Projected NBA cap space

The offseason isn’t here yet, but NBA front offices are already thinking about it.

With the 2026-27 salary cap projected to land around $166 million, give or take, teams are beginning to shape their flexibility for what could be a very active summer.

Some will have room to spend. Others… not so much.

Here’s a look at projected cap space for all 30 teams, via Spotrac (figures rounded for readability):

Most Flexibility / Cleanest Books

• Memphis Grizzlies — ~$149M payroll (near cap)
• Brooklyn Nets — ~$152M payroll
• Charlotte Hornets — ~$177M payroll
• Utah Jazz — ~$196M payroll

Middle Tier / Manageable Situations

• Milwaukee Bucks — ~$209M payroll
• Toronto Raptors — ~$210M
• Indiana Pacers — ~$212M
• San Antonio Spurs — ~$224M
• Washington Wizards — ~$225M
• New Orleans Pelicans — ~$225M
• Houston Rockets — ~$227M
• Portland Trail Blazers — ~$231M
• Detroit Pistons — ~$237M

Over The Cap / Limited Flexibility

• Phoenix Suns — ~$237M
• Dallas Mavericks — ~$237M
• Philadelphia 76ers — ~$239M
• Atlanta Hawks — ~$241M
• Los Angeles Clippers — ~$245M
• Orlando Magic — ~$246M
• Sacramento Kings — ~$247M

Deep Tax / Apron Territory

• Chicago Bulls — ~$252M
• Oklahoma City Thunder — ~$256M
• New York Knicks — ~$258M
• Minnesota Timberwolves — ~$258M
• Los Angeles Lakers — ~$259M
• Cleveland Cavaliers — ~$260M
• Denver Nuggets — ~$261M
• Miami Heat — ~$270M
• Golden State Warriors — ~$273M

The Big Picture

This isn’t shaping up like a wide-open cap summer. A handful of teams will have room to operate. Most will not.

That means trades become more important, exceptions matter more, and creativity becomes essential.

And if a star becomes available — and history says one usually does — the teams with flexibility will have a real advantage.