Who has Cap Space, Who’s Over the Cap and Who’s paying the Taz

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Still Have Some Space

These teams are still somewhat under the $58.044 million cap and could be looking to make more moves. The amount available is listed.

Sacramento Kings – $17 million: The Kings had space for a max player but never made any indication they wanted to be involved in the craziness. Given the wealthy of youth on the team, that makes some sense. They still need a couple players to fill out the roster, but don’t expect anything major.

New Jersey Nets – $14 million: This is for 14 players, so they are right there with the Wolves. Heck, they even have a dead contract on their books (the $500k they paid to waive Dooling), so they might even be better. And they are paying Devin Harris and Travis Outlaw a combined $16 million. Impressive. It will be quite the race between the Nets and Wolves to see who gets more wins at such a cost-effective level.

Minnesota Timberwolves – $13 million: The Wolves actually have 15 players under contract at this price, though Greg Stiemsma is non-guaranteed. How is that even possible?! Well, their highest-paid player is Michael Beasley (whom they acquired for a second-round pick in a steal no matter how you look at it) at just under $5 million. In fact, only three players (Beasley, Martell Webster, and Darko Milicic) make over $4 million. Will they win anything?

Washington Wizards – $10 million: It’s been a re-tooling summer for the Wizards after a very crazy season. They do have only 10 players under contract and could use a reliable small forward.

L.A. Clippers – $9 million: The Clippers had cleared space to have a run at LeBron James, but since he chose Miami they have instead judiciously used the space on solid contracts for Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye. They will would like to add a wing scorer.

Oklahoma City Thunder – $8 million: The Thunder has 15 players under contract so likely won’t be making any more signings after bringing in Royal Ivey at the minimum. Guess what? They also have $18.7 million in expiring contracts (Nick Collison, Morris Peterson, and Nenad Krstic) they can use as bait, should they decide to make a trade.

Cleveland Cavaliers – $8 million: This is somewhat misleading because the Cavaliers hold a $14.5 million Traded Player Exception from their sign-and-trade deal with the Miami HEAT for LeBron James. In order for them to actually be under the cap they would have to renounce that TPE, and that’s not going to happen.

Chicago Bulls – $7 million: The Bulls only have 10 players under contract, though have reportedly agreed to terms with Kurt Thomas as well. It’s likely they will be spending all their cap space eventually – they may still use it to absorb a contract in an unequal move.

New York Knicks – $4 million: It would seem the Knicks are done spending money for this summer – they still harbor hopes of rolling some of their space – and Eddy Curry’s expiring contract into another star.

Over The Cap

These teams don’t have any cap space left – their amount of commitments is listed.

Philadelphia 76ers – $70 million: $70.283 million, to be exact. Congrats Philly, you are about as close as you can get to the luxury tax without going over. Looks like they won’t be using the MLE.

Portland Trail Blazers – $70 million: $70.198 million to be exact, so Philly has a $100k edge on them in the race to walk the line between paying and not paying the tax. However, they have a Qualifying Offer out to Patrick Mills for just under a million. If he signs it he may just get waived (it’s a non-guaranteed deal, like his 2009-10 contract). Portland is very cognizant of the tax line and while they won’t say they won’t be payers, they won’t be payers for Mills. Expect more moves in Portland.

San Antonio Spurs – $69 million: After re-signing Matt Bonner and Richard Jefferson and bringing in Tiago Splitter the Spurs are right up against the tax. They have paid in the past for a top team, so it won’t hold them back if they want to do more.

New Orleans Hornets – $69 million: The Hornets will not be tax payers. If they make a major move it will be to return less money than they send, but it also better return talent.

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Milwaukee Bucks – $68 million: The Bucks have spent quite a bit of money this summer, signing Drew Gooden, Keyon Dooling, and John Salmons as well as acquiring Corey Maggette and Jon Brockman via trade. That said, they have a very solid team and could challenge for a division title – and Michael Redd’s $18.3 million will drop off at the end of the season (at the latest).

Indiana Pacers – $68 million: Indiana absolutely will not pay the luxury tax for this team. If they make a move, it will be a trade to bring in less money than they send out.

Memphis Grizzlies – $65 million: The Grizzlies spent only $58 million last season, but they stepped up and paid Rudy Gay max money. If they didn’t have Zach Randolph’s $17.3 million on their cap they would be the rare team with a max player and still under the cap.

Atlanta Hawks – $65 million: The Hawks haven’t spent their MLE yet but they want to – doing so will push them into luxury tax territory after they maxed out Joe Johnson. They only have 10 players signed.

Phoenix Suns – $62 million: Phoenix may still make a move or two to take on a contract with what’s left of the Traded Player Exception they received from the Amar’e Stoudemire deal. So far they have used it to acquire Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick.

Golden State Warriors – $62 million: The Warriors have some of their MLE left and also have Traded Player Exceptions from signing and trading Anthony Morrow to New Jersey and C.J. Watson to Chicago for draft picks. With the franchise sale being finalized, expect the Warriors to make some moves later in the summer.

Miami HEAT – $62 million: It’s funny to think just a couple weeks ago the HEAT had almost nothing on their cap, and now they are over. That’s what happens when you sign three superstars and four key role players, four minimum salary veterans, and a rookie. Of course, they are also committed to three players in 2015-16 for $66 million, so there is that. They probably don’t care.

Detroit Pistons – $60 million: The Pistons still have two-thirds of their MLE and are planning on signing restricted free agent point guard Will Bynum to a multi-year deal.

Toronto Raptors – $59 million: Like the Cavs the Raptors also hold a $14.5 million TPE they haven’t touched from signing and trading Chris Bosh to Miami. After bringing in Linas Kleiza that’s all they have to use – and they have indicated it’s an option for the right player.

Paying Luxury Tax

The luxury tax level for 2010-11 has been set at $70.307 million, meaning any dollar over that amount a team is they’ll be kicking in another dollar to be distributed at the end of the season to those teams below the tax amount. Some of these teams were paying tax before the summer even started. The amount over the luxury tax is listed.

L.A. Lakers – $22 million: Hey, you have to spend to keep a title team together, right? Unfortunately, this only includes 11 players after the agreements with Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff.

Orlando Magic – $21 million: The Magic was already well into the tax territory BEFORE they used their entire Mid-Level Exception on Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson, and then matched Chicago’s offer to J.J. Redick. The Magic are likely in luxury tax territory for the next two years as well.

Dallas Mavericks – $15 million: After re-signing Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood the Mavericks are well into tax territory. Then again, this surprises no one.

Denver Nuggets – $13 million: The Nuggets were very careful about trying not to pay the tax last season, but this year getting away from it is going to be impossible.

Boston Celtics – $13 million: For a brief little bit the Celtics were under the cap and some speculated it would be a good time to re-build. Nope. Instead they brought back Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Nate Robinson, and spend the full MLE on Jermaine O’Neal.

Houston Rockets – $12 million: By re-signing Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry in addition to bringing in Brad Miller, the Rockets are going all-in. Hopefully Yao Ming stays healthy.

Utah Jazz – $7 million: Luxury tax was not why they didn’t keep Carlos Boozer, but the Jazz have been careful around the tax number in the past. This year it’s not even close.

Charlotte Bobcats – $7 million: After signing Shaun Livingston and Tyrus Thomas the Cats are unexpectedly in this group. However, they can waive Erick Dampier and his $13.1 million to get under the tax level. Expect that to happen.

Wow, not even August and six teams look like they will absolutely be paying tax already (seven if the Cats keep Dampier, which they won’t). Expect more to join them.