Nets and Bulls lead NBA teams with most cap space this summer

Nets and Bulls lead NBA teams with most cap space this summer

As the NBA shifts focus from the draft to free agency, the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls emerge as the primary franchises with significant spending power. According to reports, these are the only two teams currently projected to generate more than $30 million in cap space this offseason.

The financial landscape is tightening across the league. In the 2025 offseason, only three teams — the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Memphis Grizzlies — used cap room to acquire salary via trade or improve their rosters. This decline in flexibility is attributed to a steady rise in rookie and veteran extensions signed under the 2023 CBA.

The Cap Space Kings

Brooklyn is positioned to function as a cap space team for a second consecutive summer. The Nets could have $37 million in room. Brooklyn recently used its room to acquire Haywood Highsmith, Terance Mann, and Michael Porter Jr. In a trade with Denver that also netted an unprotected 2032 first-round pick.

The Nets are expected to acquire Julius Randle after July 6, using an expanded traded player exception for Nic Claxton once they exceed the salary cap. Seeking development and winning habits, Brooklyn finished 27th in defense this season, despite a strong stretch in late November and December where they ranked second in the category.

The Chicago Bulls, who have not had available cap space since the 2019 offseason, project to have $31 million in room, provided they renounce every free agent on their roster. This follows a rebuilding effort at the trade deadline where Chicago moved pending free agents Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls recently addressed a void at center by trading for Nic Claxton.

Because the NBA requires teams to spend at least 90% of the $165 million salary cap by the start of the regular season, Chicago must reach a spending threshold of $148.5 million. If the Bulls fail to reach this minimum, the difference will be distributed to their own players, and the team would forfeit a projected $8 million end-of-season cash distribution for non-tax-paying teams.

Potential Cap Shifters

Several other franchises could maneuver into the top tier of spending power through specific roster moves:

• Los Angeles Lakers: In a scenario where James signs a contract in the $25 million range, the team would have up to $25 million in room and could still sign Reaves to his agreed four-year, $184 million contract.
• Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks must decide by June 29 whether to exercise a $24.3 million team option for Jonathan Kuminga.
• Los Angeles Clippers: By renouncing the free agent hold of Bennedict Mathurin and declining team options for Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Clippers could create up to $30 million in space.
• Detroit Pistons: While likely to remain over the cap due to Jalen Duren's $19.5 million hold, Detroit could create $21 million in room by trading Caris LeVert, waiving Duncan Robinson, and renouncing all free agents except Duren.

The Apron and Tax Landscape

The 2026-27 season features a $165 million salary cap and a $201 million tax threshold. Teams surpassing the first tax apron ($209 million) or second apron ($222 million) face severe roster-building restrictions, including the inability to aggregate contracts in trades for second-apron teams.

Currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are projected to be over the second apron. The New York Knicks are also expected to be a second-apron team if Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet are re-signed. Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets possess a $40.7 million trade exception, the largest in league history, following the trade of LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.

Upcoming Deadlines

The negotiation window for free agents opens at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, with free agency officially beginning at 12:01 p.m. ET on July 6. Key dates include June 25, when Buddy Hield's contract becomes guaranteed, and June 29, the deadline for Atlanta to exercise Kuminga's option.