FC Cincinnati acquires Evander from the Portland Timbers in a blockbuster trade before the 2025 MLS season kicks off. Cincinnati utilized the new cash-for-player mechanism to acquire Evander after trading Luciano Acosta to FC Dallas.

Cincinnati receives: Evander

Portland receives: $12 million guaranteed cash, conditional $150k million cash for incentives, sell-on%, trade %

RELATED: FC Cincinnati Roster, Portland Timbers

Ludvig Aberg wins The Genesis Invitational. Aberg earns $4 million million bringing his 2025 on-course earnings to $4.78 million and his career on-course earnings to $22.9 million. 

The Genesis Invitational Top 10 Payouts

All-Star Game

Winner: $125,000 / player
2nd Place: $50,000 / player
3rd/4th Place: $25,000 / player

Rookie-Sophomore Game

Winner: $25,000 / player
Loser: $10,000 / player

All-Star Skills Competition

Slam Dunk
1st Place: $105,000
2nd Place: $55,000
3rd Place: $20,000
4th Place: $20,000

Three-Point Shootout
1st Place: $60,000
2nd Place: $40,000
3rd Place: $25,000
4th Place: $15,000
5th Place: $15,000
6th Place: $15,000
7th Place: $15,000
8th Place: $10,000

Skills Challenge
1st Place: $55,000
2nd Place: $40,000
3rd Place: $20,000
4th Place: $20,000
5th Place: $15,000
6th Place: $15,000
7th Place: $15,000
8th Place: $15,000

17 MLB players exchanged numbers at the January 9th deadline. Spotrac details the results of each case as we conclude the 2025 MLB arbitration period.

RELATED: 2025 Arbitration Tracker

Kyle Tucker (OF, CHC)

Avoided Arbitration;  1 yr / $16,500,000

Player Filed: $17,500,000 /  Team Filed: $15,000,000 / Difference: $2,500,000

Tucker was traded to Chicago entering his final year of team control. The two sides commenced their relationship by exchanging salary figures but ultimately avoided arbitration on a one year deal. That’s a rare result in the ‘file and trial’ era as most of these go to a hearing or get settled as extensions. Players and teams have swapped salaries 73 times over the last three seasons with only Tucker and Gleyber Torres agreeing on one year contracts. The gap between these filings was the largest since 2023 when Tucker (with Houston) and Bo Bichette both filed $7.5M against $5M. The Cubs last arbitration hearing was in 2021 when they lost to Ian Happ.

Nathaniel Lowe (1B, TEX)

LOST ARBITRATION HEARING; 1 yr, $10,300,000

Player Filed: $11,100,000 /  Team Filed: $10,300,000 / Difference: $800,000

Washington traded for Lowe this offseason and welcomed him with an arbitration hearing which was their first since 2019. That might be unimportant but it could be an early indication of his inevitable free agency in 2027. Either way, Lowe is due for a sizable raise from the $7.5M he took home last season. His 2025 salary ranks 5th highest among first baseman with similar service time behind only Vlad Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, Jose Abreu and Chris Davis. 

Michael King (SP, SD)

Avoided Arbitration + Mutual option;  1 yr / $7,750,000

2025: $4M ($1M base + $3M signing bonus)
2026: $15M Mutual option ($3.75M buyout)

Player Filed: $8,800,000 / Team Filed: $7,325,000 / Difference: $1,475,000

The unique structure of this saves the Padres some cash in 2025 as they attempt to contend while evening out the payroll. The Mutual option is a technicality so consider this a one year guarantee. King will earn $4M this year ($1M base / $3M signing bonus) and the balance will pay via buyout ($3.75M) once the option is officially declined. It has now been over a decade since the Padres last hearing with Andrew Cashner in 2014.

William Contreras (C, MIL)

Avoided Arbitration + Club option;  1 yr / $6,100,000

2025: $6M
2026: $12M Club option ($100k buyout)

Player Filed: $6,500,000 / Team Filed: $5,600,000 / Difference: $900,000

Contreras is in uncharted arbitration territory at the position. His guarantee is the highest ARB1 (non Super Two) salary for a catcher and 8th including all batters. The Club option value is his 2026 ceiling so Contreras might need a third straight MVP caliber season to make that relevant. Otherwise, Milwaukee won’t hesitate to decline the option and reestablish his value in arbitration as they did with Devin Williams this year.

Luis Rengifo (3B, LAA)

WON Arbitration Hearing: 1 yr / $5,950,000

2025: $5,950,000
2026: UFA

Player Filed: $5,950,000 / Team Filed: $5,800,000 / Difference: $150,000

Rengifo beat the Angels for the second time in three years bringing his arbitration earnings total to $13.65M. He was on pace for multiple career highs (AVG, R, RBI, SB) before a July wrist injury forced season-ending surgery. His shifting role as a super utility almost certainly cost him money throughout the process but we’ll get a better idea of his true value once he hits free agency next offseason.

Jarren Duran (OF, BOS)

Avoided arbitration + Club option; 1 yr / $3,850,000

2025: $3.75M
2026: $8M Club option ($100k buyout)

Player Filed: $4,000,000 / Team Filed: $3,500,000 / Difference: $500,000

His 2025 salary ranks 5th among first year Super Two outfielders behind only Bellinger ($11.5M) Soto ($8.5M) Arozarena ($4.5M) and Springer ($3.9M). It puts Duran on pace for a 2026 arbitration value in the range of $7-9M. The Club option can escalate from $8M to $12M based on MVP voting although a 25-50% increase could inflate the price beyond his ceiling arbitration comps. Boston is basically protected from an outlier season in either direction. They can decline if the option value jumps too much OR Duran underperforms.

Jorge Mateo (SS, BAL)

Avoided arbitration + Club option; 1 yr / $3,550,000

2025: $3.55M
2026: $5.5M Club option ($500k incentives)

Player Filed: $4,000,000 / Team Filed: $3,100,000 / Difference: $900,000

Mateo has stuck on this roster despite the Orioles pipeline of younger talent. It’s evidence they value his versatility (2B,SS,OF) which is hard to replicate at a similar cost. Baltimore also added an extra year of team control which is a similar strategy used last offseason with Ryan O’Hearn who is now back on a Club option. Baltimore had the most eligible players (12) but successfully avoided arbitration with that entire group.

Brendan Donovan (OF, STL)

LOST Arbitration Hearing; 1 yr / $2,850,000

Player Filed: $3,300,000 /  Team Filed: $2,850,000 / Difference: $450,000

They received opposite rulings but Donovan will earn just $100k less than teammate Lars Nootbaar. His ARB1 salary slots between previous super utility players Luis Rengifo ($2.3M) and Tommy Edman ($4.2M) which puts Donovan on pace to make around $12M total across the next two seasons. The Cardinals lost their other two cases that went to hearings.

Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL)

WON ARBITRATION HEARING; 1 yr / $2,950,000

Player Filed: $2,950,000 /  Team Filed: $2,450,000 / Difference: $500,000

Nootbaar received a fortunate ruling in his first trip through arbitration. He’s productive when he plays but has struggled with injuries through his first four seasons. His ARB1 salary slots just behind outfielders Matt Vierling ($3.005M) and Brandon Marsh ($3M) who avoided arbitration earlier this offseason.

Alex Vesia (RP, LAD)

Avoided arbitration + Club option;  1 yr / 2,300,000

2025: $2.25M
2026: $3.55M Club option ($50k buyout)

Player Filed: $2,350,000 / Team Filed: $2,050,000 / Difference: $300,000

This guarantee is just under their ask but the Club option will cost Vesia his final year of arbitration eligibility.  The Dodgers have avoided arbitration with all eligible players for the fifth consecutive season. Their last hearings were with Joc Pederson and Pedro Baez in 2020.

Andre Pallante (SP, STL)

WON ARBITRATION SETTLEMENT; 1 yr, $2,100,000

Player Filed: $2,100,000 /  Team Filed: $1,925,000 / Difference: $175,000

This arbitration class had 85 players in their first year of eligibility with 27 of those qualifying for Super Two Status. Pallante was the lone Super Two case that went to an arbitration hearing. His $2.1M salary will fall just below fellow Super Two pitchers Ben Lively ($2.25M) and Bailey Falter ($2.222M) who had previously avoided arbitration.

Mark Leiter Jr. (RP, NYY)

LOST Arbitration Hearing;  1 yr / $2,050,000

Player Filed: $2,500,000 / Team Filed: $2,050,000 / Difference: $450,000

Leiter Jr. (34) was the oldest player to exchange numbers at the deadline. Unfortunately his arbitration earning potential is limited by overall role and usage which translates to more Holds than Saves. This was the Yankees first hearing since Dellin Betances in 2017.

Mickey Moniak (OF, LAA)

WON Arbitration Hearing; $2,000,000

Player Filed: $2,000,000 / Team Filed: $1,500,000 / Difference: $500,000

Moniak won despite a significant step back (79 wRC+) from his breakout 2023 season. The higher starting point in his first year of arbitration might not impact future earnings if he’s limited to a fourth outfielder role this season but it’s a sizable raise nonetheless. The Angels have had at least one arbitration each of the last three seasons.

Dennis Santana (RP, PIT)

LOST Arbitration Hearing; $1,400,000

Player Filed: $2,100,000 / Team Filed: $1,400,000 / Difference: $700,000

Santana was DFA’d by the Yankees after a disastrous start but the Pirates claimed him and a pitch mix change helped unlock a promising second half. But that stretch wasn’t enough to overcome his otherwise inconsistent career and the arbitration panel sided with Pittsburgh. Santana needs to replicate those results over a full season to build a stronger case heading into his final year of arbitration eligibility in 2026. 

Taylor Walls (SS, TBR)

Avoided arbitration + Club option;  1 yr / $1,400,000

2025: $1.35M
2026: $2.45M Club option ($50k buyout)

Player Filed: $1,575,000 / Team Filed: $1,300,000 / Difference: $275,000

Walls’ deal correlates with newly acquired free agent Ha-Seong Kim. The former will start 2025 at shortstop while the latter recovers from offseason shoulder surgery but Kim has a 2026 Player option that could affect how the Rays handle their Club option with Walls. Either way he’s under team control through 2027. Tampa Bay had been to six hearings over the prior two seasons but successfully avoided arbitration with this year's group of players.

Jose Quijada (RP, LAA)

Avoided arbitration + Club option;  1 yr / $1,075,000

2025: $1.075M
2026: $3.75M Club option

Player Filed: $1,140,000 / Team Filed: $975,000 / Difference: $165,000

This agreement lands just above the midpoint but gives the Angels control over his final year of arbitration eligibility. That might not matter here considering the price of the 2026 Club option. Quijada missed the start of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery but the lefty reliever should serve a more prominent role in 2025.

Johan Oviedo (SP, PIT)

LOST Arbitration Hearing; $850,000

Player Filed: $1,150,000 / Team Filed: $850,000 / Difference: $300,000

Oviedo missed the entire 2024 season (Tommy John surgery) and his 2025 role remains uncertain so this outcome isn’t too surprising. He’s under control for two more years and can reestablish his value with a return to pre-injury form. The Pirates have now won all four of their arbitration hearings since 2015.

PURSE

Per Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, the following purses are set for the Daytona weekend:

Cup: $30,331,250 (includes Duels)

Xfinity: $3,762,952

Truck: $1,262,900

Note: As Pockrass notes, all payouts, all positions, plus charter payouts in Cup for competing and past two years points finish.

ODDS

For the NASCAR Cup race, qualifying ran on Wednesday and the two Duel races ran Thursday night. Now that the field is set, the following are the top five listed odds according to FanDuel Sportsbook going into the Daytona 500 race on Sunday:

+1200 - Kyle Larson

+1300 - Joey Logano, Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney

+1400 - Denny Hamlin

+1700 - Brad Keselowski, William Byron, Chase Elliott

+1800 - Christopher Bell

WIth preseason fully in swing and next week’s 32-player roster compliance deadline coming up, it’s a great time to see how the 2024-25 free agency is going and how my December free agent’s to watch ended up playing out.

2024-25 Free Agency

New CBA under which all players with expiring contracts are unrestricted free agents: 142 Unrestricted Free Agents

If you look at how free agency was going in December, there were only 8 players who had announced their retirement or signed outside of the NWSL and that has exploded to 36 players now. In previous years, the bucket of not signed/left NWSL/retirements went from 22% of free agents in 2022-23 to 31% in 2023-24. Now that group of designations is almost at 50% of the free agents. The increase in part comes the fact that there are significantly more free agents this offseason than previous years due to the updates from the new CBA.  

You can track all of the 2024-25 Free Agents here

The other interesting trend is the division of free agency movement. In the NWSL’s first run at free agency, more than half of the free agents stayed with their previous team. Year two of free agency saw the pendulum swing back towards players landing with new  teams. The current iteration shows a dramatic switch in free agents remaining with their current teams and significantly less players switching teams—even with the increased number of free agents available. 

For more historic free agency trends, look here

December’s 14 Players to Watch Retro

Of the 14 players, eight remained with their 2024 teams, one player retired, one player signed with a club outside of the NWSL, and four players signed contracts with new clubs inside of the NWSL. 

Christen Press (Forward, Angel City)

Status: Re-signed with Angel City on a 1-year contract

Midge Purce (Forward, Gotham FC)

Status: Re-signed with Gotham FC on a one-year contract

Maitane Lopez (Defender, Gotham FC)

Status: Signed two-year contract with Chicago Stars

Amanda West (Forward, Houston Dash)

Status: Re-signed with Houston on a two-year contract with a 2027 option 

Kristen Hamilton (Forward, Kansas City Current)

Status: Re-signed with Kansas City on a one-year contract with a 2026 option

Elizabeth Ball (Defender, Kansas City Current)

Status: Re-signed with Kansas City on a two-year contract with a 2027 option

Nichelle Prince (Forward, Kansas City Current)

Status: Re-signed with Kansas City on a two-year contract with a 2027 option

Kerolin (Forward, North Carolina Courage)

Status: Signed with WSL side Manchester City on a 3.5 year contract

Narumi Miura (Midfielder, North Carolina Courage)

Status: Signed a two year contract with a 2027 option with the Washington Spirit

Marta (Forward, Orlando Pride)

Status: Re-signed with Orlando on a two-year contract

Becky Sauerbrunn (Defender, Portland Thorns)

Status: Announced her retirement

Elli Pikkujamsa (Defender, Racing Louisville)

Status: Exercised the player side of her 2025 option

Danielle Colaprico (Midfielder, San Diego Wave)

Status: Signed a one-year contract with the Houston Dash

Hannah Betfort (Forward, Utah Royals)

Status: Signed a two-year contract with a 2027 option with the North Carolina Courage

The Boston Red Sox made the latest splash in MLB Free Agency, locking in INF Alex Bregman to a 3 year, $120M contract. The deal includes $40M salaries each year, though a significant portion (reportedly around $10M per season) is expected to be deferred. Bregman will have the ability to opt-out after 2025 & 2026, giving him a chance to re-hit the open market next winter based on his status. Bregman is expected to play 2B for the Red Sox in 2025.

FC Dallas acquires the 2023 MLS MVP, Luciano Acosta, from FC Cincinnati in a major blockbuster trade before the 2025 MLS season kicks off. Dallas utilized the new cash-for-player mechanism to acquire Acosta.

Dallas receives: Luciano Acosta

Cincinnati receives: $5 million guaranteed cash, conditional $1 million cash for performance-based metrics, trade %

RELATED: FC Dallas Roster, FC Cincinnati Roster

The 2025 NBA trade deadline is behind us. We’ll still have a handful more transactions to come, but for the most part, the major moves are done. Extensions are the big deals to watch, along with some buyouts, signings and two-way conversions also on tap. That means it’s time to look forward to the summer of 2025!

The 2025 NBA offseason looks like a weird one. The new media rights money will start hitting, but the NBA and NBPA agreed to cap the cap growth at no more than 10% from one year to the next. That means the cap is projected to go from $140.6 million this season to just over $154.6 million for next season. That $14 million jump is a big one, but it’s not going to result in a whole of cap space around the NBA.

The reason for that is teams have gotten really aggressive in recent years with extensions. More and more players are forgoing free agency and taking the certainty of extensions. In the 2024 offseason, the only big-name All-Star to change teams via direct free agency was Paul George. A few others moved via sign-and-trades and standard trades, but free agency itself wasn’t how stars moved.

That’s likely to continue in the summer of 2025. As you’ll see, there’s barely any cap space projected to be out there this summer. Also, the free agent class projects to be devoid of stars. Most of the All-Star level guys are good bets to re-sign with their current teams, or to extend before free agency opens.

However, that doesn’t mean having spending power is completely useless. With the Apron Era fully upon us, NBA teams are embracing exceptions in different ways. This summer, there will be some value signings available, simply because the means to overpay those players as free agents aren’t available. That should make for an active summer of role player movement.

In addition, it’s going to be a big-time trade summer. If you want to acquire a star, a trade will be the way to do it. And if deadline and post-deadline rumblings are any indicator, there are going to several stars available this offseason.

With all that said, here’s how things look today for 2025 offseason spending power around the NBA. For reference: The Non-Taxpayer MLE projects to be $14.1 million for 2025-26. The Taxpayer MLE projects to be $5.1 million.

(Note: These projections are made using the noted cap and tax figures above, draft pick cap holds based on projected standings and a projection on all option and guarantee decisions by players and teams. No extensions or trades have been projected. We will call out where those types of situations could impact a team projection.)

Cap Space Team – 1 Teams

1. Brooklyn Nets: $54.8 million in cap space

The Brooklyn Nets currently project to be the only team we can say with certainty will hit the summer with cap space. How much is somewhat up in the air. The Nets didn’t move Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton, or most of their high-salaried players at the deadline. So, they remain in place for now.

What could swing this projection even higher is the status of pending restricted free agent Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe. If the Nets were to let Thomas and Sharpe leave town, they could create up to $76.3 million in cap space.

Here’s the thing though: Why let Thomas and Sharpe leave for nothing? Brooklyn isn’t ready to spend all that much, as they are in the early stages of their rebuild. Thomas and Sharpe are good players. With no other cap space teams out there, the Nets might be able to get both back on team-friendly deals.

And, of course, keep an eye on Sean Marks with restricted free agents from other teams too. When Brooklyn previously had copious amounts of cap space, Marks tossed around several offer sheets. In the end, no matter what direction they take, the Nets are in a great place to be active players this offseason.

Swing Cap Space and Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams – 3 Teams

1. Detroit Pistons: up to $24.6 million in cap space
2. Memphis Grizzlies: up to $6.9 million in cap space
3. Utah Jazz: up to $30.0 million in cap space

The Pistons could be a cap space team this summer, with up to $24.6 million to spend. That could aid in bringing back Malik Beasley, if he’s looking at more than the Non-Taxpayer MLE (NTMLE). If Detroit can get Beasley to come back for the NTMLE, they’re better off staying over the cap and using various Bird Rights to re-sign players like Dennis Schroder and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Utah is pretty straight forward: if John Collins opts in, they’ll be over the cap. If he doesn’t, the Jazz could have over $30 million in cap space. Given Collins will find it hard to recoup the $26.6 million he’d give up by opting out, bet on Utah to stay over the cap.

Memphis is in a super interesting situation. The Grizzlies can’t create any kind of meaningful cap space. The most they can get to is about $6.9 million, while retaining restricted free agent rights for Santi Aldama. That’s not normally enough cap space for a team to bother with, and they’ll just stay over and use the NTMLE.

However, in this specific situation, that could be enough to bump up Jaren Jackson Jr.’s salary to over $30 million in a renegotiation-and-extension. That’s an interesting way to use cap space, given the Grizzlies wouldn’t have to give up on Aldama to get it done. Of course, if Jackson makes All-NBA, he’ll be eligible for a 35% of the cap max and the Grizzlies will then stay over the cap.

Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams – 7 Teams

1. Atlanta Hawks
2. Charlotte Hornets
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Houston Rockets
5. LA Clippers
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Washington Wizards

This is an interesting group of teams. A few playoff teams, some up-and-coming teams and a few rebuilding teams.

Atlanta is firmly in this mix. They moved out some long-term salary, but to re-sign some free agents, or replace them, the Hawks will stay over the cap. But they should have enough clearance to use the NTMLE.

Charlotte took themselves out of the running for cap space when they took on Jusuf Nurkic’s contract for next season. That’s fine though, since the Hornets got paid a first-round pick to do so. They’re fine being a NTMLE for another season, as the rebuild continues.

Chicago moved Zach LaVine, but kept everyone else. The Bulls will have enough room to use the NTMLE, as long as things don’t get silly with Josh Giddey’s new contract.

Houston is firmly in NTMLE range. They’ll probably work out a new deal with Fred VanVleet after declining their team option, but that won’t be enough to get the Rockets to being a cap space team.

The Clippers have done such a good job managing their roster and cap sheet. LA will be able to bolster an already-strong roster by adding an NTMLE signing to the mix next season.

It feels like the Spurs shouldn’t have much money on the books, but after bringing in De’Aaron Fox, they’ll be over the cap. And that’s fine. They’ve got a strong, developing roster and they’ll be able to add to it with a NTMLE player.

Washington went the pre-agency route and took on salary for next season early by trading for Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart. That will keep the Wizards over the cap. Don’t rule out a value NTMLE signing, as they did a nice job in the Jonas Valanciunas sign-and-trade a year ago, but Washington’s real work will get done via the trade market.

Swing Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams and Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams – 6 teams

1. Indiana Pacers
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. New Orleans Pelicans
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Portland Trail Blazers
6. Sacramento Kings

Another mix of teams that are would-be contenders, plus teams just trying to find their footing as they reset their rosters.

Indiana will be around or over the tax line, and potentially pushing the first apron, if they re-sign Myles Turner. Given they didn’t trade him for the umpteenth deadline in a row, bet on Turner getting a new deal from the only NBA team he’s ever known.

Milwaukee did a good job getting off money at the deadline. That will put the Bucks in position to possibly use the NTMLE. The big question will be how much Brook Lopez re-signs for this offseason, assuming the veteran center doesn’t call it a career.

The Pelicans are in transition. Brandon Ingram is gone, but New Orleans still has a lot of money on their books for next season and beyond. Look for more rebalancing trade, as where the team lands in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery might determine their direction moving forward.

The Sixers are kind of a mess. Things haven’t gone as planned, as Joel Embiid and Paul George have been unable to stay healthy. With those two on the books, the team is very, very expensive. But Philadelphia might be able to squeeze in a NTMLE signing, if they make another move or two around the core group.

Portland is far too expensive for a bad team. The Blazers didn’t make any moves at the deadline. That means this roster remains flush with a confusing mix of veterans and young players trying to find their way in the NBA. There’s a lot of work to be done here this offseason.

The Kings took on some long-term money by adding Zach LaVine and Jonas Valanciunas, but they also got off some money too. Sacramento will be straddling the line of NTMLE vs Tax MLE, and hard-capping themselves at the first apron might not be worth it for using the NTMLE.

Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams – 4 teams

1. Denver Nuggets
2. Miami Heat
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Toronto Raptors

This group is a bit larger than usual. The Nuggets and Thunder are title contenders. Miami is resetting, while the Raptors are starting to push their rebuild forward.

Denver should have just enough room to fit in a Taxpayer MLE signing. However, that would mean another hard cap at the second apron. The Nuggets might want to avoid that complication for a third consecutive season.

The Heat moved off Jimmy Butler, but they took on some other long-term money in that deal. Their roster is also mostly full. If there’s the right guy to use the Taxpayer MLE on, Miami will do it, but don’t lock that in.

The Thunder have a full roster. Their big question i: How will they fit in at least two, and possibly more, first-round picks? They could use the Taxpayer MLE, but why go into the tax now? It’s probably best to delay the inevitable for as long as you can in Oklahoma City.

When Toronto extended Brandon Ingram, they pushed right up to the tax line. They have enough room to fit in a Taxpayer MLE signing, but will they want to? It’d have to be someone who can really lift the Raptors. Otherwise, this group will focus on bringing back Chris Boucher and maybe some smaller moves around the edges of the rotation.

Swing Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception Teams and Second Apron Teams – 4 teams

1. Golden State Warriors
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Orlando Magic

Four teams that all have playoff aspirations, even if all have stumbled at points this season. That will probably be the same story a year from now.

Golden State locked into being a tax team when they extended Jimmy Butler. The big question: Can they fit in a Taxpayer MLE signing before hitting what would be a second-apron hard cap?

The Lakers situation will be determined by LeBron James. Will he take a little less for some flexibility with a signing? Will he take the max he can get? Will James just pick up his player option? Will he stay in LA? Will James retire? It feels like everything is on the table more than ever.

If Minnesota re-signs Naz Reid and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, they’ll be a second apron team. If they lose Reid, the Taxpayer MLE comes into play. It’s really that simple for the Wolves.

Orlando might be a surprise here, but they’ve got a max extension kicking in Franz Wagner and a near-max first-year salary coming online for Jalen Suggs. Add to it that the Magic have aggressively re-signed their own players, and this team is carrying a lot more salary than most realize. They’ve got a little flexibility to get under the tax line, but things are tighter in Orlando than they have been in years.

Second Apron Teams (no signing exceptions) – 5 Teams

1. Boston Celtics
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. New York Knicks
5. Phoenix Suns

This group grew throughout the season. Boston and Phoenix have been here and will continue to be, barring something really unexpected. The Celtics are still title favorites, so their second-apron status feels earned. The Suns aren’t, and a Kevin Durant trade could throw things into flux. But given the salary-matching rules, it’s not overly likely a Durant trade would get Phoenix all the way under the second apron.

Cleveland will join this group by virtue of acquiring De’Andre Hunter, along with extensions kicking in for Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. The Cavs have never shied away from paying for a contender, so they’ll likely end up even deeper into the tax after re-signing a couple of key free agents too.

Dallas moved Luka Doncic, but Anthony Davis is starting a max extension next season. Kyrie Irving is likely to opt out and push for a max or near-max deal too. The Mavericks have a solid roster, but they are going to be a second-apron team with limited resources to improve it.

When New York landed Karl-Anthony Towns, they basically locked in second-apron status. Yes, Jalen Brunson took less to give the Knicks some flexibility, but this team is still carrying a ton of guaranteed salary. That’s not the worst thing, given New York is a contender. But it’s going to be hard for them to do much, beyond minor moves around the edges of the rotation.

Brandon Ingram and the Toronto Raptors have agreed to a 3 year, $120 million contract extension after having been traded from the New Orleans Pelicans at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline. The contract reportedly has a 2027-28 Player Option.

Estimated Contract Structure:
2025-26: $38,095,238
2026-27: $40,000,000
2027-28: $41,904,762 (Player Option)

This will bring Ingram's career earnings to $303 million if the contract is completed in full.