Which NBA teams project to have the most cap space in 2024?

With the NBA’s 2023 free-agencyperiod pretty much wrapped up, why not take a look at howprojecting next year's free-agent market? Obviously, a lot canchange between now and then, but let’s examine each team’s capsituation and how much cap room they project to have nextsummer.

Next year’s free-agency classcould feature some big names, including Kawhi Leonard, PascalSiakam, Tyrese Maxey (restricted), Paul George, LeBron James, JamesHarden, Jrue Holiday, OG Anunoby and DeMarDeRozan.

For the purposes of thisexercise, I’m going to separate teams into four spending-powertiers: Cap Space Teams, Non-Tax MLE Teams, Luxury Tax Teams andSecond Apron Teams. Also, let's assume that the salary cap will beset at $149,623,000 and the luxury tax will come in at$181,823,000, the maximum 10% jump from this upcoming season setunder the new CBA.

CAP SPACETEAMS

Teams in this tier arecurrently projected to have cap space next summer. They havespending access to their cap space, Bird Rights, the Room Exception(projected at $8,495,000) and the Veteran MinimumException.

San Antonio Spurs ($77,195,776 under thecap)If VictorWembanyama is 70% as good as he’s hyped up to be entering thisseason, one would figure that the Spurs will spend big or at leastmake a meaningful impact on the free-agent market next summer. Theyproject to have an enormous amount of cap space, so it’s verypossible we’ll see San Antonio take on some more bad contracts intrades to give them even more draft capital. Also, they’ll want toretain Devin Vassell, who will be a restricted free agent nextoffseason once the Spurs extend his qualifying offer.

Philadelphia 76ers ($73,034,842 under thecap)The Sixers areperhaps the most interesting team in terms of their 2024 offseasonoutlook. By letting Tyrese Maxey hit restricted free agency nextsummer rather than extending him this year, Philadelphia gavethemselves serious cap flexibility. Tobias Harris and James Hardenboth have expiring contracts, so the Sixers will have to use theircap space to replace their production. A Harden trade wouldobviously change their projected cap room, but it remains to beseen what they’ll get back for the former MVP and how much it’llimpact their books.

Toronto Raptors ($60,339,034 under thecap)After losing FredVanVleet, the Raptors are walking a tightrope when it comes towhether they’ll compete or rebuild. They face some tough decisions.Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are both set to hit free agency nextsummer, so Toronto needs to decide whether they want to extend ortrade their best players. Not to mention, Precious Achiuwa and GaryTrent Jr. also need new contracts.

Orlando Magic ($58,010,944 under thecap)Orlando has a lotof options for next summer, but the Magic may start with retainingmany of their own players. Franz Wagner will likely receive a bigcontract extension, while Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony will beup for new contracts. Given that Orlando has a logjam in theirbackcourt – with Fultz, Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black –it’ll be interesting to see what they do with Fultz and Anthony.The Magic will still have plenty of room to add quality talent foryearly average values over the NTMLE.

Detroit Pistons ($57,781,166 under thecap)Detroit mayapproach the 2024 offseason similar to how Houston approached thissummer, as a young team hoping to use its massive cap space on goodveterans in order to take bigger steps toward playoff contention.With that said, the first priority for the team will be agreeing toa contract extension with Cade Cunningham.

Utah Jazz ($50,315,319 under thecap)The Jazz findthemselves in a unique position where they could go in twodirections. After committing a three-year deal to Jordan Clarkson,they can use their cap space to give 2023 Most Improved PlayerLauri Markkanen a contract extension. If they want to havesignificant cap space for next summer instead, they can hold off ongiving Markkanen an extension until free agency issettled.

Washington Wizards ($47,123,801 under thecap)Despite their capspace next year, don’t expect Washington to be a big player in 2024free agency. In the beginning stages of a rebuild, the Wizards willprobably keep their sights on collecting more draft capital. Theydo have an interesting decision coming up with recent tradeacquisition Tyus Jones, whom they’ll likely want to keeplong-term.

Charlotte Hornets ($41,300,515 under thecap)They maylose some 2024 cap space if they eventually re-sign PJ Washingtonthis offseason, but watch out for Charlotte to be one of the manysmall-market teams with money to spend next summer. With LaMeloBall in the first year of his max contract extension, Charlotte maycash in on a marquee player to keep their young starhappy.

Brooklyn Nets ($33,048,185 under thecap)The Nets do havethe potential to have significant cap space next summer if theychoose not to re-sign most of their own free agents. However, theNets will more than likely focus on exploring the trade market andretaining big man Nic Claxton before reaching next year’s freeagency. Spencer Dinwiddie and Royce O’Neale will also hit freeagency next offseason.

Indiana Pacers ($20,488,005 under thecap)Indiana could getto an even higher number in cap space if they decline Bruce Brown’s$23 million team option next season. If Brown has a good year, thePacers would likely keep him on a long-term deal that would consumea good chunk of their space. Other impending free agents they mightlike to keep include Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith and JalenSmith.

Oklahoma City Thunder ($10,264,814 under thecap)The Thunder willlikely continue to utilize the strategy of taking on short-term,bad-money contracts in exchange for draft capital. As they inchcloser to contention, they will be looking at some big-moneyextensions for many of their young pieces, including one for JoshGiddey next year.

NON-TAX MLETEAMS

Teams in this tier arecurrently projected to be over the salary cap but under the luxurytax. They have spending access to Bird Rights, the Non-TaxpayerMid-Level Exception (projected at $13,644,000), the Bi-AnnualException (projected at $4,968,000) unless used in 2023-24, and theVeteran Minimum Exception.

Chicago Bulls ($19,465,689 under thecap)The Bulls couldpotentially operate as a cap-space team if they elect to let DeMarDeRozan and Patrick Williams walk in free agency, but that seemsunlikely. In addition, the Bulls could potentially create morespace if Lonzo Ball’s knee injury is considered career-ending by anNBA/NBPA-appointed physician. (Ball would still be paid, it justwouldn’t count against the cap).

Sacramento Kings ($210,669 under thecap)The Kings used upmost of their cap space by signing Domantas Sabonis to a bigfour-year extension that ties him with the team through 2028. Aslong as they are competitive, they will likely pursue qualitypieces with their Non-Tax MLE to support Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox.They will also likely try to keep Malik Monk and look at extensionoptions for Davion Mitchell.

New Orleans Pelicans ($487,911 over thecap)The Pelicans arefairly set with their core of CJ McCollum, Zion Williamson andBrandon Ingram under contract through 2025. Ingram and McCollum areboth extension-eligible this offseason, but the Pelicans may waiton dishing out extensions to maintain flexibility under the tax.New Orleans must also monitor Jonas Valanciunas’ free agency and apossible extension for Trey Murphy III.

Atlanta Hawks ($1,658,172 over thecap)Similar to theKings, the Hawks wiped away their cap space when they signedDejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter to four-year, $120 million andfour-year, $90 million extensions, respectively. Already pushingpast the salary cap, the Hawks may face a money crunch as theybroach the luxury tax line. Retaining restricted free agents OnyekaOkongwu and Saddiq Bey next offseason may be tricky.

Los Angeles Clippers ($5,018,261 over thecap)The Clippers arein an interesting spot with George and Leonard both needing newdeals, which they will likely get despite their inability to stayon the floor. Many veterans with big salaries will come off thebooks next year, like Marcus Morris, Nic Batum and RobertCovington. The question is whether the Clippers will continue tocommit significant capital to a roster that hasn’t met its loftyexpectations.

Miami Heat ($7,751,630 over thecap)The Miami Heat arein a holding pattern with their roster as they engage in a Mexicanstandoff with the Blazers on a Damian Lillard trade, which couldsee them skyrocket into the deep tax. Outside of the Damesituation, Jimmy Butler will likely look for another big extensionthis offseason, which will pay him max money deep into his late30s. They will also have to contend with potentially losing CalebMartin, who has a player option for 2024-25.

Houston Rockets ($8,734,919 over thecap)The biggestspenders of this past offseason, the Rockets made big moves forFred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Houston could get back into thecap-space tier again if they choose to part ways with Kevin PorterJr. and his non-guaranteed $15.9 million salary. Jalen Green andAlperen Sengun will also be up for extensions.

Cleveland Cavaliers ($11,399,749 over thecap)The Cavs arepretty set going into the 2023-24 season and beyond with two maxguys (Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell) and key guys on fairlybig deals (Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert and Max Strus). They willlikely give Evan Mobley a big extension next offseason, which couldpush them into the luxury tax in the near future. For nextoffseason, their only notable free agent is Isaac Okoro.

New York Knicks ($11,400,861 over thecap)This morning, theKnicks inked Josh Hart to a four-year contract extension thatpushed them over the cap for 2024-25. Their main concerns for nextsummer are Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Hartenstein, who are bothup for new contracts. They will likely be able to avoid the tax bydeclining their team option on Evan Fournier or trading hisexpiring contract for another expiring deal.

Dallas Mavericks ($13,566,153 over thecap)The Mavericks arenot likely to seek pathways to cap space next summer after doublingdown on their trade for Kyrie Irving by re-signing him to athree-year, $120 million deal. They should look to retain JoshGreen, who will be a restricted free agent. Luka Doncic’s happinesslooms over all of the Mavs’ moves, as ESPN’s Tim McMahonreported in Aprilthat the Mavericks are worriedabout Doncic potentially seeking a trade elsewhere as soon as nextyear.

Los Angeles Lakers ($15,380,636 over thecap)The Lakers had apathway to almost two max slots in the unlikely scenario that theydecided to pivot from the LeBron-AD era. However, that option isout the window with them inking Davis to a three-year supermaxextension that will keep him with the team through 2028. LeBronJames’ decision to stay with the team or leave will ultimatelydictate how the Lakers approach spending next offseason.

Portland Trail Blazers ($20,567,876 over thecap)Portland is in themidst of turning the page to a new era as they look to accommodatefranchise cornerstone Damian Lillard’s trade request. If they doend up trading Lillard, expect their cap numbers to come downslightly, but not enough to get any meaningful space. WhetherLillard is traded for the Miami package or something else, Portlandshouldn’t be a major player in free agency for awhile.

LUXURY TAXTEAMS

Teams in this tier arecurrently projected to be over the salary cap and luxury tax. Theyhave spending access to Bird Rights, the Taxpayer Mid-LevelException (projected at $5,500,000), and the Veteran MinimumException.

Minnesota Timberwolves ($14,474,085 under thetax)The Timberwolveshave paid the luxury tax only once since 2007. They should be a taxteam once again, with Karl-Anthony Towns' supermax extension andAnthony Edwards' max extension kicking in. In addition, Minnesotawill need to use significant capital to keep players like JadenMcDaniels, Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson, all of whom will be freeagents in 2024.

Golden State Warriors ($9,696,462 under thetax)While the Warriorsare currently under the tax, they are likely going to re-sign 2024free agent Klay Thompson to a long-term deal at a lower number orat least use his Bird Rights to acquire another piece at a similarnumber. Golden State can cut some costs by releasing Chris Paulafter the season, as his $30 million salary for 2024-25 isnon-guaranteed.

Milwaukee Bucks ($6,142,529 under thetax)The Bucksre-signed Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez to big-money deals,committing to the players who won them the 2021 title. Another oneof those players, Jrue Holiday, is set to reach free agency andwill likely demand max money. In addition, Giannis Antetokounmpobecomes eligible for a supermax extension of up to three years inOctober and can sign a four-year supermax extension nextoffseason.

Denver Nuggets ($6,732,627 over thetax)The defendingchamps have their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, MichaelPorter Jr. and Aaron Gordon locked in through the 2025 offseason.They’ve already lost Bruce Brown and Jeff Green this summer andwill be forced to work around the edges with KentaviousCaldwell-Pope potentially heading for free agency nextsummer.

Boston Celtics ($7,306,800 over thetax)The trade forKristaps Porzingis pushed the Celtics into the luxury tax for thefirst time since 2018, and that was before they signed Jaylen Brownto a five-year supermax extension. With Jayson Tatum’s own supermaxextension on the horizon next year, the Celtics figure to be a taxteam, and potentially a second apron team, for the foreseeablefuture.

SECOND APRONTEAMS

Teams in this tier arecurrently projected to be over the salary cap, luxury tax andsecond luxury tax apron ($17.5 million over the tax). They havespending access to just Bird Rights and the Veteran MinimumException. The second apron was introduced in the new CBA andprevents teams from using the Taxpayer MLE, trading first-roundpicks seven years away, signing buyout free agents and taking backmore salary than they send out in trades among otherrestrictions.

Memphis Grizzlies ($13,829,477 over thetax)For the first timeunder owner Robert Pera, the Grizzlies will be paying the luxurytax. While Memphis probably won’t reach the second apron, they arenot likely to have enough spare capital to use their Tax MLE and beable to fill out their roster without going over it. Their core ofJa Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are locked up to bigmoney, long-term deals that will keep Memphis among the league'sbiggest spenders for likely the next decade-plus.

Phoenix Suns ($27,039,607 over thetax)Phoenix is by farthe most limited team when it comes to spending, and they will befor the next few seasons after trading for Bradley Beal’s behemothcontract. With four max contracts, including two supermaxcontracts, the Suns have blown through the second apron. Like thispast offseason, the supporting cast around their core four will bemostly minimum-salary contracts.