2022-23 NBA Opening Week Financials

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 18, 2022
© USA TODAY Sports

Salary Cap Space

The season opens with 4 teams (IND, SAS, MEM, & DET) currently possessing cap space, though the latter two hold less than $1M of room at last look. There may be a real push from other organizations (Utah, Houston, Charlotte) in the coming months to move pieces and open up cap space for next summer.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/

 

Hard-Capped Teams

9 teams enter the regular season hard-capped, including contending hopefuls Philadelphia & Memphis.

Memphis: Kennedy Chandler signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Minnesota: Kyle Anderson was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Oklahoma City: Jaylin Williams signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Orlando: Caleb Houstan signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Philadelphia: PJ Tucker was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Portland: Gary Payton: was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Sacramento: Malik Monk was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Utah: Acquired Collin Sexton via Sign and Trade
Washington: Delon Wright was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/


Luxury Tax Threshold

10 teams enter the season over the tax threshold, with three more (POR, MIA, WAS) on the brink of heading over at some point. The LA Clippers  ($192M) carry the highest tax payroll to start the year, while the 2nd place Warriors ($189M) currently project toward a whopping $170M tax bill (the same amount they paid last season). On the flip side, the Spurs ($56.5M), Pacers ($54.4M), & Grizzlies ($28.8M) currently possess the most tax room in the league.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/tax/

 

Top Paid Players

Steph Curry ($48M) enters the season as the highest paid player in the NBA, and he’s currently slated to remain in the #1 spot through the 2025-26 season.

Top 5 22-23 Salaries

  1. Stephen Curry, $48M
  2. Russell Westbrook, $47M
  3. LeBron James, $44.4M
  4. Kevin Durant, $44.1M
  5. Bradley Beal, $43.2M

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/cap-hit/

Top Offseason Allocations

The Phoenix Suns ($364M), led by an extension for Devin Booker and an offer sheet match for Deandre Ayton allocated the most new money in the league. 5 teams: Phoenix, Denver, Portland, Memphis, and New Orleans, locked in over $300M this past summer. On the flip side, 5 teams (Charlotte, LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Boston, & Atlanta) finalized less than $50M in new contracts this past offseason.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/tools/offseason

 

Most Expensive Starting 5 

No surprise, but the Warriors’ projected rotation of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Green, & Looney projects to be the most expensive starting roster ($153M) in the NBA this season. The Nets ($145M) & Bucks ($137M) round out the Top 3, while the Spurs ($31M), Grizzlies ($44M), & Rockets ($45M) currently bring up the rear.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/depth-charts/


Notable 2023 Free Agents

It’s early, but it’s always a good time to recognize players entering a contract year (even if free agency in the NBA has become a shell of itself of late).

Guards
Russell Westbrook
Kyrie Irving
D'Angelo Russell
Reggie Jackson
Dillon Brooks
Seth Curry
James Harden (option)

Forwards
Jerami Grant
Kevin Love
Will Barton
Christian Wood
Kyle Kuzma (option)
Draymond Green (option)
Kristaps Porzingis (option)
Khris Middleton (option)

Centers
Myles Turner
Nikola Vucevic
Al Horford
Brook Lopez

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/free-agents/


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