http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4312837In a memo announcing next season's salary cap and luxury-tax threshold, sent out shortly before the league's annual July moratorium on signings and trades was lifted at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, NBA teams also received tentative projections from the league warning that the cap is estimated to drop to somewhere between $50.4 million and $53.6 million for the 2010-11 season.
For many free agents, the maximum salary will be set at 30% of the salary cap. For others the maximum salary will be 105% the FA's last year's salary.
This means to sign ONE max contract a team needs to be between 35,280,000 and 37,520,000 in salary.
To sign Lebron, Wade or Bosh a team needs to be between 33,831,093 and 37,031,093 in salary.
To sign Amare a team needs to be between 33,202,759 and 36,402,759 in salary.The Bulls are at 32,421,096 for 6 players assuming Salmons opts out. That also isn't counting Tyrus Thomas' restricted free agency. 35,736,324 including 7 minimum salary place-holders. Their first round pick next year could add another 1.5-2.5 million. They must renounce Tyrus if they want a max FA.
Their situation ultimately hinges on Salmons. If Salmons opts out they have cap room for a max free agent. If Salmons does not opt out then they are not players in FA. ===================================================
The Cavs cannot sign another max FA to go with Lebron. If Lebron resigned, the Cavs would be on the hook for 43,767,550 with 7 players under contract (I approximated Varajao's contract to 7 mil). Taking into account the 5 minimum salary place-holders, the Cavs are now at 46,135,570.
They have a couple options as far as trimming salary:
Declining Hickson's $1,528,920 option saves them 1,055,316
Cutting Delonte West saves another 3,526,396
This does not bring them close to max contract money however.
(Cutting Jackson saves at most 400,000)
They will have cap space for one contract a bit over the MLE.====================================================
The Mavs aren't even close to cutting it and with the likely signing of Kidd, they aren't doing anything in FA next year. They do have Dampier's contract which will be an amazing trading piece considering the lowering luxury tax. It is possible that
they could use Dampier's contract to facilitate a S&T for a FA.====================================================
The RocketsAssuming Ming
does not opt out the Rockets salary is $33,107,592 with Lowry as a restricted FA. With the pending signing of Ariza (presumably for the full MLE*) their salary is 39,429,912 with 7 players under contract and Kyle Lowry as a restricted free agent. With 5 minimum salary place holders the Rockets are on the hook for 41,797,932.
Declining Landry saves 2,526,396 cutting their salary to 39,271,536.
Declining Hayes saves 1,630,396 cutting their salary to 40,167,536 with Landry and 37,641,140 without Landry.
None of that includes their 1st rounder next year or any other signings they may make. Getting to about 37.5 million this way would leave them with 5 players. (Yao, Ariza, Battier, Brooks, Dorsey)
(Cutting Dorsey would save at most 400,000)
*
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q19 - MLE listed at 5.854 X 1.08 for a 1 year raise = 6,322,320 as his 2010 salary
The Rockets can possibly sign one max FA if they work out a trade or two BUT the cost for them to do that makes it more likely that they will enter free agency with a few million less than max. They'd probably look to sign a Joe Johnson type and they'd probably look to use a S&T regardless of who they pursue.=====================================================
The Heat are at 29,205,393 with a resigned Wade (cheaper than cap hold) with 5 players under contract. Accounting for 7 minimum salary place-holders, 32,520,621.
They will have room for another max free agent to pair with Wade and can even cut James Jones to save an additional 2,320,396. They shouldn't have any problems.=====================================================
*EDIT* - ClippersWith the Zach Randolph trade the Clippers now have significant 2010 cap room. With 7 players (including Griffin) under contract the Clippers are set at 36,304,054. Counting the 5 minimum salary place-holders their salary is at 38,672,074. Their pick next year will add another 1.5-3 million and they may also have Minnesota's pick as well (which would add another 1-2 million).
The point is that while they will have cap room, they will not likely be in the mix for max free agents without another trade of some sort. They still have a great chance to add to their young core.
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I'm going to hold off on doing the Twolves for now since they are a small market team and I don't think they will be able to entice any of the top FAs.
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The Knicks with 6 players amount to $26,712,805. Adding the 6 minimum salary place holders bumps that up to 29,554,429. They don't have a pick next year.
This allows them to sign ONE max free agent next year and another free agent for a bit more than the MLE. They may still take on more 2010 money this year by signing Lee, Robinson, or some other FA.
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The Thunder are a young small market team and I'll wait to look at them although I think they could be in the mix for one of the top PFs next year depending on what they do this year.
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I'm going to wait on the Suns since Amare may be moved for long-term pieces still but as of now, if Amare opts out, they are on the hook for only about 27-30 million depending on what they decide to do with Alando Tucker and Jared Dudley.
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The Nets will have 10 players (Harris, Lopez, Lee, T Will, Yi, CDR, Dooling, Najera, & 2 2010 1st round draft picks) AND money to offer a max contract.According to NetsForce's salary spreadsheet the Nets will have 33,681,296 committed (including projected salary for the 5th and 22nd picks). With 2 salary placeholders that amounts to $34,628,504.
The Nets can also cut Keyon Dooling to save another 2,854,396.