All 30 Teams Approaching the NBA Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is nearing.  Teams have until 3:00 p.m. EST on February 19 to submit their deals to the league.

The trade market has been hot for most of the season, with a number of players already changing places including Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, Timofey Mozgov, Brandan Wright, J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters and Corey Brewer.

The following is a list of each NBA franchise, their roster count, cap position and some interesting trade pieces that could move over the next couple of weeks:

Atlanta Hawks
$60 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players, $3 million in cap room and hard-capped.

Interesting trade piece(s): Hawks have the right to swap picks with the Brooklyn Nets (20-28).

Note: Why would the best team in the Eastern Conference want to mess with the chemistry?

Boston Celtics
$64.4 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap, but armed with multiple trade exceptions including one for $12.9 million (Rondo).

Interesting trade piece(s): Celtics are owed a gang of first-rounders over the next few years (Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies and Nets).  Boston also has a number of player with expiring contracts: Brandon Bass, Tayshaun Prince and Marcus Thornton.

Note: The Celtics have been open for business all season.  That probably won’t change until the deadline finally elapses.

Brooklyn Nets
$90.7 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Deep into luxury tax.

Interesting trade piece(s): Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack, a $3.3 million trade exception (Andrei Kirilenko).

Note: The Nets appear to be in dumping mode to shed big-dollar salaries.  Deron Williams and Joe Johnson can be had, but the market may be difficult to work with.

Charlotte Hornets
$64.1 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Lance Stephenson.

Note: The demand for Stephenson hasn’t been great to date, but that may change before the deadline.

Chicago Bulls
$67.4 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Taj Gibson.  The Bulls have the Sacramento Kings’ 2015 first-rounder, with top-10 protection through the next three drafts.

Note: The Bulls haven’t lived up to expectations.  Gibson is a valuable member of the rotation, but he may be the most attractive player the Bulls can shop in trade.

Cleveland Cavaliers
$81.1 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and tax threshold.

Interesting trade piece(s): Tristan Thompson.

Note: The Cavaliers made their play, acquiring Mozgov and Smith.  The results have been very positive — there may not be much more for Cleveland to do by the trade deadline.

Dallas Mavericks
$74.4 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Not a lot.

Note: Like the Cavaliers, the Mavericks have already struck big on the trade market, landing Rondo — who has since suffered a facial injury and has an unknown return date.

Denver Nuggets
$69.7 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players. Over the cap, with a $4.65 million trade exception (Mozgov).

Interesting trade piece(s): Arron Afflalo, Wilson Chandler, Darrell Arthur, JaVale McGee, J.J. Hickson and Randy Foye.

Note: The struggling Nuggets are likely sellers, if they can get a quality return from some of their veteran players.

Detroit Pistons
$63.1 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Greg Monroe, Jonas Jerebko and Joel Anthony.

Note: Earlier in the season, when the team was awful, Monroe seemed like an obvious player for Detroit to move.  His play, along with the team’s, in the absence of the waived Josh Smith, may inspire the Pistons to gamble with Monroe in free agency.

Golden State Warriors
$72.4 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap and hard-capped.

Interesting trade piece(s): David Lee.

Note: The Warriors are the best in the West, so chemistry may trump future concerns.  At some point Lee may have to go (in favor of Draymond Green on a new contract this summer) — a taker for his $15.5 million for 2015-16 may not be readily available.  Likely an issue for another day.

Houston Rockets
$76.0 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and hard-capped.

Interesting trade piece(s): Jason Terry.

Note: The Rockets need health more than they need to make a trade, but general manager Daryl Morey is always looking aggressively to improve (possibly at point guard).

Indiana Pacers
$74.8 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and hard-capped.  The Pacers have a disabled player exception for Paul George ($5.3 million) and a $4.3 million trade exception (Danny Granger).

Interesting trade piece(s): Roy Hibbert and Luis Scola.

Note: The Pacers may just hold on until George is healthy with the current core, which may actually happen in March (after a brutal broken leg).

Los Angeles Clippers
$79.6 million payroll with 13 guaranteed players.  Over the cap, tax threshold and hard-capped.

Interesting trade piece(s): Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes.

Note: The Clippers have been hampered by the hard cap all season.  Instead of another trade (after acquiring Austin Rivers), the Clippers may need to improve via free agency.

Los Angeles Lakers
$70.2 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap.  The Lakers have $4.8 million (Steve Nash) and $1.5 million (Julius Randle) disabled player exceptions.

Interesting trade piece(s): Jordan Hill, Jeremy Lin, Steve Nash and Ed Davis.

Note: Hill can block a trade, unless the Lakers opt him into the second year of his deal.  Lin’s $14.9 million salary is on the books for $8.4 million, but an acquiring team would take on that financial burden.  Nash is an expiring contract.  The Lakers seem to like Davis enough to risk losing him in free agency.

Memphis Grizzlies
$74.6 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap and hard-capped.  Memphis has a $3.1 million trade exception (Quincy Pondexter).

Interesting trade piece(s): Kosta Koufos.

Note: The Grizzlies already landed Green and are one of the best teams in the league nearing the deadline.

Miami HEAT
$72.1 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Norris Cole.

Note: With investments in Mario Chalmers and Shabazz Napier, Cole may be expendable if Miami can find value.

Milwaukee Bucks
$56.3 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Under the cap by $6.7 million.

Interesting trade piece(s): John Henson and cap space.

Note: Larry Sanders’ drug suspension ends soon, which means the Bucks will have to get back down to 15 players.  With Sanders struggling most of the year, Henson may be too valuable of a rotation player to move.

Minnesota Timberwolves
$64 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and hard-capped.  The Timberwolves have two sizable trade exceptions: $6.3 million for Kevin Love and $4.7 million for Brewer.

Interesting trade piece(s): Mo Williams and Thaddeus Young.

Note: Young may not be on the trade block but a veteran like Williams might land the Wolves some future considerations.

New Orleans Pelicans
$68.8 million payroll with 13 guaranteed and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Ryan Anderson, John Salmons and Eric Gordon.

Note: Salmons only makes $2 million while Gordon may make too much to deal ($14.9 million with a player option next season at $15.5 million).  The Pelicans haven’t seemed interested in moving Anderson.

New York Knicks
$81.4 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and the tax threshold.  New York has a $6 million trade exception for Smith.

Interesting trade piece(s): Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin and Pablo Prigioni.

Note: The Knicks are sellers.  While they would love to be rid of Calderon’s contract, they don’t have much else to offer with the veteran’s $22.2 million three-year salary.

Oklahoma City Thunder
$79.1 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow and Kendrick Perkins.

Note: Will the Thunder pay the tax?  That’s their fate unless they trim roughly $2.4 million in payroll.  General Manager Sam Presti always seems to cash out a player before they leave for nothing — which may have bearing on restricted-free-agent-to-be Jackson.

Orlando Magic
$56 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Under the cap by $7 million.

Interesting trade piece(s): Luke Ridnour, Moe Harkless, Andrew Nicholson and cap room.

Note: Could Harkless and Nicholson take on bigger roles now that Jacque Vaughn is out as head coach?  The Magic have cap room to make a deal, but no roster space to add a player without making room.

Philadelphia 76ers
$43.6 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Under the cap by $19.4 million.

Interesting trade piece(s): Andrei Kirilenko, cap room and plenty of future draft considerations.

Note: The Sixers have been using their cap room to add other’s unwanted salary and picks — that’s likely to continue until the deadline.  Philadelphia is at 16 players with Kirilenko on suspension.

Phoenix Suns
$61.8 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Under the cap by $1.2 million.

Interesting trade piece(s): Goran Dragic, Miles Plumlee and Gerald Green.

Note: The Suns probably keep Dragic, who can become a free agent this summer.  Plumlee has been on the block, but that may depend on Alex Len’s status after a sprained ankle.  Green’s expiring contract would have a number of suitors but any with enough value to entice the Suns?

Portland Trail Blazers
$69.4 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and hard-capped.

Interesting trade piece(s): Thomas Robinson, Dorell Wright and C.J. McCollum.

Note: There haven’t been too many signs the Blazers are looking to make a move aggressively.  They’ve survived injuries to Robin Lopez and LaMarcus Aldridge and are a top-four team in the West.

Sacramento Kings
$71.5 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap and hard-capped.  The Kings have a $5.9 million trade exception for Terry.

Interesting trade piece(s): Nik Stauskas, Ramon Sessions and Derrick Williams.

Note: The Kings would like to add on a power forward to better complement DeMarcus Cousins, preferably one who can both shoot and defend.  The team could also use a backup point guard, if Sessions is out.

San Antonio Spurs
$70 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  Over the cap.

Interesting trade piece(s): Corey Joseph.

Note: With Tony Parker and Patty Mills locked in long-term, Joseph may be expendable as a restricted free agent this summer.

Toronto Raptors
$76.1 million payroll with 15 guaranteed players.  Over the cap.  The Raptors have a $3.4 million trade exception (Steve Novak).

Interesting trade pieces(s): Amir Johnson, Terrence Ross, Landry Fields, Chuck Hayes and Lou Williams.

Note: The Raptors have the expiring contracts, but do they have the inclination to make a deal?  Toronto may have peaked early, but they’re still the second seed in the Eastern Conference.  Whatever they do or don’t do, the team is right on the cusp of the luxury tax threshold.

Utah Jazz
$58.6 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players and one 10-day contract.  $4.5 million in cap space.

Interesting trade piece(s): Enes Kanter, Jeremy Evans and cap room.

Note: Will the Jazz invest in Kanter, who will be restricted this summer, with Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert both under contract for some time?  The Jazz may be willing to take on a player with their cap room for future considerations.

Washington Wizards
$75.8 million payroll with 14 guaranteed players.  Over the cap and hard-capped.  The Wizards have a $4.3 million trade exception for Trevor Ariza.

Interesting trade piece(s): Andre Miller and the Ariza trade exception.

Note: The Wizards are near the tax threshold with a solid roster in the top-four of the East.  The team they have now may be the team they have on February 20.

Teams can always offer protected (or unprotected) draft picks, but unless they have cap room or a trade exception, they still need to match salary.  Expiring contracts hold some value, but it’s difficult for a franchise to bring in a game-changing player without giving up something of merit.

Finally, once the deadline passes, a number of veterans may receive buy-outs and the chance to hook up with contenders for a playoff run.