Yossi Gozlan
@YossiGozlan
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NBA Salary Cap Analyst | Pronounced "yo-see" | Content: | NBA Salaries: | Previous: @hoopshype
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Joined June 2011
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And here’s my video on the trade.
🏀Deep dive on the complicated salary cap mechanics
🏀How the Knicks could further build to their roster
🏀How the Timberwolves could allocate their newly added future flexibility
🔗
Please like and subscribe!
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The New York Knicks managed to increase their payroll in both the Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges trades despite being an apron team.
They did this by inflating their outgoing salary required with every remaining free agent from last year they had some form of Bird rights
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The Miami Heat make a significant upgrade at point guard in Terry Rozier while reducing their luxury tax payment by $15.2 million. They save a total of $21.7 million between their payroll and tax penalty.
They also generate a $6.5 million trade exception.
JUST JN: Miami is nearing a trade to acquire Charlotte's Terry Rozier for a package sending Kyle Lowry and draft compensation that includes a first-round pick, league sources tell
@TheAthletic
@Stadium
.
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The New York Knicks are now $16.9 million below the $188.9 million second apron with 11 players.
They have enough flexibility to re-sign Precious Achiuwa and use the $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
Mamadi Diakite’s $2.3 million salary is non-guaranteed. It’ll be partially guaranteed to around 50% of that amount to make this trade work.
Keita Bates-Diop doesn’t count towards salary matching from the Knicks end since he’s on a minimum salary.
Bojan, Shake, Diakite for Mikal
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When you’re capped out for the next four years so you eliminate cap space for the rest of the league.
When the NBA voids the Nene contract so you start a geopolitical crisis with China in retaliation
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The New York Knicks are now hard capped to the $178.7 million first apron by taking back more salary than they're sending out.
This will have roster-building implications.
They could still re-sign OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein, but they'll need to reduce payroll elsewhere.
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Mikal Bridges will also become eligible to extend for four years, $156 million starting next summer.
If he accepts, it would be another significant sub-max contract that could help further extend the Knicks window into the end of the decade.
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Over the past few seasons, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were touted as the premier starter-level wings that every team is dying to have, who could fit anywhere, and would cost a lot to acquire since there are so few players like them.
The New York Knicks got both of them.
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The Dallas Mavericks could sign and trade for Klay Thompson and re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. with the $12.9 million mid-level exception while fielding a roster below the $178.7 million first apron.
A sign-and-trade for Thompson could work pretty easily by trading Maxi Kleber or
BREAKING: The Golden State Warriors are preparing to lose four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson in free agency, an expected parting of ways between a legendary dynasty and a legacy player, league sources say.
More at
@TheAthletic
with
@anthonyVslater
:
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The Golden State Warriors would have a very crowded backcourt if they added Buddy Hield to the mix. They'd also exceed the $170.8 million luxury tax if they bring him in without sending any players out.
I imagine they'd have some other moves lined up to address these things.
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The Brooklyn Nets got four unprotected first-round picks for Kevin Durant, as well as another player in Mikal Bridges they were able to flip for an additional four unprotected first-round picks.
That KD trade was a generational haul.
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Richaun Holmes has a trade bonus worth $1.8M that will adjust his 2023-24 salary to $13.9M.
Dallas will have $3.1M remaining from their newly created trade exception.
Mavericks $52M below the tax with 10 players. Plenty of room to re-sign Kyrie Irving and use the $12.4M MLE.
The Dallas Mavericks will generate a $17M trade exception from salary dumping Davis Bertans.
They project to be $74M below the luxury tax with 7 players. They'll use that flexibility toward re-signing Kyrie Irving, utilizing their new $17M TPE, and the $12.2M non-tax MLE.
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Andre Drummond can sign with the Lakers tomorrow after he clears waivers.
If that happens, the Lakers would be $959k below the hard cap. They'd have enough space to sign two more players outright from the buy-out market on April 4 (provided they waive someone first).
LA's stars have been recruiting Drummond hard, and Lakers' situation offers him a chance to step into the starting lineup at center. Drummond is progressing toward finalizing that decision soon, sources said.
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Avery Bradley is on a non-guaranteed deal so I can see the Lakers waiving him once Talen Horton-Tucker and Trevor Ariza get healthy. It would cost the Lakers $7M in combined payroll and luxury tax expenses if Bradley becomes guaranteed and finishes the season with them.
The Los Angeles Lakers have claimed Avery Bradley off waivers, sources tell
@TheAthletic
@Stadium
.
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The Boston Celtics will be $8M below the second tax apron with 12 players after acquiring Kristaps Porzingis.
If Grant Williams doesn’t return, they still have enough flexibility to use the $5M tax MLE. Re-signing him would take them over the second apron, eliminating the MLE.
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Clippers decrease their luxury tax bill by $30 million in this deal.
They also address their roster crunch by getting to 15 players and will also create a $8.3M TPE.
The Los Angeles Clippers are trading Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu to the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Eric Bledsoe, sources tell ESPN.
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The Dallas Mavericks will generate a $17M trade exception from salary dumping Davis Bertans.
They project to be $74M below the luxury tax with 7 players. They'll use that flexibility toward re-signing Kyrie Irving, utilizing their new $17M TPE, and the $12.2M non-tax MLE.
Oklahoma City can acquire Davis Bertans in July once they officially have cap space.
Acquiring him and the 10th overall pick will reduce their cap space projection from $32M to $10M.
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It’s worth noting that the New York Knicks had to complete this deal before the season started. They wouldn’t be able to do this exact version of the trade later since free agents cannot be sign and traded during the regular season.
The New York Knicks managed to increase their payroll in both the Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges trades despite being an apron team.
They did this by inflating their outgoing salary required with every remaining free agent from last year they had some form of Bird rights
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The New York Knicks still need to send out an additional $8.8 million. They can't take back more salary than they're sending out since they're over the $178.1 million first apron.
However, the Minnesota Timberwolves also cannot take more money than they're sending out.
A third
The Knicks are nearing a trade to send package around Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns, sources tell me and
@JonKrawczynski
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Jalen Brunson isn’t giving up $113 million, that’s not the way to look at this.
There’s a pathway for him to make it up.
Five year max between 2025-2030: five years, $269 million.
Three year maximum extension + first two years of max contract in 2028: five years, $263 million.
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Knicks can trade up to eight first-round picks -- four of their own, and four owed by other teams. They should be able to meet Utah's price for Donovan Mitchell with their combination of first-round picks and young players.
Expect the New York Knicks to quickly try and put together a package for Donovan Mitchell, according to league sources. Utah’s bar for Trading Mitchell is sky high. But the Knicks are the team that has the assets to make this a conversation
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The Los Angeles Lakers increase their tax penalty to $7 million by signing Spencer Dinwiddie with the remainder of their mid-level.
They could’ve saved ~$15 million by dumping a player at the deadline to duck the tax. Instead they keep all their depth and invest more into it.
Spencer Dinwiddie is signing for $1.5 million for the second half of the Lakers season, sources tell me and
@ShamsCharania
. The Lakers were able to offer Dinwiddie more than a minimum contract due to not using their full non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Gabe Vincent.
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OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet have all received new contracts exceeding $42 million annually since leaving the Toronto Raptors.
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Potential three-team framework: Kyrie Irving & Joe Harris to Lakers, Russell Westbrook & pick(s) to Spurs, & picks to Nets. Spurs would need to send Nets $20 million in salaries to fit Westbrook, but Nets would generate a $36.9M TPE & nearly wipe out their $108M luxury tax bill.
Story: How Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets and the chances the Lakers, Mavericks, Suns, and Heat land him. Plus, details on trade talks between the Knicks and Jazz on
@hoopshype
.
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Bam Adebayo’s year-by-year cap hit projections on his three-year, $166 million extension with the Miami Heat.
Great value for the Heat considering he could've been eligible for five years, $346 million next season if he qualified for the supermax (making All-NBA).
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The biggest winner of the trade deadline: the Oklahoma City Thunder players. Every player is set to receive some free money since the Thunder are well below the salary floor.
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The Lakers can still trade their 2029 first ahead of tomorrow's deadline.
If they hold onto it, they will be able to trade that in addition to their 2023 first (after the draft) in the offseason.
The Lakers' 2027 first-round pick to the Jazz is protected 1-to-4, source tells ESPN.
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Depending on how much money the Los Angeles Lakers send out, and what type of salary LeBron James is willing to take, there's a pathway for them to acquire Jerami Grant and use the $12.9 million mid-level exception while fielding a roster under the $178.7 million first apron.
I’m told the Lakers and Trail Blazers have been in consistent talks on a deal for Jerami Grant. I wouldn’t call it particularly imminent but the sides have definitely been active most of today.
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Lakers getting off Rajon Rondo without taking back salary would knock them down one luxury tax bracket and save $7M. Would also create a $1.7M TPE.
Cleveland can acquire Rondo without trading anyone but would have to waive someone first since they’re at 15 players.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in serious talks on a deal to acquire Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, sources tell
@TheAthletic
@Stadium
. In wake of Ricky Rubio’s season-ending ACL injury, Cleveland has need for backcourt help and is working on the potential move.
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Lakers only have the minimum to offer.
Jaxson Hayes' minimum salary is the same as Cam Reddish's.
They are $32M below the tax and $39M below the first apron.
Plenty of space below the apron to re-sign D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, and Malik Beasley.
Free agent center Jaxson Hayes has agreed to a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN.
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The Dallas Mavericks are now $14.9 million below the $178.7 million first apron by swapping Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes.
They now open up enough space below the first apron to use the $12.9 million non-taxpayer mid-level to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr.
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Here are my Pre-Free NBA Free Agency cap space and spending tier projections.
🏀Orlando Magic up to $50 million in cap space.
🏀3 of the 7 cap space teams can offer the highest tier max salary.
🏀14 teams operating below the first apron
🏀3 teams over the first apron and 6
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By my count, the Brooklyn Nets now have a surplus of 15 first-round picks over the next seven drafts.
They are projected to generate north of $60 million in 2025 cap space.
They are in a position to chase stars but also bottom out and rebuild with their 2025 swap returned.
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Some Damian Lillard trade thoughts:
-Heat already has enough outgoing salary for Dame with Tyler Herro ($27M), Victor Oladipo ($9.5M), & Max Strus (~$7.3M) > $41.5M required.
-Nets already has enough outgoing matching salary for Herro with Joe Harris ($19.9M) > $19.5M required.
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The Dallas Mavericks could give Klay Thompson up to three years, $51.8 million, or four years, $70.7 million, if they acquire him with the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade exception.
The $12.8 million mid-level can run for up to three years $40 million, or four years, $55 million.
Mavericks have a $16.1M trade exception created from the Tim Hardaway Jr. trade.
Lakers and Clippers would be $12.8M non-tax ML unless a sign/trade.
76ers could have $14M in room if Paul George signs with them.
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The Brooklyn Nets will reduce their luxury tax payment by $15M by trading James Harden for Ben Simmons and Seth Curry. A total of $18M in payroll and luxury tax combination. The savings could encourage them to use their trade exceptions to improve the roster.
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Salary-dumping Marc Gasol and signing a player like James Ennis to a one-year veteran minimum deal would save the Lakers $4M in combined payroll and luxury tax expenses.
The Lakers cleared a roster spot by trading Marc Gasol to the Grizzlies, as
@wojespn
reported. The Lakers are among the teams who've expressed interest in free-agent forward James Ennis, as I reported on the
@hoopshype
podcast earlier this week.
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If the hypothetical three-team trade between the Heat, Nets, & Blazers expanded into a seven-team trade combined with Miami's unofficial trades with the Thunder, Cavaliers, & Spurs, and Brookyn's unofficial trade with the Pistons, neither Heat nor Nets have to add more salaries.
Some Damian Lillard trade thoughts:
-Heat already has enough outgoing salary for Dame with Tyler Herro ($27M), Victor Oladipo ($9.5M), & Max Strus (~$7.3M) > $41.5M required.
-Nets already has enough outgoing matching salary for Herro with Joe Harris ($19.9M) > $19.5M required.
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The Dallas Mavericks signed Seth Curry with their mid-level exception and gave him flat $4M cap hits, league sources tell
@hoopshype
.
They have $5.4M remaining in their mid-level and preserve their $4.5M bi-annual exception.
$4.1M below the tax and $9.2M below the hard cap.
Seth Curry’s two-year, $8 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks is non-guaranteed in the second year of the deal, league sources told
@hoopshype
.
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This makes a ton of sense for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They can still spend $30 million in cap space before re-signing Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins with their free agent rights.
They'll still have a lot of room below the $171.3 million luxury tax after using up their cap
The Oklahoma City Thunder are declining 2024-25 team options on Isaiah Joe ($2.1 million) and Aaron Wiggins ($2 million), clearing the way for the team to work with both players on long-term deals in July, sources tell
@TheAthletic
@Stadium
.
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Six months ago, the Phoenix Suns had control of all their draft picks through 2030. They didn't owe any picks to any team, and no other team owed picks to them.
All they have left now is
#52
in tonight's draft.
Washington and Phoenix have finalized the Bradley Beal trade, landing the Wizards six second-round draft picks and four first-round pick swaps, sources tell ESPN. Suns are sending seconds in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2030. Pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030.
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The Portland Trail Blazers will also get some much-needed flexibility.
They went into the offseason over the $178.7 million first apron, making it difficult to make any moves.
They are now $4.2 million below the luxury tax by moving off Malcolm Brogdon's $22.5 million and
#14
.
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The Denver Nuggets have a pathway to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with a starter-level guard.
If they unload Zeke Nnaji’s $8.9 million, and sign and trade Pope to Orlando, they could use his outgoing salary toward up to a $21 million player. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Norman
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaving the Denver Nuggets and headed to the Orlando Magic on a three-year deal, I’m told.
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The total cost this season for the New York Knicks to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns: $45 million.
-$23.8 million (luxury tax penalty increase)
-$9.4 million (payroll increase)
-$7.2 million (cash to Hornets)
-$4.1 million (Julius Randle's trade bonus)
-$850,000 (towards Duane
The New York Knicks managed to increase their payroll in both the Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges trades despite being an apron team.
They did this by inflating their outgoing salary required with every remaining free agent from last year they had some form of Bird rights
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Sounds like Oklahoma City will end up having waived all 4 players they received from Houston in that trade. Houston has already waived all 4 they received from OKC. Can't recall a trade this big where every player involved was cut.
Thunder plan to waive G/F David Nwaba among others to create roster space to sign Isaiah Joe, sources said.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder have $7.1M remaining in cap space, so this will just about cap them out.
This would signal that Vasilije Micic is being signed with OKC’s room mid-level.
Oklahoma City is acquiring Brooklyn guard Patty Mills as part of a broader deal through Houston, sources tell ESPN. The Thunder will receive draft compensation to take on Mills’ $6.8M expiring deal.
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The Los Angeles Clippers reduce their luxury tax payment by $30M by trading Serge Ibaka for Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood.
They will also generate a $9.72M trade exception.
The Bucks are also sending Semi Ojele and Rodney Hood to the Clippers in the four-team deal too, sources tell ESPN.
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Lakers will have a $200M combined payroll and luxury tax after they presumably sign two players to the veteran minimum.
Signing Jared Dudley as the 15th man would cost an additional $8M.
Signing him on the last day of the regular season for their playoff run would cost $31k.
"And with the intention of signing two more players and leaving a roster spot open, it means Jared Dudley’s two-year tenure with the organization will likely come to an end."
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Lakers still have $4.4M in cash left they can send out trades. A portion of it can be used as incentive for teams to take on DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore.
They already attached cash to get off Rajon Rondo (as well as Denzel Valentine's partial guarantee) and Marc Gasol.
Windhorst says the Lakers are looking to trade DeAndre Jordan and Kent Bazemore
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If the Lakers trade for Dejounte Murray, they should do it before July when his extension kicks in.
If they acquire him this month, the salary-matching requirement for the Lakers would be significantly less. That would also allow the Hawks to take back fewer salaries.
"The pressure is on the Lakers front office to make changes to this roster..
They have to be aggressive and I think Dejounte Murray will come up in trade conversations"
@ShamsCharania
#PMSLive
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Pistons cap space projection drops to $34M from $47M by acquiring Kemba Walker and Jalen Duren.
They still have enough to offer Deandre Ayton a maximum contract ($30.5M).
Knicks now projected to generate $18M in cap space after getting off Kemba Walker and the 11th overall pick. $16M is more realistic when keeping Mitchell Robinson's cap hold in mind so they can re-sign him after.
They're much closer to having enough cap space for Jalen Brunson.
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Russell Westbrook: “I’ve requested a trade.”
Sam Presti: “Good. Our rebuild is coming into fruition.”
*hangs up, breaks flip phone in half*
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Along with being up so many future first-round picks, the Jazz are set to have three in next year's draft and could generate $40M+ in 2023 cap space.
Utah went from being one of the most constrained teams cap-wise to one of the most flexible and asset-rich in under 24 hours.
This is why the Jazz made this deal. Danny Ainge extracts 3 unprotected first-round picks as he did in the deal with Brooklyn in 2013, plus an additional lightly protected first.
Utah is now up 6 first-round picks since yesterday (including Walker Kessler).
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In one hour, teams can start negotiating with their own free agents now that the NBA Finals are over.
This is a new change to the CBA being implemented this year that moves the unofficial start of free agency earlier.
Free agency dominos could start falling very soon.
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Source: Serge Ibaka completely waived his trade bonus.
Milwaukee Bucks with a $52.5M luxury tax payment with 12 players. They have two weeks as of yesterday to get to the 14 player minimum requirement. Cycling 10-day contracts could help mitigate increasing their tax bill.
I believe Serge Ibaka will have to waive a portion of his trade bonus for this trade (Donte + Hood + Ojeleye for Ibaka) to be legal from the Bucks' perspective. Unless they include another player in this deal, his trade bonus would have to be no higher than $396,832.
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Theoretically, the Philadelphia 76ers could sign and trade someone with their remaining $10 million in cap space for a free agent making $7.75 million more (take back an ~$18 million player). But that would trigger the first apron and they wouldn't be able to fit that salary
At this point, I think the Philadelphia 76ers apron situation is more pressing than their remaining $10 million in cap space.
If they cut Paul Reed and Ricky Council IV, and trade Jared McCain, they'd have about $11.6 million below the $170.8 million first apron, or $22.4
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Mamadi Diakite’s $2.3 million salary is non-guaranteed. It’ll be partially guaranteed to around 50% of that amount to make this trade work.
Keita Bates-Diop doesn’t count towards salary matching from the Knicks end since he’s on a minimum salary.
Bojan, Shake, Diakite for Mikal
In addition ... The Knicks will also add Mamadi Diakite to the Mikal Bridges trade, league sources said. Knicks have to add salary to the deal in order to avoid being capped at the first apron.
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Per Woj, four years, $32 million for Caleb Martin. It could start as low as $7.4 million, just a hair over his player option with the Heat.
Sixers could still have about $2 million of cap space left before factoring in keeping Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin's cap hold.
Full ESPN story on free agent Caleb Martin agreeing on deal with Sixers, slotting into starting power forward
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The San Antonio Spurs are getting off Devonte Graham's $2.85 million partial guarantee by trading him.
They now can reach $19.1 million in cap space, enough to absorb a player like Kevin Huerter or Harrison Barnes to facilitate a DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento sign and trade.
The San Antonio Spurs are trading guard Devonte Graham and a second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN. The Hornets will waive Graham, allowing him to become a free agent.
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Bruce Brown is a prime candidate to get rerouted in another trade. He has a $23 million team option that would need to be declined for the Toronto Raptors to utilize their $32 million in cap space this summer.
Most teams only need to send out $14.5 million to match for him.
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The Philadelphia 76ers save $18 million by trading Danuel House.
$4.3 million off the payroll
$2.5 million luxury tax penalty eliminated
$11.2 million gained from leaguewide tax distribution
The $11.2 million projected assumes the Lakers duck the tax (just $1.3 million over).
The 76ers are trading Danuel House and a 2024 second-round pick via the Knicks to the Pistons, sources tell ESPN.
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Lakers hard cap space down to $1.63M from $1.74M.
My feel is that they’ll cycle through another 10-day through March. By the time we get to buy-out season (late March/early April), the prorated minimum will be small enough for the Lakers to sign two players outright.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Damian Jones to a 10-day contract.
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This is what separates the Lakers from being able to sign a 15th player before the season starts.
Lakers will now be $4.5M below the apron once they max out Davis, enough for two more veteran minimum signings.
As part of their roster moves, the Los Angeles Lakers reversed course and did not end up stretching Quinn Cook's salary. Because of the JaVale McGee trade and subsequent waiver of Jordan Bell, LA was able to take the full hit for Cook at $1M for the 2020-21 season.
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The Heat are also $6.3 million below the second apron, opening up the $5 million taxpayer mid-level.
It could be used to pursue buyout players. But they still can't sign players making $12.4 million or more. They need to get below the first apron to do that ($4.2 million above).
The Miami Heat make a significant upgrade at point guard in Terry Rozier while reducing their luxury tax payment by $15.2 million. They save a total of $21.7 million between their payroll and tax penalty.
They also generate a $6.5 million trade exception.
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If the Lakers acquire and waive Denzel Valentine today he will count as $847k in dead money. Gives the Lakers net savings of $3.7M between payroll and luxury tax combined.
Getting off Valentine leaves Cleveland $3.3M below the luxury tax.
ESPN Sources: The Cavaliers have agreed to trade Denzel Valentine to the Lakers to acquire Rajon Rondo. The Lakers are expected to waive Valentine’s partially-guaranteed deal and create an open roster spot.
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Lakers will generate a $2.7M trade exception. They’re at 13 players on the roster.
The Lakers have agreed to trade Marc Gasol, a 2024 second-round pick and cash to the Grizzlies for the draft rights to Wang Zhelin, sources tell ESPN. Deal saves Lakers $10M. Gasol and Grizzlies will work together on waiver and release to allow him to remain in Spain w/ family.
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The Phoenix Suns are set to be a second apron team if they keep Deandre Ayton.
In this scenario they wouldn’t have the MLE or BAE and half their roster would be minimum players.
Torrey Craig and Jock Landale are their only free agents they can sign for more than the minimum.
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The Mavericks are now hard capped to the $172.3M first apron by signing Seth Curry with the $4.5M bi-annual.
They are $16M below it with 12 players and $9M below the tax.
They'll need to reduce more payroll to gain access to the entire $12.4M mid-level.
Sources: The Mavericks used their $4-plus million biannual exception on Seth Curry, a 43.5% career 3-point shooter returning for his third stint in Dallas.
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The Los Angeles Lakers could offer Klay Thompson a contract in the high teens if they send out around $9-11 million in a sign-and-trade.
That would put their offer in same range that the Dallas Mavericks could offer him via sign and trade.
.
@windhorstESPN
says the Lakers are "a step away" from being able to bring Klay Thompson to L.A. 👀
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The Utah Jazz are also in a similar position to facilitate a trade with the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro.
If the Heat don't want the Suns or Nets 2025 unprotected first, the Jazz have more options between the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and their own 2025 first to offer.
Per
@GregSylvander
, Miami is positioning itself to trade 4️⃣ first-round picks should Herro be sent to Nets for ‘25 first (via PHX).
They’d open up their own firsts to trade in:
• 2024
• 2025 (POR [1-14] or OKC [15-30])
• 2026 (OKC or POR if ‘25 didn’t convey)
• 2028
• 2030
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It sounds like the New York Knicks will make up the rest of $8.8 million outgoing salary required by sign-and-trading free agents.
This would allow them to complete the deal without sending out an additional significant player under contract.
For example, including DaQuan
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Here are some ways the New York Knicks could modify the Mikal Bridges trade so they could exceed the $178.7 million first apron, giving them an additional $11 million to field the roster next season:
-Assuming Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t return, fold it into a three team-deal
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The Brooklyn Nets now have the following trade exceptions:
$19.9M - Joe Harris trade
$18.1M - Kevin Durant
$4.5M - Kyrie Irving trade
The Brooklyn Nets generate a ton of flexibility toward re-signing Cameron Johnson.
By offloading Joe Harris, the Nets can now re-sign Johnson while opening up the $12.4M mid-level exception.
They also generate a $19.9M trade exception.
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If he joins the Lakers, Rajon Rondo would be the fourth player this Grizzlies front office has waived that immediately joined the Lakers. The others were Avery Bradley, Dwight Howard, and Dion Waiters.
I’m guessing he gave back $2.6M, his veteran minimum amount, in his buy out.
After agreeing to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers are the frontrunners to sign guard Rajon Rondo, sources tell ESPN.
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If Lakers do Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell for Russell Westbrook, they could sign-and-trade Dennis Schroder for Buddy Hield.
I believe a starting salary of $18.6M for Schroder, his maximum outgoing amount to avoid BYC, should match Hield’s $23M.
Oh, boy. This would be incredibly fun.
How do the Lakers fit Buddy Hield AND Russell Westbrook? Is that possible?
@YossiGozlan
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Clippers payroll and luxury tax combined now precisely at $300M.
Other current top expensive teams:
Warriors - $362M
Nets - $306M
Bucks - $200M
Jazz - $192M
Lakers - $189M
We are set to have a historic season of luxury tax payments.
The Clippers are signing Justise Winslow using their taxpayer mid-level exception, a source told
@latimessports
. No options on the deal’s second season.
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What's even crazier is the Phoenix Suns 2025-26 payroll projection. Their payroll and tax are projected to exceed $500 million next season.
That's because starting next season, tax rates increase by an additional $1 after the third tax level. Also, they'll be entering the
Phoenix Suns payroll projection if Royce O'Neale's four year, $44 million deal starts as low as $9.8 million:
Payroll: $216.7 million
Luxury tax penalty: $162.4 million
$379 million roster would be second most expensive of all time behind last year's Warriors ($384 million).
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This won’t prohibit the Golden State Warriors from potentially trading for an All-Star like Paul George.
Acquiring a player as expensive as him would hard cap them to the $189.5 million second apron anyway since they’d need to aggregate salaries to make a deal work.
The Warriors traded cash to reacquire the 52nd pick and drafted Quinten Post, per source. That officially hard caps the Warriors at the second apron. They are now unable to go over it this season (which was the plan regardless).
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If the Wizards incorporate sign-and-trading for Spencer Dinwiddie as part of the Westbrook trade, they wouldn't need to send back additional salary.
Washington can take back $55.4M for Westbrook. Kuzma, Pope + Harrell = $35.8M. Dinwiddie could get up to a $19.6M starting salary.
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The Lakers would have to include more salary filler beyond Talen Horton-Tucker to acquire Cam Reddish and Alex Burks.
Kendrick Nunn’s inclusion would make it work.
Sources: The Lakers, Knicks and Raptors have discussed a 3-team trade.
Lakers get Cam Reddish and Alec Burks.
Knicks get Goran Dragic and draft picks.
Raptors get Talen Horton-Tucker and Nerlens Noel.
There’s also a chance Kendrick Nunn is added to the trade as talks continue
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The Lakers are likely out of the Bojan Bogdanovic bidding after trading Patrick Beverley, who they could've aggregated with other players to match salaries.
Cruely, Malik Beasley's $15.6M salary comes up just $2,456 short of matching for Bogdanovic straight up.
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The Brooklyn Nets can generate a $21.7 million trade exception for trading Mikal Bridges.
This would require them to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic into their $20 million Spencer Dinwiddie trade exception.
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One other thing I also forgot to mention:
As part of the Victor Oladipo trade, the Thunder could agree to alter the protection of the 2025 first-round pick the Heat owes them, or send it back to them for a future one.
This would allow Miami to trade an extra first-round pick.
Correct.
@YossiGozlan
had a 7 team trade idea to incorporate all these deals and ensure Blazers don't need to take any contracts and get many draft picks. But that option goes off table when Vic and Strus deals are finalized
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The Orlando Magic have about $28 million left in cap space after signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to three years, $66 million.
That's assuming Pope gets flat $22 million cap hits. The Magic typically structure deals like that or descending.
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Here’s how a renegotiation-and-extension for Alex Caruso could look like:
$14.1 million is the most cap space teams can roll over into the season.
IF the Thunder reserve that much, which means they only spent about $18-20 million of their available cap space this summer, they
Yes. Alex Caruso can renegotiate and extend his contract six months after the trade.
It would require the Oklahoma City Thunder roll over some cap space into the season.
This could allow the Thunder to pay him forward, making it easier to keep him beyond the next two years.
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While swapping Green for Schroder is a wash, getting off the
#28
pick saves the Lakers $1.9M against the hard cap. In this projection, Lakers could still re-sign their top free agents, fill out the roster, and use the full mid-level as long as they get off McGee's salary.
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The Heat go from $192,895 below the luxury tax to $4.9M below. They now have more flexibility in trades and to convert Orlando Robinson to a standard contract now.
They also generate a $4.7M trade exception.
The Miami Heat are trading center Dewayne Dedmon and a second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell
@TheAthletic
@Stadium
.
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Here are my updated 2024 cap space projections. 8 teams project to have significant room next month.
I've also grouped every other over-the cap team as a below apron, first apron, or second apron team, and listed applicable exceptions and restrictions they may be subjected to.
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Pascal Siakam’s year-by-year cap hit projections on his four year, $189.5 million maximum-level contract with the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers have enough room below the $171.3 million luxury tax line to re-sign Obi Toppin or use the $12.9 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
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I’m not sure there’s enough ways to express how massive Jalen Brunson taking this extension is for the New York Knicks.
A max level player earning ~20% of the cap will do wonders for team building.
This gives them a much stronger chance at keeping their top 8 players over the
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The next domino to fall for the Philadelphia 76ers is KJ Martin. They could still sign and trade him, but there's less urgency for that now that they have Caleb Martin.
The Sixers could also re-sign him to a high salary for trade purposes in January/February.
Now that the Sixers are waiving Paul Reed, a KJ Martin balloon deal/S&T is more unlikely because of the BYC issues.
A balloon deal + midseason trade is very much still on the table, though.
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The Brooklyn Nets generate a ton of flexibility toward re-signing Cameron Johnson.
By offloading Joe Harris, the Nets can now re-sign Johnson while opening up the $12.4M mid-level exception.
They also generate a $19.9M trade exception.
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Jarred Vanderbilt is now extension-eligible with the Lakers.
Speaking of expected LAL moves, the Lakers plan to exercise the $4.7 million team option for Jarred Vanderbilt for next season, sources told ESPN. The 24-year-old forward will be eligible for a contract extension extension worth up to 4 years and $71 million starting Sept. 7.
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The Lakers will have Hachimura's restricted free agency rights this summer provided they tender him a $7.7M qualifying offer.
This trade also increases their luxury tax bill by $3.3M. They currently project with a $44.2M penalty with the current roster.
The Wizards can slot Kendrick Nunn into their Montrezl Harrell TPE, allowing them to roll it over into a new one worth $6.3M. They also gain much-needed breathing room from the tax going from $346,482 to $1.4M below.
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RIP to the old trade rules.
The Clippers now must send out at least $37.3M to match for James Harden.
Salary matching needed for James Harden and his trade bonus:
By June 30: $28.5M
2023-24 for teams below the $182.8M first apron: $32.6M
2023-24 for teams above the $182.8M first apron: $37.3M
You can see why teams like the Clippers would be motivated to get a deal done now.
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The Utah Jazz save $11M against the luxury tax and can generate a $9.77M trade exception if they take Juancho Hernangomez into the Derrick Favors $7.47M trade exception.
The Utah Jazz are acquiring guard Portland’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Spurs’ Juancho Hernangomez in a three-way deal, sources tell ESPN. The Spurs gets guard Tomas Satoransky and a second-round pick, and the Blazers get Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes and a second-round pick.
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More realistically, this could get turned into a three-or-four-team deal with the Kings and Wizards where Schroder gets rerouted to the Wizards or a fourth team, and the Kings get different players from the Wizards or a fourth team.
If Lakers do Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Montrezl Harrell for Russell Westbrook, they could sign-and-trade Dennis Schroder for Buddy Hield.
I believe a starting salary of $18.6M for Schroder, his maximum outgoing amount to avoid BYC, should match Hield’s $23M.
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