NBA free agency 2025 - Cap space, best fits for all 30 teams - ESPN

With the NBA draft complete, teams across the league are shifting focus to the free agency and trade landscape.

How many teams have salary cap space, and which could create some? Which teams are up against the first or second apron and face the harsh roster-building restrictions that come with them? Who could follow the Boston Celtics and make cost-cutting trades to save on their luxury tax bill?

We're breaking all 30 teams into tiers, examining the available cap space, key free agents, best fits and potential moves for every franchise this summer.

Key: ETO = Early Termination Option | P = Player Option | R = Restricted | T = Team Option

Jump to a tier:
Cap space teams
Cap room, with a cost
The $14.1M exception club
Watching their own FAs
First-apron teams
Second-apron teams

The list of teams could grow, but for now, only the Brooklyn Nets project to generate more than $20 million in cap space this offseason. For comparison, last offseason, the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz all used room to improve their roster or acquire salary in a trade. The reason for the shortage of teams with spending power is the continued increase in rookie and veteran extensions signed since last July.

Teams are required to spend at least 90% of the $154.6 million salary cap by the first day of the regular season. That would mean a team such as Brooklyn — which has $96 million in salary — has to spend $139.2 million by Oct. 21. If the Nets fail to reach the minimum requirement by opening night, the difference would be distributed to their own players. Brooklyn would also forfeit receiving the end-of-season cash distribution to non-tax paying teams,