07-18-2025, 05:18 PM
Looking at current cap sheet situation, assuming spotrac is up to date: https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap
Cleveland is currently the only 2nd apron team with 19 mil over the apron, so it would take them some serious salary dumping to get under the apron, lets say Strus and Wade. I wonder if they will just stay where they are.
There are 9 other teams that are in tax at this moment. BOS, NY, Dal, Min, LAL, Den, Tor, Hou and Orl. First four teams will likely stay as tax payers as they are quite far above. LAL could get under by dumping one of their expirings (Vincent or Maxi), but I doubt they will choose this direction. Denver could get under by dumping NNaji, but I also doubt they will do it. Toronto, Houston and Orlando are only a smidge over the tax line, so they could look into getting under.
Toronto might be looking to trade Quickley or Barrett (or even Ingram?) and take less money back. I don't think it would be just a dumping type of move, more trying to improve by paying for better and cheaper players.
Orlando could get under by trading Isaac or Goga and I could see them do that. While both players are decent rotation players, Orlando is deep enough to be able to afford missing either of them. Charlotte could use a center and Goga is far below their MLE, for example. Isaac could have value for a lot of teams, if there would be a third team taking the salary. I don't think Lakers are really looking for this kind of deal, but just as an example - Knecht to Orlando, Maxi and LAL SRP to BKN (or Charlotte or Washington), Isaac to Lakers. I would expect Orlando does shed those couple of millions to get under the tax line.
Houston seems to be comfortable paying the tax, as I don't see many things there that could make sense for them to duck under.
Cleveland is currently the only 2nd apron team with 19 mil over the apron, so it would take them some serious salary dumping to get under the apron, lets say Strus and Wade. I wonder if they will just stay where they are.
There are 9 other teams that are in tax at this moment. BOS, NY, Dal, Min, LAL, Den, Tor, Hou and Orl. First four teams will likely stay as tax payers as they are quite far above. LAL could get under by dumping one of their expirings (Vincent or Maxi), but I doubt they will choose this direction. Denver could get under by dumping NNaji, but I also doubt they will do it. Toronto, Houston and Orlando are only a smidge over the tax line, so they could look into getting under.
Toronto might be looking to trade Quickley or Barrett (or even Ingram?) and take less money back. I don't think it would be just a dumping type of move, more trying to improve by paying for better and cheaper players.
Orlando could get under by trading Isaac or Goga and I could see them do that. While both players are decent rotation players, Orlando is deep enough to be able to afford missing either of them. Charlotte could use a center and Goga is far below their MLE, for example. Isaac could have value for a lot of teams, if there would be a third team taking the salary. I don't think Lakers are really looking for this kind of deal, but just as an example - Knecht to Orlando, Maxi and LAL SRP to BKN (or Charlotte or Washington), Isaac to Lakers. I would expect Orlando does shed those couple of millions to get under the tax line.
Houston seems to be comfortable paying the tax, as I don't see many things there that could make sense for them to duck under.