Trade Deadline Quick Reference Guide
The following is a quick reference guide to cap implications from both a team and player perspective that could play roles at the trade deadline. For teams, it mainly consists of team salary position (minimum salary floor, cap space, luxury tax, hard cap, etc.), roster openings and notable trade exceptions that could be influential motivators or tools at the deadline. For players, contractual add-ins such as trade kickers, no-trade clauses, what players can’t be aggregated in trades, what players can’t be traded, and what players have enticing either non or partially guaranteed contracts next season are included. This is a fluid list with all the movement occurring, but should be up to date as of noon pacific time on Tuesday, 2/21/17.
Teams Under the Salary Floor (6)
Brooklyn Nets: $6,431,068 under the floor, $15,845,368 in cap space
With 15 roster spots locked up after signing Spencer Dinwiddie the Nets seem to be content standing pat and just re-allocating the amount under the floor to their current roster pro rata.
Denver Nuggets: $7,147,094 under the floor, $16,561,394 in cap space
After not extending a rest-of-season contract to Johnny O’Bryant after his second 10 day deal the Nuggets have some flexibility with 14 guaranteed roster spots and one open spot to take on a contract either via waiver claim or to help facilitate a trade, aiding them in saving money reaching the floor.
Minnesota Timberwolves: $3,243,829 under the floor, $12,658,129 in cap space
Similar to Denver the Timberwolves didn’t extend a second 10 day to Lance Stephenson post injury, and thus have an open roster spot to aid in reaching the floor either via waiver claim or trade acquisition.
Philadelphia 76ers: $7,609,235 under the floor, $17,023,535 in cap space
After signing Chasson Randle to a multi-year deal the Sixers don’t have any available roster spots, but could waive Randle to take on another contract to facilitate a trade with Randle possessing no guaranteed salary on the books after this season.
Phoenix Suns: $3,750,022 under the floor, $13,164,322 in cap space
The Suns didn’t extend a rest-of-season contract to Ronnie Price, and thus have an open roster spot to afford them some flexibility. The Suns are reportedly very active in trades with P.J. Tucker notably on the block, so expect this figure to change.
Utah Jazz: $4,230,508 under the floor, $13,644,808 in cap space
Utah has plenty of cap room with 15 roster spots locked up and no obvious players to waive outside of Joel Bolomboy. It should be noted that the Jazz have until February 28th to renegotiate Derrick Favors or George Hill with cap space, as that process can’t be done from March 1st through June 30th.
Other Teams with Cap Room (4)
Boston Celtics: $1,107,840 in cap room
The Celtics have 15 guaranteed contracts on the books, and thus any acquisition would require some shifting.
Indiana Pacers: $4,140,996 in cap room
The Pacers are facing a similar situation to Boston, with 15 roster guaranteed contracts, which would necessitate some maneuvering.
Los Angeles Lakers: $529,921 in cap room
The Lakers technically have a smidge of cap spacebut it’s not enough to really utilize.
Oklahoma City Thunder: $7,173,883 in cap room OR $7,419,569 Trade Exception
The Thunder can operate either over the cap via the trade exception they received from the Ersan Ilyasova trade or renounce that exception to operate under the cap.
Teams Over or Close to the Luxury Tax
Over (2)
Cleveland Cavaliers: $13,415,909 over the tax
The Cavaliers are currently a tier 3 taxpayer, meaning they’re paying $2.50 for every $1 signed or acquired in excess of their current amount. If they exceed the $15,000,000 over the tax mark that payment increases to $3.25 for every $1.
Cleveland could choose to re-sign Derrick Williams to a rest-of-season contract after the deadline, but right now they have one open roster spot.
The Cavaliers are currently facing a $24,789,773 luxury tax payment.
Los Angeles Clippers: $1,453,032 over the tax
The Clippers are currently a tier 1 taxpayer, meaning they’re out $1.50 for every $1. With 15 guaranteed contracts locked in barring a trade they’ll likely hold firm, amassing a $2,179,548 tax payment.
Close (6)
Dallas Mavericks: $1,006,393 under tax
Applying set-off for Quincy Acy retroactively after he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, the Mavericks have a little over a million in wiggle room under the tax with a full 15-man roster.
Detroit Pistons: $5,385,063 under tax
Detroit has a full 15-man roster and a decent amount of flexibility to operate under the tax.
Memphis Grizzlies: $2,345,891 under tax
The Grizzlies are both hard capped and operating fairly close to the tax threshold. After choosing not to sign Toney Douglas to a rest-of-season contract, Memphis has an open roster spot for the time being.
Portland Trail Blazers: $433,800 under tax
The Blazers are right on the tax precipice, so don’t expect them to consummate a trade where they return more salary than they trade out. Portland also has a full 15-man roster.
San Antonio Spurs: $4,202,460 under tax
The Spurs haven’t been reported as being overly active at the deadline, and with a full roster they might just stand pat.
Toronto Raptors: $3,872,070 under tax
Similar to Memphis, the Raptors are both hovering near the tax threshold and are hard capped. Masai Ujiri is reportedly looking for wing help, which could tinker with the calculus here post Serge Ibaka trade. Toronto is full up with 15 guaranteed contracts.
Hard Capped Teams (4)
Los Angeles Clippers: $2,546,968 under hard cap
After signing Wesley Johnson utilizing the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, the Clippers are in close proximity to the Apron, which severely limits their trade flexibility, especially for a Carmelo Anthony type albatross contract.
Memphis Grizzlies: $4,745,891 under hard cap
The Grizzlies triggered the hard cap by receiving Troy Daniels in a sign-and-trade. Their Apron team salary includes $1,600,000 in unlikely performance Incentives for Zach Randolph (making an all-star team), which counts toward the hard cap because his extension was signed in current CBA.
Milwaukee Bucks: $19,944,569 under hard cap
After receiving Matthew Dellavedova in a sign-and-trade, the Bucks triggered Apron concerns, but they are merely clerical as Milwaukee is significantly below the hard cap.
Toronto Raptors: $7,772,070 under hard cap
As discussed above, the Raptors face Apron concerns as well as potential luxury tax constraints after signing Jared Sullinger to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception this summer.
This Apron calculus includes $100,000 unlikely incentives for Serge Ibaka (NBA All Defensive First Team) because his extension was signed in the current CBA.
Notable Trade Exceptions
Atlanta Hawks
$2,194,500 (expires 1/23/18)
Charlotte Hornets
$1,666,470 (expires 7/12/17)
Cleveland Cavaliers
$1,333,420 (expires 8/15/17)
$4,837,500 (expires 1/17/18)
$2,194,500 (expires 1/7/18)
$980,431 (expires 2/13/18)
Los Angeles Clippers
$1,209,600 (expires 7/15/17)
*Miami Heat
$1,296,720 (Winslow Disabled Player Exception, expires 3/10/17)
Milwaukee Bucks
$1,733,880 (expires 9/22/17)
$815,199 (expires 10/17/17)
$1,151,241 (expires 2/2/18)
New Orleans Pelicans
$3,517,200 (expires 2/20/18)
Oklahoma City Thunder
$7,419,569 (expires 11/1/17)
Portland Trail Blazers
$407,210 (expires 2/13/18)
Sacramento Kings
$2,963,814 (expires 2/20/18)
Toronto Raptors
$2,250,000 (expires 2/14/18)
Notable Trade Kickers
Bojan Bogdanovic (15%)
Jimmy Butler (5%, $5.6M signing bonus)
Nikola Mirotic (15%)
Danilo Gallinari (15%)
Blake Griffin (15%)
J.J. Redick (5%)
Brandan Wright (15%)
Vince Carter (15%)
Tyler Johnson (15%)
Dion Waiters (15%)
Carmelo Anthony (15%)
Enes Kanter (15%)
Allen Crabbe (15%)
David Lee (15%)
No Trade Clauses/De-Facto No Trade Clauses
Carmelo Anthony
Allen Crabbe
Tyler Johnson
Ian Clark
Kris Humphries
James Jones
James Michael McAdoo
Marcus Thornton
Beno Udrih
Sasha Vujacic
Metta World Peace
Can’t Be Traded
Quincy Acy
Spencer Dinwiddie
Yogi Ferrell
Bobby Brown
Okaro White
Donatas Motiejunas
Chasson Randle
Joel Anthony
Cannot Be Aggregated in a Trade
DeMarcus Cousins
Omri Casspi
Buddy Hield
Langston Galloway
Tyreke Evans
Serge Ibaka
Terrence Ross
Mike Dunleavy
Kyle Korver
Miles Plumlee
Spencer Hawes
Roy Hibbert
Jusuf Nurkic
Non/Partial Guaranteed 2017/18 Trade Chips
Mike Dunleavy $5,175,000 ($1,662,500 until 7/1/17)
Tyler Zeller $8,000,000 (Non Guaranteed until 7/2/17)
Rajon Rondo $13,397,000 ($3,000,000 Guaranteed until 6/30/17)
Paul Pierce $3,679.840 ($1,096,080 Guaranteed until 6/30/17)
Wayne Ellington $6,270,000 (Non Guaranteed until 1st day after moratorium)
Jordan Hill $4,180,000 (Non Guaranteed until 6/30/17)
C.J. Watson $5,000,000 ($1,000,000 Guaranteed until 7/10/17)
Gerald Henderson $9,000,000 (Non Guaranteed until 6/30/17)
Leandro Barbosa $4,000,000 ($500,000 Guaranteed until 7/3/17)
Festus Ezeli $7,733,000 ($1,000,000 Guaranteed until 6/30)
Arron Afflalo $12,500,000 ($1,500,000 Guaranteed until 1 day after draft)
Anthony Tolliver $8,000,000 ($2,000,000 Guaranteed until 6/1)
Boris Diaw $7,500,000 (Non Guaranteed until 7/15)
Notable Poison Pill Contracts
Dennis Schroder
C.J. McCollum
Victor Oladipo
Gorgui Dieng
Cody Zeller
Player salary and contract input data derived from Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders and Bobby Marks of the Vertical
