Watanabe and Isaac Bonga
Tier 5: Watching their own free agents
The availability of the full $10.5 midlevel exception for these teams is still to be determined.
Although each franchise is positioned below the luxury tax, that could change depending on the cost of their own free agents, including Miles Bridges (Charlotte), Zach LaVine (Chicago), Collin Sexton (Cleveland), P.J. Tucker (Miami) and Victor Oladipo (Miami).
The Suns will join the list of teams with only the $6.5 million tax midlevel exception if a new Deandre Ayton contract exceeds $20 million.
Note: The hard cap triggers only if a team uses more than the $6.5 million of its midlevel exception, the $4.1 million biannual exception or by acquiring a player in a sign-and-trade. A team can sign its own free agents using the Bird, early Bird or non-Bird exceptions and not trigger the hard cap.
Below the tax: $38 million
Who returns/joins: Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, LaMelo Ball, P.J. Washington, James Bouknight, Kai Jones, JT Thor, Kelly Oubre Jr. (contract guaranteed), Mason Plumlee, Jalen McDaniels, Nick Richards (contract guaranteed) and Mark Williams
Key free agent: Miles Bridges and Cody Martin
Who might be gone: Montrezl Harrell
Below the tax: $47 million
Trade exception: $5M
Who returns/joins: DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams, Coby White, Tony Bradley (player option exercised), Javonte Green, Marko Simonovic, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry
Key free agent: Zach LaVine
Who might be gone: Troy Brown Jr., Derrick Jones Jr., Matt Thomas and Tristan Thompson
Below the tax: $23 million
Who returns/joins: Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Lauri Markkanen, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, Dylan Windler, Dean Wade (non-guaranteed), Lamar Stevens (non-guaranteed) and Ochai Agbaji
Key free agent: Collin Sexton
Who might be gone: Moses Brown, Rajon Rondo and Ed Davis
Below the tax: $22 million
Trade exception: $1.8M
Who returns/joins: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Max Strus (contract guaranteed), Gabe Vincent (contract guaranteed), Omer Yurtseven (contract guaranteed), Haywood Highsmith (non-guaranteed) and Nikola Jovic
Key free agents: P.J. Tucker, Dewayne Dedmon, Victor Oladipo and Caleb Martin
Who might be gone: Markieff Morris and Udonis Haslem
Below the tax: $22 million
Who returns/joins: Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, Landry Shamet, Dario Saric, Cameron Payne, Cameron Johnson and Torrey Craig
Key free agents: Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee
Who might be gone: Aaron Holiday, Elfrid Payton, Bismack Biyombo and Ish Wainright
Tier 6: The tax midlevel teams
Outside of signing their own free agents, these teams will have only the $6.5 million midlevel, veteran minimum and trade exceptions available to add to their roster.
A team like Brooklyn, which has multiple trade exceptions, is not allowed to acquire a free agent in a sign-and-trade because of the hard cap restriction. Teams are not allowed to pass the $157 million apron when acquiring a player in a sign-and-trade deal.
The Pelicans are $3.7 million below the luxury tax, and using more than $6.5 million of their midlevel exception not only pushes them into the tax but also triggers the hard cap.
The Hawks will go under the tax if they waive forward Danilo Gallinari but using the $10.5 million midlevel exception pushes them back in the tax.
The $2.5 million to $6.5 million midlevel free agents: Bryn Forbes, Cory Joseph (player option), Dennis Schroder, Goran Dragic, Lou Williams, Delon Wright, Hamidou Diallo (team option), Wesley Matthews, Cody Martin (restricted), Caleb Martin (restricted), Josh Okogie (restricted), Jeremy Lamb, Ben McLemore, Taurean Prince, Carmelo Anthony, Trey Lyles (team option), Amir Coffey (restricted), Derrick Jones Jr., Troy Brown Jr. (restricted), Otto Porter Jr., Oshae Brissett (team option), Tristan Thompson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Dewayne Dedmon, Serge Ibaka, Naz Reid (team option), Mike Muscala (team option), JaVale McGee, Bismack Biyombo, Gorgui Dieng, DeMarcus Cousins, Thomas Bryant and Robin Lopez
Below Above the tax: $6.2 million
Note: The Hawks will go $10.2 million below the tax threshold if Danilo Gallinari is waived.
Trade exceptions: $1.8M and $1.7M
Who returns/joins: Trae Young, John Collins, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter, Onyeka Okongwu and AJ Griffin
Who might be gone: Danilo Gallinari (if waived), Kevin Knox II, Delon Wright, Lou Williams, Gorgui Dieng and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot
Below the tax: $49K
Trade exceptions: $17.2M, $7M, $5.9M, $2.2M and $1.8M
Who returns/joins: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Robert Williams III, Daniel Theis, Grant Williams, Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard
Who might be gone: Nik Stauskas (waived), Malik Fitts (waived), Sam Hauser (team option declined), Juwan Morgan (team option declined) and Luke Kornet
Over the tax: $9 million
Who returns/joins: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe
Key free agents: Patty Mills (player option), Bruce Brown and Nic Claxton
Who might be gone: Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, Kessler Edwards (team option declined), LaMarcus Aldridge and Goran Dragic
Over the tax: $7 million
Trade exception: $10.9M (expires on 6/27)
Who returns/joins: Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans, Dorian Finney-Smith, Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock, Josh Green and Maxi Kleber (contract guaranteed)
Key free agent: Jalen Brunson
Who might be gone: Frank Ntilikina (non-guaranteed contract)
Over the tax: $2.1M
Who returns/joins: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, Monte Morris, Jeff Green, Zeke Nnaji, Bones Hyland, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson
Who might be gone: Bryn Forbes, Facundo Campazzo, Austin Rivers, DeMarcus Cousins and Vlatko Cancar
Over the tax: $23 million
Trade exception: $1.8M
Who returns/joins: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Jordan Poole and Patrick Baldwin Jr.
Key free agents: Gary Payton II and Kevon Looney
Who might be gone: Juan Toscano-Anderson, Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Andre Iguodala and Damion Lee
Los Angeles Clippers
Over the tax: $18 million
Trade exception: $9.8M and $8.3M
Who returns/joins: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Marcus Morris, Luke Kennard, Robert Covington, Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Jason Preston, Brandon Boston Jr. and Ivica Zubac
Key free agents: Amir Coffey, Nicolas Batum and Isaiah Hartenstein
Who might be gone: Rodney Hood
Over the tax: $222K
Trade exceptions: $2.7M and $1.7M
Who returns/joins: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook (player option exercised), Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Stanley Johnson (team option exercised), Wenyen Gabriel (team option exercised) and Austin Reaves
Who might be gone: Wayne Ellington, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, Carmelo Anthony, and Avery Bradley
Over the tax: $4.4 million
Who returns/joins: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, George Hill, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Luca Vildoza, Rayjon Tucker and MarJon Beauchamp
Key free agents: Wesley Matthews and Bobby Portis (player option declined)
Who might be gone: Serge Ibaka, Jordan Nwora and Jevon Carter
Below the tax: $3.7 million
Trade exceptions: $6.4M and $1.8M
Who returns/joins: Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Jonas Valanciunas, Zion Williamson, Devonte’ Graham, Larry Nance Jr., Jaxson Hayes, Garrett Temple, Kira Lewis Jr., Trey Murphy III, Willy Hernangomez, Herbert Jones, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado and Dyson Daniels
Who might be gone: Tony Snell
Over the tax: $3.7 million
Trade exception:$1.7M
Who returns/joins: James Harden (player option exercised), Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang, Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey, Jaden Springer, Shake Milton (team option exercised), Isaiah Joe, Charles Bassey, De’Anthony Melton and Paul Reed
Who might be gone: Paul Millsap and DeAndre Jordan
Over the tax: $5 million
Trade exceptions: $9.7M and $1.6M
Who returns/joins: Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gay, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Juancho Hernangomez (contract guaranteed), Udoka Azubuike and Jared Butler
Who might be gone: Eric Paschall, Danuel House Jr. and Trent Forrest
