View All | Next Article »

2022-23 NBA Opening Week Financials

By: Michael GinnittiPublished: October 18, 2022

Salary Cap Space

The season opens with 4 teams (IND, SAS, MEM, & DET) currently possessing cap space, though the latter two hold less than $1M of room at last look. There may be a real push from other organizations (Utah, Houston, Charlotte) in the coming months to move pieces and open up cap space for next summer.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/

Hard-Capped Teams

9 teams enter the regular season hard-capped, including contending hopefuls Philadelphia & Memphis.

Memphis: Kennedy Chandler signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Minnesota: Kyle Anderson was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Oklahoma City: Jaylin Williams signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Orlando: Caleb Houstan signed a 4 year contract using the NTMLE
Philadelphia: PJ Tucker was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Portland: Gary Payton: was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Sacramento: Malik Monk was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.
Utah: Acquired Collin Sexton via Sign and Trade
Washington: Delon Wright was signed using the NTMLE which has a salary that is greater than or equal to the TMLE.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/

Luxury Tax Threshold

10 teams enter the season over the tax threshold, with three more (POR, MIA, WAS) on the brink of heading over at some point. The LA Clippers ($192M) carry the highest tax payroll to start the year, while the 2nd place Warriors ($189M) currently project toward a whopping $170M tax bill (the same amount they paid last season). On the flip side, the Spurs ($56.5M), Pacers ($54.4M), & Grizzlies ($28.8M) currently possess the most tax room in the league.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/tax/

Top Paid Players

Steph Curry ($48M) enters the season as the highest paid player in the NBA, and he’s currently slated to remain in the #1 spot through the 2025-26 season.

Top 5 22-23 Salaries

Stephen Curry, $48M
Russell Westbrook, $47M
LeBron James, $44.4M
Kevin Durant, $44.1M
Bradley Beal, $43.2M

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/cap-hit/

Top Offseason Allocations

The Phoenix Suns ($364M), led by an extension for Devin Booker and an offer sheet match for Deandre Ayton allocated the most new money in the league. 5 teams: Phoenix, Denver, Portland, Memphis, and New Orleans, locked in over $300M this past summer. On the flip side, 5 teams (Charlotte, LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Boston, & Atlanta) finalized less than $50M in new contracts this past offseason.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/tools/offseason

Most Expensive Starting 5

No surprise, but the Warriors’ projected rotation of Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Green, & Looney projects to be the most expensive starting roster ($153M) in the NBA this season. The Nets ($145M) & Bucks ($137M) round out the Top 3, while the Spurs ($31M), Grizzlies ($44M), & Rockets ($45M) currently bring up the rear.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/depth-charts/