Free agent perspective, team needs
Once the dust settles from the NBA Draft on Thursday, all eyes will turn to Cleveland.
Forwards LeBron James and Kevin Love are expected to opt out of their contracts before re-signing with the Cavaliers. Should either one decide to look elsewhere, the entire free agent landscape would be altered.
Assuming neither James nor Love is available, the list of top unrestricted free agents on the market will include forward LaMarcus Aldridge, point guard Goran Dragic, center DeAndre Jordan, center Marc Gasol and forward Paul Millsap.
A team-by-team look at free agency and the salary-cap situation for each club, according to The Sports Xchange's national network of NBA correspondents:
ATLANTIC DIVISION
BOSTON CELTICS
--2015 free agents: F Brandon Bass, F Jonas Jerebko
--Restricted free agents: F Jae Crowder, F Gigi Datome, G Phil Pressey (club option)
--Cap situation: For the first time in forever, the Celtics have the space, along with the extra draft picks, to make something special happen. The problem is big-time free agents can get more money from their current clubs, and the big names often pick nicer weather than the Northeast can offer. Club president Danny Ainge will have to do the selling job, relying on the tradition and the excitement the Celtics created in their unlikely playoff charge this year. "Most of the guys that have played here love it here," Ainge said recently. "And they don't want to leave once they are here. Not all of them are really excited about coming here when they first get here, but usually by the time they leave, they love the organization and they love the city. So we need to get that word out."
--Team needs:
Inside help, someone to present a problem for penetrators who have been able to take advantage of the lack of a rim protector. The team showed real signs of growth in 2014-15, but the growing must continue, and Ainge has to pieces to make it happen. "We haven't ever had cap space, I don't think, in the history of the Celtics," Ainge says. "For sure since I've been here. So we need to use that space wisely. We can't just spend it just because we have it."
BROOKLYN NETS
--2015 free agents: F Mirza Teletovic, G Alan Anderson (player option), C Brook Lopez (player option), PF Thaddeus Young (early-termination option)
--Restricted free agents: G Markel Brown, SF Cory Jefferson, G Darius Morris
--Cap situation: At a projected $89 million, the cap-strapped Nets are already over whatever the 2015-16 salary cap will be and will pay the salary tax penalty once again. The Nets spent the most in the NBA in salary last year and appear to be headed that way again for 2015-16.
--Team needs:
The Nets are in a tough situation, with huge contracts to F Joe Johnson ($24.8 million) and PG Deron Williams ($21 million) that no one else wants, even as expiring contracts. Williams has regressed more and more over the last two years and is totally undesirable, so the team will hope to secure a scoring point guard somehow before the start of the season, although Jarrett Jack will return. He proved to be an excellent acquisition last year. Young opted out of his contract on Monday. The Nets would love to have him back and would love to redo Lopez's contract as soon as possible.
NEW YORK KNICKS
--2015 free agents: F Cole Aldrich, C Lou Amundson, C Andrea Bargnani, PG Shane Larkin, G Jason Smith, G Lance Thomas
--Restricted free agents: F Quincy Acy, G Alexey Shved, F Travis Wear
--Cap situation: Approximately $26 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
F Carmelo Anthony is the only true scorer and rebounder on a team that finished last season with a patchwork lineup and wound up with the second-worst record in the league and next to last in rebounding. Free agent PF/C Greg Monroe could be the answer. He is a proven scorer and his post game in the triangle, along with his defense, really could help out the Knicks.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
--2015 free agents: G Jason Richardson, G Ish Smith, F Thomas Robinson, F Luc Mbah a Moute
--Restricted free agents: C Henry Sims, F Glenn Robinson III
--Cap situation: Approximately $43 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
Where do you start? The Sixers, 37-127 over the past two seasons, have glaring weaknesses at virtually every position, though the projected inside pairing of C Joel Embiid and C/F Nerlens Noel gives them a possible starting point, and F Robert Covington showed some promise as a perimeter threat. It is difficult to see any high-profile free agent wanting to play for such a threadbare club, though the Sixers might be able to flesh out their roster with some lower-level guys. If they can reach the 30-victory plateau in 2015-16, the season would have to be viewed as a rousing success.
TORONTO RAPTORS
--2015 free agents: PF Amir Johnson, G/F Landry Fields, C Chuck Hayes, SG Lou Williams, PF Tyler Hansbrough, C Greg Stiemsma
--Cap situation: They could have $16.4 million cap space if they let all their free agents sign elsewhere.
--Team needs:
The Raptors need to find the leadership that was lacking during their four-game ouster from the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Washington Wizards. The defensive game needs help. The rebounding must improve. Toronto was 24th in the NBA in the regular season in defensive-rebounding percentage, and the trend continued into the playoffs. The Raptors need to pass more with better efficiency to create better looks for their shooters, a regular-season flaw that also carried into postseason.
CENTRAL DIVISION
CHICAGO BULLS
--2015 free agents: PG Aaron Brooks, SF/SG Mike Dunleavy, C Nazr Mohammed, PG Kirk Hinrich (player option)
--Restricted free agents: SG/SF Jimmy Butler
--Cap situation: Approximately $3 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The top offseason priority for the Bulls is to keep one of their own: emerging star Jimmy Butler, a restricted free agent. Butler, 25, will command top dollar after averaging 20 points and earning his first All-Star selection in 2014-15. The Bulls appear willing to pay the luxury tax if it means keeping Butler, but don't expect them to add any other big-name free agents. Instead, first-year coach Fred Hoiberg will rely on second-year forwards Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott to step forward in his spread-the-floor offense. McDermott will be asked to fill a similar role to Mike Dunleavy, who is expected to depart via free agency. Three starters -- PG Derrick Rose, PF Pau Gasol and C Joakim Noah -- remain under contract, as do two key reserves, PF Taj Gibson and SF Tony Snell.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
--2015 free agents: F LeBron James (player option), PF Kevin Love (player option), SG J.R. Smith (player option), SG Mike Miller (player option), SF James Jones, C Kendrick Perkins, SG Shawn Marion
--Restricted free agents: F/C Tristan Thompson, G Iman Shumpert, G Matthew Dellavedova
--Cap situation: Expected to be over the cap apron and a taxpaying team
--Team needs:
Seven of the Cavs' top nine players are some form of a free agent this summer, either restricted or unrestricted. General manager David Griffin is already on record expecting both James and Love to opt out but re-sign with the Cavs. Cleveland finished the regular season 33-3 with all of its pieces healthy and intact, and Griffin made it clear he intends to keep that core together. "You look at that as a group that has the potential to be special, special good," Griffin said. "We anticipate that we'll take that group forward in very large measure." Provided all of the key pieces return, the Cavs still will have at least three roster spots to fill (Marion, Perkins and Haywood). Upgrading the backup point guard spot behind Irving is likely to be a summer priority.
DETROIT PISTONS
--2015 free agents: PF Greg Monroe, SF Tayshaun Prince, C Joel Anthony, PG John Lucas III
--Restricted free agents: PG Reggie Jackson
--Cap situation: Anywhere from $8 million-$26 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap, depending on the free agent status of Jackson and Monroe
--Team needs:
Coach/president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy stated numerous times he would like to keep Monroe, but with a better long-range shooter in PF Ersan Ilyasova to take those minutes, it is unlikely that Monroe will return. The Pistons won't let Jackson go, nor is he inclined to leave. Jackson was acquired at the February trade deadline to be the team's long-term floor leader, even if PF Brandon Jennings fully recovers from a torn Achilles tendon, and the Pistons plan to match any offer sheet. Jackson already developed pick-and-roll chemistry with C Andre Drummond. The Pistons will need to bring in another small forward through free agency or a trade even if they draft one, since Prince plans to finish his career with a title contender. A backup to Drummond is also a need. Re-signing Anthony would take care of that, but he also may seek out a proven winner.
INDIANA PACERS
--2015 free agents: PG C.J. Watson, PG Donald Sloan, PF Lavoy Allen, F Luis Scola, G Rodney Stuckey, F Chris Copeland
--Restricted free agents: none
--Cap situation: If C Roy Hibbert ($15,514,031) and F David West ($12,600,000) sign 2015-2016 player option contracts, Indiana will have committed approximately $64 million in salaries for the upcoming season. If either or both opts to become a free agent, team president Larry Bird and the Pacers will have money to spend under the cap.
--Team needs:
After battling several key injuries, the Pacers missed the 2015 playoffs by a single game and are looking to feature a more up-tempo offense in 2015-16. In order to do that, Bird would like to have a more versatile big man. The team also needs capable backup help for George Hill at point guard. With the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards continuing to improve in the East, Bird isn't the type to sit back and let others push the Pacers aside.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
--2015 free agent: F Shane Williams
--Restricted free agent: SG Khris Middleton
--Cap situation: Approximately $18.2 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The Bucks seem content at four of the five starting positions. PG Michael Carter-Williams showed improvement after adjusting to a midseason trade. SG Khris Middleton is a restricted free agent the Bucks plan to keep, and F Giannis Antetokounmpo showed flashes of greatness in his second season. With F Jabari Parker, last year's first-round pick, returning from a season-ending injury, the Bucks badly would like to add a top-flight rim protector and post presence to that group and have been mentioned as a destination for Brooklyn C Brook Lopez, who is expected to opt out of his contract this summer. He is familiar with Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd, who spent one season running the Nets before jumping to the Bucks last summer.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
ATLANTA HAWKS
--2015 free agents: F Paul Millsap, F DeMarre Carroll
--Restricted free agent: C Pero Antic
--Cap situation: Projections vary wildly, but the Hawks are expected to be at least $5 million under the salary cap
--Team needs:
Throughout a breakout season that saw the Hawks earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, critics questioned whether Atlanta had what it took to get over the hump in the postseason. Bluntly, some said, they needed a go-to guy. And maybe they did, but injuries also played a major role as they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals. There are some big names on the free agent market, but Atlanta doesn't seem to be a likely landing spot. Coach Mike Budenholzer's roster is set at point guard with starter Jeff Teague and rising backup Dennis Schroder. All-star F Al Horford locks down one of the frontcourt positions. SG Kyle Korver will be coming off offseason ankle surgery, and if either Carroll or Millsap depart, there will be some big holes in the roster.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
--2015 free agents: G Mo Williams, C Jason Maxiell, G Jeffery Taylor
--Restricted free agent: C Bismack Biyombo
--Cap situation: No flexibility outside of their $5.5 million middle-level exemption and their $1,672,000 bi-annual exception
--Team needs:
The first need was to get rid of SG Lance Stephenson at all costs, and that was accomplished when the Hornets shipped him to the Clippers for F Spencer Hawes and F Matt Barnes. Now the focus is on acquiring a shooting guard with 3-point range after the Hornets finished dead last in the NBA in 3-point percentage last season. General manager Rich Cho promises it will happen either through the draft, free agency or a trade. Beyond that, the Hornets need Al Jefferson to return to health after the forward/center battled through an injury-plagued 2014-15 season that saw him miss 17 games. Jefferson recently exercised a $13.5 million option to return to the Hornets next season.
MIAMI HEAT
--2015 free agents: PG Goran Dragic, SG Dwyane Wade (player option), SF Luol Deng (player option), F Michael Beasley (team option), SF James Ennis (team option)
--Cap situation:
The Heat would be about $17 million under the salary cap if they cut ties with Beasley and if Wade and Deng opt out of their contracts. If only Wade returns, they would be about $900,000 under the cap. If only Deng returns, they would be about $7 million under the cap. If both return, the Heat would be about $9 million over the cap but still could re-sign Dragic because they hold his Larry Bird rights.
--Team needs:
There is a possibility that the Heat loses the face of its franchise, Wade, who appears set to opt out of a $16.1 million payout for the final season on his contract. Wade, who helped Miami win three NBA titles, wants $60 million for three years. The Heat, noting Wade's age (33) and injury troubles, want him to agree to a three-year, $36 million deal. The Heat are also awaiting a decision on Deng, who can opt out of a $10.1 million payout for the coming season. In addition, the Heat wants to re-sign Dragic, who will be looking for $20 million per season. Dragic opted out of his contract Monday. On the horizon for the summer of 2016, the Heat would have to commit major dollars to re-signing C Hassan Whiteside, who has star qualities, and they also have a dream -- however farfetched -- of luring F Kevin Durant away from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ORLANDO MAGIC
--2015 free agent: SG Willie Green
--Restricted free agents: SF Tobias Harris, C/F Kyle O'Quinn
--Nonguaranteed contracts: C Dewayne Dedmon, SG Ben Gordon, PG Luke Ridnour, SG Devyn Marble
--Cap situation: The Magic should be approximately $15 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap.
--Team needs:
More than anything, Orlando needs to add a shot-blocking rim-protector to play alongside starting C Nikola Vucevic, who is talented offensively but a real weakness on defense. If the Magic don't land a shot-blocker in the draft, they will turn their free agency efforts in that direction. They believe that with their slowly maturing young talent, they can reach the playoffs by adding a veteran big man to the mix. They have the salary-cap room to do it. The hiring of coach Scott Skiles, a former Magic point guard, should make them tougher and add to their intensity defensively, which was lacking last season.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
--2015 free agents: SF Paul Pierce (player option), C Kevin Seraphin, PF Drew Gooden, SF Rasual Butler, SG Will Bynum
--Restricted free agents: None
--Cap situation: Approximately $11 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap.
--Team needs:
Coming of a second consecutive appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Wizards are poised for another contending run next season assuming the core players return. Pierce opted out his contract on Monday. He will play another season (Wizards? Clippers?), and is the biggest X factor. Without the future Hall of Famer, Washington's need for a stretch-4 and another wing player increases significantly, especially since the roster already lacks a quality backup behind SG Bradley Beal. Regardless, the Wizards need an athletic big man who can play both ends and ultimately take over for PF Nene this season or next. Losing Seraphin and Gooden would make adding another center something of a priority.
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
DALLAS MAVERICKS
--2015 free agents: PG Rajon Rondo, PG Jose Juan Barea, SG Ricky Ledo, SF Richard Jefferson, PF Charlie Villanueva, PF Amar'e Stoudemire, C Tyson Chandler, C Greg Smith, C Brendan Hayward
--Restricted free agent: C Bernard James
--Cap situation: Approximately $9 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The usually free-spending Mavericks did a good job getting under the salary cap, which gives them options this offseason. The biggest decision: Should they reinvest their available funds on Chandler or use it on a guy who can complement SG Monta Ellis in the backcourt? Owner Mark Cuban has demonstrated time and again he is willing to roll the dice on big-time question marks, as he did with Rondo and Stoudemire last season. With PF Dirk Nowitzki near the end of his rope, Cuban almost surely will play to win now.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
--2015 free agents: G/F Corey Brewer, PF Josh Smith, PG Jason Terry
--Restricted free agents: PG Patrick Beverley, G/F K.J. McDaniels
--Cap situation: Approximately $6.3 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The Rockets received a jolt of vitality with the midseason acquisitions of veterans Brewer and Smith, but now comes the hard part: deciding whether both are so integral to future success that a significant financial commitment is warranted. Smith, in particular, could be expendable given the Rockets' glut of big men and their continued pursuit of a third superstar, preferably a power forward, to complement F James Harden and C Dwight Howard.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
--2015 free agent: C Marc Gasol
--Restricted free agents: G Nick Calathes, C Kosta Koufos
--Cap situation: Approximately $38 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap, not including Gasol, Calathes and Koufos
--Team needs:
F Jeff Green exercised his player option for $9.2 million after proving to be a semi-bust since coming over from Boston last season. His athleticism helped; his shaky jumper did not. The Grizzlies' kryptonite is 3-point shooting. Other contenders in the West have enough to make up for Memphis' post advantage with Gasol and PF Zach Randolph, and the Grizzlies don't make enough threes (fewer than six per game) to force defenses to actively guard the perimeter. In the playoffs, Golden State coach Steve Kerr decided not to guard swingman Tony Allen away from the basket at all. SG Courtney Lee shot 40 percent beyond the arc but took far fewer 3s (224) than Stephen Curry made (286). Trading Lee and/or Green in a draft-night package is possible. However, the Grizzlies already mortgaged multiple future draft picks, including two protected first-round picks, and that hampers their flexibility for deal-making.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
--2015 free agents: C Omer Asik, C Alexis Ajinca, PG Jimmer Fredette, SF Luke Babbitt, SF Dante Cunningham, PG Toney Douglas (nonguaranteed contract for 2015-16)
--Restricted free agent: PG Norris Cole
--Cap situation: When SG Eric Gordon opted in for the final year of the four-year, $58 million deal he signed in 2012 -- a no-brainer because he will make $15.5 million in 2015-16 -- it seriously reduced New Orleans' ability to make free agent moves. If the Pelicans renounce all of their free agents -- unlikely -- they would have $11.3 million in total cap space. The key will be what the Pelicans do with Asik, who played last year for $14.9 million but counted only $8 million against the cap. Asik is an effective rebounder and post defender, but his inability to finish around the basket is legendary, and that might not fit new coach Alvin Gentry's up-tempo system.
--Team needs:
Health. In the last two seasons, the Pelicans' training room resembled an ER. Critical is the status of Jrue Holiday, whose scoring, passing and defensive abilities make him the Pelicans' best pure point guard. Holiday missed the equivalent of a full season the last two years with a stress reaction in his lower right leg. Counting on him remaining healthy for a full season is not a good bet. Holiday's status is critical because the Pelicans loved what Cole did in providing efficient minutes as a backup point guard. Tyreke Evans was the Pelicans' best point guard with Holiday sidelined. The Pelicans still need a legit small forward, someone who can run the floor and hit an occasional "relief" jumper to keep teams from collapsing on F Anthony Davis.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
--2015 free agents: PF Tim Duncan, SG Manu Ginobili, SG Danny Green, SG Marco Belinelli, SF Reggie Williams, PF Matt Bonner, C Jeff Ayres
--Restricted free agents: SF Kawhi Leonard, PG Cory Joseph, C Aron Baynes
--Cap situation: Approximately $18 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap.
--Team needs:
The Spurs' needs depend upon which of their free agents they are willing and able to re-sign. Almost surely, Duncan and Ginobili will return, which would more than evaporate all available free agent funds. San Antonio still would be able to re-sign its own free agents above the cap, and Green then would become the No. 1 priority. After that, all the Spurs need is good health -- not something a team can acquire in the offseason -- in order once again to rank among the chief title contenders in 2015-16.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
DENVER NUGGETS
--2015 free agents: PF Darrell Arthur
--Restricted free agents: SF Will Barton, G Ian Clark, G Jameer Nelson (player option)
--Cap situation: Approximately $7 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The Nuggets have a roster with an uncertain future. The failed experiment of coach Brian Shaw means Denver is on its fourth coach in two years with the hiring of Michael Malone. He got the job over interim coach Melvin Hunt, who was strongly endorsed by the players to stay on permanently. Malone, who was fired by Sacramento in December, is a proven defensive coach, but he is taking over a team that wants to run. Malone vowed to coach to the talent on his roster, but what that will look like in October is very much in flux. If Denver is unable to move PG Ty Lawson or PF Kenneth Faried -- or both -- it will build around the two highest-paid, and most popular, players on the team.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
--2015 free agents: PF Kevin Garnett, SG Gary Neal
--Restricted free agents: C Justin Hamilton, F Robbie Hummel, PF Arinze Onuaku
--Cap situation: Approximately $21 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
Injuries forced the Timberwolves to sign a bunch of players off the street last season, none of whom likely will back. The one who probably will: Garnett. Added at the trade deadline in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Garnett brought valuable veteran leadership to one of the NBA's youngest teams. And with a likely future in the Wolves' front office, and perhaps even an ownership stake, Garnett probably will play in Minnesota or not at all. The Timberwolves won't be trading draft picks for players, but coach Flip Saunders would listen if a club called looking to add some youth in exchange for a veteran piece.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
--2015 free agents: none
--Restricted free agents: F Kyle Singler, C Enes Kanter
--Cap situation: Approximately $3.3 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
Despite missing the postseason, the Thunder head into the draft a somewhat loaded team. While the health of F Kevin Durant (who is in the final year of his contract) is the primary concern for the team, strengthening the bench and finding reliable backups will be the focus. However, if there is one position that is still unsettled it is the shooting guard spot opposite PG Russell Westbrook. Under former coach Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City's philosophy was to have it manned by a defensive-oriented player. With former Florida coach Billy Donovan at the helm now that could change.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
--2015 free agents: PF LaMarcus Aldridge, SG Wesley Matthews, C Robin Lopez, SF Dorell Wright, SF Alonzo Gee, SG Arron Afflalo (player option)
--Restricted free agent: C Joel Freeland
--Cap situation: The Blazers are $35 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap.
--Team needs:
Portland will address the status of franchise player Aldridge first, then the dominoes will fall. General manager Neil Olshey indicated the Blazers fully intend to re-sign their All-Star power forward. They seem likely to extend an offer to Matthews, too, and perhaps Lopez. If the Big Three go elsewhere, a complete retooling of the roster (except SF Nicolas Batum and PG Damian Lillard) will be in order.
UTAH JAZZ
--2015 free agent: F Jeremy Evans, PF Trevor Booker (team option)
--Restricted free agents: G Joe Ingles
--Cap situation: Approximately $20 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap, not including non-guaranteed contracts and team options
--Team needs:
The Jazz have a solid young core and have multiple players they already like for the future at each position. The biggest need the team has is improved point guard play, but the organization is confident Dante Exum will improve offensively after his rookie year. The squad also needs PG Trey Burke to improve after a so-so sophomore season. Any player the Jazz get, however, will be required to buy into coach Quin Snyder's intense defensive philosophy, which helped Utah finish as the NBA's best defensive team in the second half of the 2014-15 campaign.
PACIFIC DIVISION
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
--2015 free agents: SG Leandro Barbosa, PF James Michael McAdoo
--Restricted free agent: PF Draymond Green
--Cap situation: Approximately $10 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
If the Warriors are able to re-sign Green, they will have all the key players from their championship run returning. That signing would push Golden State over the salary cap, handcuffing the team the rest of the offseason. Not that it matters. In a similar situation last offseason, the Warriors were able to add key reserves PG Shaun Livingston and Barbosa. Few front offices do so much with so little than Golden State's.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
--2015 free agents: PG Austin Rivers, SG Dahntay Jones, PF Hedo Turkoglu, PF Glen Davis, PF Ekpe Udoh, C DeAndre Jordan
--Restricted free agents: none
--Cap situation: The Clippers are almost exactly right on the projected 2015-16 salary cap.
--Team needs:
With the postseason addition of G/F Lance Stephenson, the Clippers will boast of All-NBA-type talent at all five positions (counting supersub SG Jamal Crawford) in 2015-16 if they are able to re-sign Jordan. No doubt, new Clippers ownership won't think twice about going well over the salary cap in order to get Jordan back and complete a title-contending quintet. If that happens, as expected, the Clippers would then be about four players away from fielding a legitimate second team. Getting the coach's son, Austin Rivers, to return would be a good start, but the rest must come (cheaply) from the outside.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
--2015 free agents: PG Jeremy Lin, PG Dwight Buycks, PG Ronnie Price, SG Wayne Ellington, SF Wesley Johnson, PF Carlos Boozer
--Restricted free agent: PG Vander Blue
--Cap situation: Approximately $52 million under the projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The Lakers have the available funds to go after SF LeBron James, should he opt out of his Cavaliers contract, and PF LaMarcus Aldridge. Think that would change the Western landscape? Short of that, the club must make sure its draft picks complement its free agent targets, and vice versa. Getting C Marc Gasol to agree to head west surely would change the way the Lakers look at the No. 2 pick in the draft, for example. Bottom line: The club needs a superstar or two who can complement SG Kobe Bryant now and, presumably, C Karl-Anthony Towns or C Jahlil Okafor in the future. That gives the Lakers a lot of options.
PHOENIX SUNS
--2015 free agents: G Gerald Green, G Marcus Thornton, C Earl Barron
--Restricted free agents: G Brandon Knight, PF Brandan Wright
--Cap situation: Approximately $15 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
The Suns would like to a get a serviceable player in the draft, but they also would like to get a top-shelf player in free agency with the cap space they have. Phoenix could let Knight walk and save even more money, but it traded two big chips (the Lakers' future first-round pick and 2014 first-round pick G Tyler Ennis) to get him. To watch Knight walk would be an embarrassment for an organization still trying to live down the Goran Dragic/Isaiah Thomas fiasco.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
--2015 free agents: G Andre Miller, F Omri Casspi, F/C Reggie Evans, C Ryan Hollins
--Restricted free agent: F Derrick Williams
--Cap situation: Approximately $29 million under projected 2015-16 salary cap
--Team needs:
PG Darren Collision averaged 35 minutes per game last season, so an additional point guard could save Collison wear and tear as he returns from a core muscle injury that cost him the season's final 33 games. Several internet rumors linked the Kings to Brooklyn Nets G Lou Williams, the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year. Sacramento also will seek frontline depth as it faces the prospect of losing Casspi, Derrick Williams and Hollins.
