» WARRIORS SITTING PRETTY BEFORE FREE AGENCY
The NBA's free agency period starts Sunday, which means player movement will go into overdrive. Some teams have some payroll cap space to work with. Most do not.
The NBA salary cap is projected at $101 million this season. The luxury tax threshold is approximately $123 million. Teams above the cap are hamstrung in free agency, even moreso if that team is above the tax threshold.
Here’s a look at the Pacific Division:
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Under contract: Steph Curry $37.5M, Klay Thompson $19M, Draymond Green $17.5M, Andre Igoudala $16M, Shaun Livingston $8.3M, Jacob Evans $1.6M, Damian Jones $1.5M, Quinn Cook $1.5M, Jordan Bell $1.4M.
Player option: Kevin Durant $26.25M.
Unrestricted free agent: Nick Young, Zaza Pachulia, David West, JaVale McGee, Kevin Looney, Patrick McCaw. Guaranteed total: $104.3M. Payroll outlook: Durant's expected new contract will send the Warriors' salary totals into the stratosphere.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Under contract: Luol Deng $18M, Lonzo Ball $7.5M, Brandon Ingram $5.8M, Kyle Kuzma $1.7M, Josh Hart $1.7M, Moritz Wagner $1.7M, Thomas Bryant $1.4M.
Team option: Tyler Ennis, Ivica Zubac.
Unrestricted free agent: Brook Lopez, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Channing Frye, Isaiah Thomas,
Restricted free agent: Julius Randle, Travis Wear, Andre Ingram. Guaranteed total: $37.8M. Payroll outlook: Open. The Lakers have tons of money to spend and are in the marketplace with their checkbook open.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Under contract: Danilo Gallinari $21.6M, Tobias Harris $14.8M, Boban Marjanovic $9.5M, Marcin Gortat $13.6M, Lou Williams $8M, Wesley Johnson $6.1M, Shai GilgeousAlexander $3.3M, Jerome Robinson $3.1M, Sam Dekker $2.8M, Jawun Evans $1.4M, Sindarius Thornwell $1.4M.
Player option: DeAndre Jordan $24.1M.
Team option: Milos Teodosic $6.3M, Patrick Beverley $5M, C.J. Williams $1.4M.
Unrestricted free agent: Avery Bradley, Montrezl Harrell. Guaranteed total: $85.6M. Payroll outlook: Jordan's status will clear things up. Will he opt out of his contract, or will he opt in to facilitate a trade? The Clippers' trade for Gortat indicates Jordan is on his way out.
PHOENIX SUNS
Under contract: Brandon Knight $14.6M, Tyson Chandler $13.6M, T.J. Warren $11.75M, Jared Dudley $9.5M, Deandre Ayton $8.1M, Josh Jackson $6M, Alan Williams $5.5M, Dragan Bender $4.7M, Mikal Bridges $3.5M, Devin Booker $3.3M, Troy Daniels $3.3M, Marquese Chriss $3.2M.
Team option: Tyler Ulis $1.5M, Shaquille Harrison $1.4M, Davon Reed $1.4M.
Unrestricted free agent: Alex Len.
Restricted free agent: Elfrid Payton. Guaranteed total: $80M. Payroll outlook: Solid. The Suns have money to spend. Will anyone take it?
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Under contract: Zach Randolph $11.7M, Iman Shumpert $11M, Bogdan Bogdanovic $9M, Kostas Koufos $8.7M, Marvin Bagley III $7.2M, De'Aaron Fox $5.5M, Willie Cauley-Stein $4.7M, Buddy Hield $3.8M, Justin Jackson $2.8M, Harry Giles $2.2M, Skal Labissiere $1.5M, Frank Mason $1.4M.
Player option: Garrett Temple $8M.
Team option: Nigel Hayes $1.4M.
Unrestricted free agent: Vince Carter.
Restricted free agent: Bruno Caboclo. Guaranteed totals: $69.5M. Payroll outlook: Sacramento has plenty of cap space, but little to offer other than money.