NEWS
Just 9 weeks removed from the Lakers hoisting the trophy, the NBA is back. The quick offseason didn't deter teams from spending big, extending their own, and of course - trading superstars. We'll break down many of those figures here in our 2020-21 NBA Financial Preview.
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2020-21 Opening Day Roster Spending
A look at how each NBA team is starting the season, including projected wins, starting 5 money, total cap allocations, & current cap & luxury tax space. Track cap, cash, & tax figures for each team here.
Notable Notes
- Memphis carries almost $18M of dead cap this season, most in the league - including a $12.6M figure for Dion Waiters.
- The Lakers & Clippers enter the season as the oldest teams in the league, 5 years older than the league low Timberwolves.
- The teams with the lowest projected wins are also those with the lowest allocated cap - with the exception of Cleveland (Love, Drummond).
- The projected starting 5 in Houston will account for $126M this year, $87M more than the league low Knicks ($39M)
- 10 teams enter the season as projected to being over the luxury tax threshold, led by the Warriors (-$42M).
- 18 of the 30 teams in the league are hard capped - mostly due to sign and trades.
| Team | Proj. Wins | Avg. Age | Starting 5 Cap | Total Cap | Cap Space | Tax Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 36.5 | 25.2 | $49,183,906 | $114,695,055 | $-5,555,055 | $17,931,945 |
| BOS | 45.5 | 24.6 | $54,666,392 | $116,911,260 | $-7,771,260 | $15,715,740 |
| BKN | 45.5 | 26.6 | $113,945,221 | $155,951,226 | $-46,811,226 | $-23,324,226 |
| CHA | 25.5 | 23.9 | $57,319,972 | $105,070,579 | $4,069,421 | $27,556,421 |
| CHI | 30.5 | 25.3 | $42,312,977 | $122,505,867 | $-13,365,867 | $10,121,133 |
| CLE | 22.5 | 25.1 | $73,264,926 | $123,264,184 | $-14,124,184 | $9,179,204 |
| DAL | 42.5 | 26.1 | $56,325,827 | $126,480,222 | $-17,340,222 | $6,146,778 |
| DEN | 44.5 | 24.4 | $115,965,884 | $127,368,106 | $-18,228,106 | $5,258,894 |
| DET | 23.5 | 25 | $77,248,197 | $117,074,019 | $-7,934,019 | $15,552,981 |
| GSW | 36.5 | 25.7 | $114,511,788 | $172,824,610 | $-63,684,610 | $-40,381,222 |
| HOU | 34.5 | 27.1 | $126,095,553 | $137,493,015 | $-28,353,015 | $-5,224,494 |
| IND | 39.5 | 25.7 | $92,975,000 | $132,846,535 | $-23,706,535 | $-578,014 |
| LAC | 45.5 | 27.7 | $107,429,861 | $152,889,392 | $-43,749,392 | $-20,262,392 |
| LAL | 46.5 | 28.6 | $95,599,666 | $136,015,047 | $-26,875,047 | $-3,388,047 |
| MEM | 30.5 | 23.7 | $52,442,652 | $131,226,860 | $-22,086,860 | $1,400,140 |
| MIA | 44.5 | 27.6 | $66,594,472 | $123,704,154 | $-14,564,154 | $8,739,234 |
| MIL | 49.5 | 26.9 | $102,671,320 | $134,464,759 | $-25,324,759 | $-5,719,176 |
| MIN | 28.5 | 23.4 | $87,441,895 | $131,949,863 | $-22,809,863 | $2,778,325 |
| NOP | 36.5 | 24.8 | $92,763,946 | $130,059,857 | $-20,919,857 | $2,567,143 |
| NYK | 22.5 | 23.8 | $39,308,771 | $90,637,364 | $18,502,636 | $41,989,636 |
| OKC | 22.5 | 25.1 | $47,261,913 | $122,643,375 | -$13,503,375 | $37,018,197 |
| ORL | 31.5 | 25.6 | $73,101,433 | $129,812,621 | $-20,672,621 | $2,814,379 |
| PHI | 45.5 | 25.9 | $123,990,682 | $144,069,376 | $-34,929,376 | $-11,442,376 |
| PHX | 38.5 | 26.1 | $94,577,228 | $124,825,928 | $-15,685,928 | $7,801,072 |
| POR | 41.5 | 25.3 | $87,845,283 | $130,749,148 | $-21,609,148 | $1,877,852 |
| SAC | 27.5 | 24.9 | $65,938,117 | $124,227,888 | $-15,087,888 | $24,574,010 |
| SAS | 29.5 | 25.3 | $79,639,031 | $131,616,175 | $-22,476,175 | $1,010,825 |
| TOR | 41.5 | 26.2 | $95,589,298 | $129,128,921 | $-19,988,921 | $2,955,988 |
| UTA | 42.5 | 26.7 | $90,937,121 | $132,889,380 | $-23,749,380 | $-445,992 |
| WAS | 32.5 | 25.3 | $82,821,210 | $130,878,918 | $-21,738,918 | $842,216 |
| AVG: | 36 | 25.5 | $81.9M | $128.6M | -$19.4M | $4.3M |
Active Roster Spending by Position
A look at how each NBA team is allocating it's salary cap money positionally to start the season. Track positional spending for each team in real-time here.
Notable Notes
- The Rockets changed names but not numbers, ranking 1st in guard money, 24th in forwards, & 28th in centers to start the year.
- A Chris Paul-less OKC will start the year with just $22M potted to guards, 22 guards make more than that on their own this year.
- The Clippers & Lakers both made a point to get deeper in the middle, so its no surprise they lead the league in Forward pay.
| Team | G | F | C | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | $53.48 | $44.47 | $16.00M | $113.95M |
| BOS | $84.39 | $57.28 | $14.29M | $155.95M |
| BKN | $81.88 | $17.61 | $16.29M | $115.78M |
| CHA | $33.75 | $41.01 | $21.27M | $96.03M |
| CHI | $47.48 | $67.32 | $7.70M | $122.51M |
| CLE | $35.19 | $53.33 | $34.57M | $123.09M |
| DAL | $46.66 | $59.52 | $18.68M | $124.86M |
| DEN | $55.78 | $38.37 | $33.22M | $127.37M |
| DET | $37.92 | $68.21 | $5.00M | $111.14M |
| GSW | $86.06 | $75.85 | $8.73M | $172.16M |
| HOU | $104.34 | $31.36 | $1.62M | $137.32M |
| IND | $61.72 | $47.92 | $20.96M | $130.60M |
| LAC | $79.70 | $56.04 | $17.16M | $152.89M |
| LAL | $37.08 | $89.79 | $2.56M | $129.43M |
| MEM | $45.54 | $35.57 | $32.29M | $113.39M |
| MIA | $29.12 | $78.10 | $9.40M | $118.14M |
| MIL | $43.76 | $72.97 | $12.70M | $129.43M |
| MIN | $76.45 | $16.53 | $35.99M | $128.98M |
| NOP | $52.76 | $43.05 | $34.25M | $130.06M |
| NYK | $36.47 | $36.06 | $6.66M | $79.19M |
| OKC | $21.30 | $63.49 | $0.00M | $85.09M |
| ORL | $51.20 | $46.64 | $31.97M | $129.81M |
| PHI | $63.31 | $43.31 | $37.32M | $143.94M |
| PHX | $79.97 | $33.10 | $11.76M | $124.83M |
| POR | $64.90 | $36.17 | $24.92M | $125.99M |
| SAC | $54.93 | $46.45 | $6.63M | $108.00M |
| SAS | $68.95 | $48.44 | $8.10M | $125.50M |
| TOR | $73.05 | $46.47 | $9.26M | $128.78M |
| UTA | $54.34 | $41.41 | $38.76M | $134.51M |
| WAS | $81.47 | $30.10 | $19.31M | $130.88M |
| AVG: | $58.2M | $48.9M | $17.9M | $125.0M |
Offseason Spending
A look at how each NBA team spent this offseason via trades, free agency, the draft, or by extending their own.
Notable Notes
- With a diminished free agency season, extensions carried the day. Hence the Lakers, Bucks, & Clippers lead all teams in offseason dollars.
- The Hornets added almost $30M of cap this year via the trade, while the Celtics and Thunder shed $37M & $35M respectively.
- The Lakers added 7 players in free agency, totaling $261M in total contracts - $100M more than any other team.
- Daryl Morey's first few months in Philly have been busy, but it's only cost him a net of $13.5M in total cash thus far.
| Team | Via Trade | Via Extension | Via Free Agency | Via the Draft | Total Spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | $18,976,375 | $160,599,318 | $11,917,920 | $191,493,613 | |
| BOS | -$35,441,790 | - | $79,593,347 | $5,514,240 | $49,665,797 |
| BKN | -$40,509 | $163,000,590 | $21,543,653 | $15,232,440 | $199,736,174 |
| CHA | $29,500,000 | - | $123,500,000 | $22,653,003 | $175,653,003 |
| CHI | - | $6,795,594 | $14,490,360 | $21,285,954 | |
| CLE | $2,192,389 | - | $7,911,463 | $13,121,640 | $23,225,492 |
| DAL | $4,828,953 | $23,717,610 | $12,295,409 | $40,841,972 | |
| DEN | -$16,856,520 | $27,774,997 | $34,542,868 | $4,878,600 | $50,339,945 |
| DET | $20,348,451 | - | $101,019,993 | $10,879,800 | $132,248,244 |
| GSW | $14,375,000 | $4,570,044 | $17,897,040 | $36,842,084 | |
| HOU | $3,385,474 | - | $54,248,769 | - | $57,634,243 |
| IND | -$2,808,844 | - | $23,947,727 | - | $21,138,883 |
| LAC | $240,265,466 | $90,952,947 | - | $331,218,413 | |
| LAL | $-2,505,022 | $125,655,529 | $261,776,175 | $4,028,040 | $388,954,722 |
| MEM | $3,713,451 | - | $49,477,688 | $6,731,283 | $59,922,422 |
| MIA | $163,898,900 | $39,222,753 | $5,293,440 | $208,415,093 | |
| MIL | $693,819 | $228,200,826 | $50,897,115 | $6,912,811 | $286,704,571 |
| MIN | --$3,258,470 | - | $81,037,320 | $28,497,211 | $109,534,531 |
| NOP | $3,664,098 | $35,000,000 | $163,289,563 | $11,763,042 | $213,716,703 |
| NYK | $9,611,120 | - | $25,742,000 | $9,967,200 | $45,320,320 |
| OKC | -$-31,193,307 | $19,791,105 | $4,316,160 | $24,107,265 | |
| ORL | $130,000,000 | $17,502,857 | $6,734,520 | $154,237,377 | |
| PHI | -$9,888,662 | - | $8,198,207 | $15,180,672 | $13,490,217 |
| PHX | $7,915,743 | - | $75,737,043 | $8,703,720 | $92,356,506 |
| POR | $2,366,684 | - | $44,121,203 | $8,814,451 | $55,302,338 |
| SAC | -$698,310 | $163,000,590 | $11,088,555 | $22,886,237 | $196,277,072 |
| SAS | $73,000,000 | $31,544,220 | $12,467,512 | $117,011,732 | |
| TOR | $72,000,000 | $121,989,446 | $3,998,640 | $197,988,086 | |
| UTA | $-9,167,081 | $368,000,590 | $80,682,700 | $4,052,880 | $443,569,089 |
| WAS | -$7,525,927 | - | $91,599,158 | $9,162,000 | $93,235,231 |
| TOTAL: | $1,789,797,488 | $1,906,640,441 | $298,390,271 | $3,994,828,000 |
Notable 2021 Free Agents
Notable players currently set to become unrestricted free agents after the upcoming season (does not include players that currently have options). Track all free agents here
| Player (3) | TEAM | Pos. | Age | Exp | Type | Rights | 2020-21 AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Conley | UTH | PG | 33 | 14 | UFA | Bird | $30,521,116 |
| Paul Millsap | DEN | PF | 36 | 14 | UFA | Bird | $30,000,000 |
| Kyle Lowry | TOR | PG | 35 | 15 | UFA | Bird | $30,500,000 |
| DeMar DeRozan | SAS | SG | 32 | 12 | UFA | Bird | $27,800,000 |
| Otto Porter Jr. | CHI | SF | 28 | 11 | UFA | Bird | $26,631,244 |
| Andre Drummond | CLE | C | 28 | 9 | UFA | Bird | $25,434,263 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | PF | 36 | 15 | UFA | Bird | $25,000,000 |
| Victor Oladipo | IND | SG | 29 | 8 | UFA | Bird | $21,250,000 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | DAL | SG | 29 | 8 | UFA | Bird | $17,737,500 |
| Dennis Schröder | LAL | PG | 28 | 8 | UFA | Bird | $17,500,000 |
| Evan Fournier | ORL | SG | 28 | 9 | UFA | Bird | $17,000,000 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | GSW | SF | 25 | 6 | UFA | Bird | $15,000,000 |