After the first full day of NBA free agency, there was plenty of player movement that reshaped the salary-cap outlook for several teams across the league.
The NBA set the official cap number for the 2024-25 season at $140.6 million, with the tax level at $170.8 million. The first apron level is $178.1 million, and the second apron came in at $188.9 million.
This marks the first season of the apron rules that were negotiated into the most recent collective bargaining agreement. The restrictions imposed by the rules has already had a profound impact on what teams are willing to do.
Here are the updated numbers for all 30 teams after the first wave of free agency ranked by the amount of cap space they have available.
2024-25 NBA Salary Cap by Team
- Detroit Pistons: $71.4 million
- Utah Jazz: $66.3 million
- Charlotte Hornets: $53.2 million
- Orlando Magic: $49.9 million
- San Antonio Spurs: $41.4 million
- Los Angeles Lakers: $36.3 million
- Washington Wizards: $24.1 million
- Oklahoma City Thunder: $23.3 million
- Chicago Bulls: $18.3 million
- Brooklyn Nets: $18.3 million
- Atlanta Hawks: $17.5 million
- Houston Rockets: $16.99 million
- Memphis Grizzlies: $13.1 million
- Cleveland Cavaliers: $13 million
- Toronto Raptors: $12.4 million
- Golden State Warriors: $11.8 million
- Portland Trail Blazers: $10.6 million
- Philadelphia 76ers: $10.5 million
- Sacramento Kings: $9.5 million
- New Orleans Pelicans: $7.4 million
- Indiana Pacers: $6 million
- New York Knicks: $3.99 million
- Los Angeles Clippers: $1.9 million
- Denver Nuggets: $1.9 million
- Miami Heat: ($1.3 million)
- Milwaukee Bucks: ($14.2 million)
- Dallas Mavericks: ($15.9 million)
- Boston Celtics: ($21 million)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: ($21.8 million)
- Phoenix Suns: ($37.9 million)
Cap figures via Spotrac. Bold indicates over the cap.
The two marquee moves in free agency thus far have seen the Philadelphia 76ers land Paul George and the Dallas Mavericks add Klay Thompson in a multi-team sign-and-trade.
After the Los Angeles Clippers put out a statement essentially blaming the new CBA for why they weren’t go to retain Paul George, Daryl Morey and the Sixers were more than happy to step in.
George landed the max deal he was seeking with a four-year, $212 million agreement with Philadelphia, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The 76ers also agreed to terms with Tyrese Maxey on his rookie max extension for $204 million over five years, per Wojnarowski.
It’s strange to see a team that just agreed to two max deals still have cap space when they also have a third star on a supermax (Joel Embiid), but the Sixers entered the offseason with just three players under contract.
Morey and the front office have worked to fill out the rest of the roster. They’ve also reached agreements with Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond so far.
There have been a total of four max contracts handed out in the first wave of free agency. Cade Cunningham agreed to his five-year, $226 million rookie max extension with the Detroit Pistons, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania and James Edwards III.
After Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to their 18th NBA title last month, Chris Haynes of Turner Sports reported the five-time All-Star agreed to a five-year, $315 million extension that is the richest contract in league history.
The Celtics also extended Derrick White for four years and $126 million, per Wojnarowski.
It was the end of an era for the Golden State Warriors on Monday when Thompson agreed to a three-year $50 million deal with the Mavs, per Wojnarowski. The Warriors will receive a total of four second-round draft picks in the sign-and-trade, with the Charlotte Hornets acquiring Josh Green from Dallas.
The Los Angeles Lakers were also in the mix for Thompson, but Wojnarowski noted the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals and the difference in state taxes from Texas and California swayed the five-time All-Star.
Speaking of the Lakers, they have been very quiet so far. Their biggest move will be the expected new deal for LeBron James at some point, but there was some thought he would be willing to take a sizeable pay cut if it would help the team improve their roster.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin cited Thompson, James Harden and Jonas Valančiūnas as players the Lakers could have pursued that would have convinced James to potentially take less than the max.
All three players are off the board now. Harden is staying with the Clippers on a two-year, $70 million deal, per Charania. The Washington Wizards agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with the Washington Wizards, per Wojnarowski.
DeMar DeRozan, Miles Bridges, Tyus Jones and Buddy Hield are among the top free agents after James still available as free agency continues.