2019 NBA Playoff Teams, Financially

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertApril 12, 2019
© USA TODAY Sports
Postseason Team Financials
Team2018-19 PayrollLeague RankStarting 52019-20 Cap Space
Golden State Warriors $145,299,879 1 $109,252,444 $-13,414,656
Oklahoma City Thunder $142,869,264 2 $101,144,840 $-39,568,211
Toronto Raptors $137,219,123 3 $91,265,753 $-24,694,677
Portland Trail Blazers $133,096,018 4 $71,518,748 $-24,348,643
Boston Celtics $125,505,053 5 $72,583,013 $-16,181,923
Detroit Pistons $123,481,463 8 $77,788,213 $-8,729,154
Houston Rockets $123,411,509 9 $102,839,019 $-14,308,460
San Antonio Spurs $122,602,477 13 $57,826,470 $7,357,782
Milwaukee Bucks $122,168,320 14 $66,146,446 $5,058,352
Los Angeles Clippers $118,570,700 17 $33,238,557 $59,661,930
Brooklyn Nets $117,571,620 18 $37,505,471 $53,005,568
Denver Nuggets $117,302,575 19 $86,265,000 $-11,703,771
Orlando Magic $114,671,036 20 $64.059.989 $21,929,933
Utah Jazz $113,394,016 22 $71,523,508 $16,780,097
Philadelphia 76ers $111,962,081 24 $79,397,549 $39,618,776
Indiana Pacers $110,579,462 25 $38,187,075 $48,834,149

 

 

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors

Odds: 4/9
2018-19 Cap: $145,299,879, 1st
Starting 5 Cap: $109,252,444

At $145M, no team had more cap allocated to their roster in 2018-19 than the Warriors who finished the year with 57 wins and a first round date with the nearby Clippers. Their starting 5 account for a league most $109M, and they currently stand about $21M over the luxury tax cap, meaning a bill north of $50M.

Curry, Durant, & Cousins all finished the year with PER ratings north of 20, however Klay Thompson & Draymond Green both took a bit of a step back in many aspects. They’re still the odds-on favorites, but it doesn’t feel like a slam dunk - yet.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-13M
Notable Free Agents: Kevin Durant (opt-out), Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins

2. Denver Nuggets

Odds: 18/1
2018-19 Cap: $117,302,575, 19th
Starting 5 Cap: $86,265,000

The Nuggets held the 19th highest cap total this year, and with 54 wins to boot are easily the best values in the league and will face the #7 seed Spurs in round one. Though Denver traded away all of their picks for the upcoming draft, they're also fully intact for the 2019-20 season, assuming they exercise a $30.5M club option on Millsap.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 0
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-11M
Notable Free Agents: Paul Millsap (club option), Isaiah Thomas

3. Portland Trail Blazers

Odds: 40/1
2018-19 Cap: $133,096,018, 4th
Starting 5 Cap: $71,518,748

Portland enters the postseason with a starting 5 that accounts for just 53% of their total cap allocations in 2018-19. They'll face a hungry OKC team in round one, who swept them 4-0 in the regular season. The Trail Blazers will have tough financial decisions to make this offseason with current start Aminu, and big minute role players in Hood & Curry set to hit the open market.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 1 (1st)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-17M
Notable Free Agents: Al-Farouq Aminu, Rodney Hood, Seth Curry

4. Houston Rockets

Odds: 11/1
2018-19 Cap: $123,411,509, 9th
Starting 5 Cap: $102,839,019

For all the talk about Harden and the high scoring Rockets, Houston actually finished the regular season 5th in combined Net Rating, a stat that measures both sides of the court fairly well. They fell from the 2-seed to the 4-seed this week, meaning a first round matchup against Utah, whom they split the season series with. All 5 starters are under contract for 2019-20.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 0
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-14M
Notable Free Agents: Patrick Beverley, Austin Rivers, Danuel House, Iman Shumpert

5. Utah Jazz

Odds: 60/1
2018-19 Cap: $113,394,016, 22nd
Starting 5 Cap: $71,523,508

Utah quietly climbed to the 5th seed in a loaded Western Conference, and will face the high flying Rockets to start the postseason (season split 2-2). With only 1 player earning north of $20M (Gobert, $23M), Utah's filled with young value, but lack posteason experience. However their 4.0 combined Net Rating ranks 4th in the league, just ahead of Houston. They'll have an offseason decision to make on Ricky Rubio, who's scheduled to become a free agent.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $16.7M
Notable Free Agents: Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell (Club option)

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

Odds: 35/1
2018-19 Cap: $142,869,264, 2nd
Starting 5 Cap: $101,144,840

Oklahoma City jumped two spots in the last week to earn a first round date with Portland, a team they swept in the regular season. They carry the 2nd highest cap in the NBA, and one of the most expensive starting 5 as well. OKC is nearly $20M over the luxury cap this season, and stands to pay a $61M+ fee. All five starters and notable bench players are locked up for next season already.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 1 (1st)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $16.7M
Notable Free Agents: Markieff Morris, Patrick Patterson, Nerlens Noel

7. San Antonio Spurs

Odds: 80/1
2018-19 Cap: $122,602,477, 13th
Starting 5 Cap: $57,826,470

At some point the Spurs are going to be really bad again, right? San Antonio brings the 13th highest cap, and one of the cheaper starting 5s in all of basketball to a first round matchup against Denver (2-2 season split). They also hold a bit of cap space and 2 first round picks this offseason, while their entire starting 5 are under contract in 2019.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 3 (2 1sts)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $7.3M
Notable Free Agents: Rudy Gay, Dante Cunningham

8. Los Angeles Clippers

Odds: 150/1
2018-19 Cap: $118,570,700, 17th
Starting 5 Cap: $33,238,557

Remember when the Clippers folded their season by trading away Tobias Harris? The Clippers opened up 2019 cap space, got younger and cheaper, and still made the postseason in 2018. They're a long shot to pass through Golden State (3-1 GSW seasn series), but they're set up really nicely for the immediate future. They've got some depth pieces headed to free agency, but a few splash signings could shake up this roster in a very positive way.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2 (2nds)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $59.6M
Notable Free Agents: Ivica Zubac (RFA), Garrett Temple, Rodney McGruder, Wilson Chandler

 

 

Eastern Conference

1. Milwaukee Bucks

Odds: 13/2
2018-19 Cap: $122,168,320, 14th
Starting 5 Cap: $66,146,446

Despite a middle of the league payroll, the Bucks have been the best team, with the best player in the Eastern Conference all year. They hold the highest NET Rating (8.6), and the highest defensive NET rating (104.9) in the NBA. They'll face an unworthy Pistons team in the first round whom they swept 4-0 in the regular season. Looking ahead, there are offseason decisions to be made, with Khris Middleton likely to opt-out, & big men Brook Lopez, Nikola Mirotic set to hit the open market.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 1 (1st)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $5M
Notable Free Agents: Khris Middleton (opt-out), Brook Lopez, Nikola Mirotic

2. Toronto Raptors

Odds: 19/2
2018-19 Cap: $137,219,123, 3rd
Starting 5 Cap: $91,265,753

Some may be surprised to learn the Raptors hold the 3rd highest payroll in the league, but they've been pushing "all-in" for the better part of 3 seasons now, peaking in 2018-19 with the acquisition of Leonard. They'll face a sneaky tough Orlando Magic lineup in the first round, whom they split the season series with 2-2. They're also $13M over the luxury tax max, meaning a fine of almost $25M is forthcoming. With Leonard, Gasol, Green, & Lin all likely on expiring contracts, the window is closing for this Raptors team.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 1 (2nd)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $5M
Notable Free Agents: Kawhi Leonard (opt-out), Marc Gasol (opt-out), Danny Green, Jeremy Lin

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Odds: 16/1
2018-19 Cap: $111,962,081, 24nd
Starting 5 Cap: $79,397,549

The young Sixers hold one of the lowest cap payrolls in the NBA, and still pumped out 51 wins in 2018-19. They posted the 11th best NET rating, and have shown depth over the second half of the season. They'll face a much improved Brooklyn team in the first round, whom they split the season series with. Regardless of their postseason, Philly's a team to watch this offseason as they currently hold 5 draft picks (4 2nds), $39M of practical cap space, and a bunch of notable expiring contracts.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 5 (4 2nds)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $39M
Notable Free Agents: Jimmy Butler (opt-out), Tobias Harris, J.J. Redick

4. Boston Celtics

Odds: 16/1
2018-19 Cap: $125,505,053, 5th
Starting 5 Cap: $72,583,013

A 49-win season for a Boston team with a $125M payroll that was arguably the preseason favorite to win the East is a bit of a disappointment, but this is basically the same Celtics team that nearly made a Finals' appearance in 2018. They score a favorable first round matchup against the Pacers (3-1 season series win), but will likely see Milwaukee in the second round. Boston goes over the tax cap by $2.5M according to our numbers, meaning a near $4M fee, and a bit of a restriction on what they're likely to do next season to avoid the repeat offense.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 5 (4 1sts)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-16M
Notable Free Agents: Kyrie Irving (opt-out), Al Horford (opt-out), Aron Baynes (opt-out), Terry Rozier (RFA)

5. Indiana Pacers

Odds: 80/1
2018-19 Cap: $110,579,462, 25th
Starting 5 Cap: $38,187,075

It's been three months since the Pacers lost their key player (Oladipo), yet here they stand a 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. They hold the 5th lowest payroll in the league, & one of the cheapest starting lineups, including a player they picked up from the waiver wire just a few weeks ago (Matthews). Four current starters are headed to unrestricted free agency in July, but they've got enough cap space to keep/rebuild as needed.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $48M
Notable Free Agents: Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison, Wesley Matthews, Tyreke Evans

6. Brooklyn Nets

Odds: 125/1
2018-19 Cap: $117,571,620, 18th
Starting 5 Cap: $37,505,471

Brooklyn's rise up the east happened a year early then many predicted, due in large part to the breakout success of  D'Angelo Russell. Russell's set to hit restricted free agency and will likely command an offer sheet were he to hit that market. The good news? The Nets have two first round picks, over $50M of cap space, and an attractive young team to draw interest from notable free agents.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 3 (2 1sts)
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $53M
Notable Free Agents: Allen Crabbe (opt-out), D'Angelo Russell (RFA), DeMarre Carroll

7. Orlando Magic

Odds: 100/1
2018-19 Cap: $114,671,036, 20th
Starting 5 Cap: $64.059.989

A lot of things clicked for this Orlando team in 2018, led by their largely unnkown star, Nikola Vucevic, and a rise ups from Aaron Gordon & Terrence Ross. While Gordon's $20M per contract seemed silly at the time, having him as a centerpiece going forward is big, especially with the likes of Vucevic, & Ross on expiring contracts. They'll see a Toronto team in the first round whom they split the regular season series with. Will this team stick together after 2018-19?

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $22M
Notable Free Agents: Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross

8. Detroit Pistons

Odds: 150/1
2018-19 Cap: $123,481,463
Starting 5 Cap: $77,788,213

The 41-41 Pistons held the 8th highest payroll in 2018-19, and are rewarded with a first round matchup against Milwaukee, a team who swept them in the regular season. But with 4 of 5 starters under contract in 2019, it's possible they're one year away from really making a run in the West. They won't have cap space to improve this team so look for a creative offseason from Detroit.

Upcoming Draft Picks: 2
2019-20 Practical Cap Space: $-8.7M
Notable Free Agents: Wayne Ellington, Ishmael Smith


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