Новости за 16.03.2020

The Wizards will continue to focus on youth and developing Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown Jr., Mo Wagner, Jerome Robinson, and whoever they select with their lottery pick. $30 million below the luxury tax, the Wizards should have enough flexibility to re-sign Davis Bertans and use their mid-level exception. With two years left until he can enter free agency, the Wizards may want to consider trading Bradley Beal while his value is at its peak if they feel he won’t remain long-term.

Assuming Mike Conley opts in, the Jazz will have their entire roster back other than Jordan Clarkson and Emmanuel Mudiay. The Jazz will have no limitations in re-signing Clarkson since they have his full Bird rights. Only $16 million under the luxury tax, the Jazz may be above it if they re-sign Clarkson and use their entire mid-level exception. Look for the Jazz to extend All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who will likely receive a maximum contract worth $180 million over five years.

The Raptors must decide how deep their willing to go on a contract for Fred VanVleet, who will be one of the most sought after free agents this summer. They must also consider re-signing Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson with no center currently under contract. If all those free agents leave, the Raptors could have $25 million in cap space. Otherwise they’re looking at the mid-level exception to sign another veteran player. 

Assuming DeMar DeRozan opts in, he, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, and Rudy Gay will all be on expiring contracts. With head coach Gregg Popovich having two years remaining on his contract, they may ride it out with the core. They’ll be over the cap, giving them the mid-level exception and their first lottery pick in a long time to fill out the roster. They could also look to re-sign Jakob Poeltl, Marco Belinelli, and Bryn Forbes. Derrick White will become extension-eligible.

The Kings will look to re-sign guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, who should get offered large offer sheets from rival teams. Roughly $36 million below the tax, they could be hovering around it if they re-sign him, utilize the mid-level exception, and keep their first-round pick. They will also look to extend De’Aaron Fox who could be looking at a near-maximum extension.

The Blazers will have a break from the luxury tax now that all their 2016 signings have expired. They are still expected to operate over the cap, limiting their ability to improve through their lottery pick, the mid-level exception, and minimum contracts. They can re-sign Hassan Whiteside to a long-term team-friendly deal with his full Bird rights. Other than that, trade will be their best bet to improve the team..

The Suns could generate close to $25 million in cap space if they part ways with Dario Saric, Aron Baynes, and other non-guaranteed players. They will continue gauging the trade market for a starting power forward with that position currently being their biggest weakness. They should also have the room mid-level and their lottery pick to help upgrade the roster.

The 76ers are already projected to be $8 million over the luxury tax line for a $13 million tax payment with just 11 players on the roster. Unless they reduce salary, they will be limited with the $6 million taxpayer mid-level exception for upgrading the roster. With his fit in question and possibly declining, the Sixers may gauge the trade market on Al Horford for depth and to reduce payroll.

The Magic will have most of the roster returning, plus the arrival of 2019 first-round pick Chuma Okeke. Evan Fournier has a player option, and replacing him will be tough since they’re over the cap. Markelle Fultz is extension-eligible and it will be interesting to see how negotiations play out after the strides he made this season. They also have their first-round pick in the late teens and the mid-level exception to add to the roster.

The Hawks are projected to have just north of $50 million in cap space this summer, the most of any team. They should have plenty of room to add talent to bolster the roster and could also continue taking on bad contracts with draft picks attached. They must decide how much they’re willing to commit to John Collins, who is extension-eligible.