How does Detroit Pistons’ cap situation stack up with other teams?

The Detroit Pistons won’t be alone this off-season as a team that is playing with salary cap fire. How does their situation stack up to other teams?

While the teams with the most cap space generate the most buzz during any given off-season, 2019 brings a unique collection of teams in all ranges of contention that could potentially occupy a dangerously grey zone: the area between the salary cap and the luxury tax.

Some teams have high-profile free agents, but no clear-cut way to replace them. Others will bring intrigue as they wheel and deal their way around the tax by taking on or dumping contracts, further helping to shape the free agent pool.

The Detroit Pistons find themselves in a similar situation. The accumulation of bad contracts for under-performing players as well as money owed to players no longer with the team (you know who I’m talking about) have strapped the franchise for years to come. However, they’re not alone. While we are a long way from July 1, and this list can definitely change between now and then, there are currently nine teams projected to be between the salary cap and the luxury tax. Here is how the Detroit Pistons’ situation stacks up to each one.

Detroit Pistons

Counting only their guaranteed contracts and the $5.3 million in dead money owed to Josh Smith, the Detroit Pistons will have roughly $23 million to work work with when free agency begins. The problem? That only includes eight players.

Free agents such as Ish Smith, Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson will all require money to keep around, if the team so chooses. If not, then it still has to fill out half its roster.

With Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson eating a large amount of cap space (a combined $79,414,938) the Pistons will still have decisions to make on a team option for Glen Robinson III worth $4,278,750.

When all is said and done, that’s hardly any room to work with — surprise, surprise! And, unless a contract or two gets moved at the trade deadline, you’re looking at the 2020-21 season for things to get better, when Jackson, Jon Leuer, Langston Galloway and Smith all come off the books.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Acquiring John Henson and Matthew Dellavedova from the Bucks pretty much cemented Cleveland’s place on this list, especially since there isn’t much benefit in them dumping salary unless they find a way out from under Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson or Jordan Clarkson, who all have fully guaranteed contracts.

The Cavs will have about $25 million to work with in signing their draft picks, as well as free agents, adding salaries through trades, or exceptions. General manager Koby Altman will have some interesting choices to make in the near future. A team picking No. 1 overall should in no way be pushing up against the tax.

Charlotte Hornets

A team in a very interesting spot, if Marvin Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest and Bismak Biyombo all pick up their player options for the 2019-20 season, the Hornets will have about $34 million to spend. That is also the exact amount of Kemba Walker‘s cap hit next season.

If Walker leaves, then Michael Jordan and crew will simply have some more money to play around with, though they’ll still likely be up against the cap.

Memphis Grizzlies

The 10th-highest paid roster in the association, the Grizz currently have a payroll of nearly $126 million. Free agents-to-be Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green will factor into this highly cap-strapped franchise’s decisions. Though, even if it lets the two walk, cap space will still be hard to find unless Marc Gasol opts out and leaves as well.

Currently, Memphis has over $83 million tied up into three players next season — Gasol, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons — while having only seven contracts guaranteed for next year.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Trading Jimmy Butler did wonders for this team’s cap hopes this off-season, as Butler has a $30.7 million cap hit for next year. Where potential problems could arise for the T-Wolves is if they decide they want to bring back free agent Taj Gibson and/or Tyus Jones (who has a qualifying offer) back on a larger contract.

Jeff Teague also has a $19 million player option for next season and if the team wants to get out form under Gorgui Dieng, who is scheduled to make over $16 million, it would likely require additional assets. This scenario would only matter, though, if both Gibson and Jones get paid.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs’ real problems wont arise until 2020. Until then, they have 10 contracts on the book for next year and, after extending LaMarcus Aldridge and trading for DeMar DeRozan, their road forward for 2019 seems fairly straight forward.

Pau Gasol‘s contract could be changed from a $16 million guarantee to a $6.7 partial guarantee, but this off-season will be more about finding ways to add depth more than anything else.

Denver Nuggets

Paul Millsap is the big factor here, as he has a team option worth $30 million. Without factoring in his numbers, the Nuggets will have around $42 million to play with in the off-season. Though, Millsap and restricted free agent Trey Lyles could potentially take up a large portion of that.

Ultimately, it will come down to what the powers that be in Denver decide the team should look like around Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray.

Milwaukee Bucks

The eighth-highest payroll this year, the trade of Henson and Dellavedova likely took this team from being taxed to one that could retain some key players and still be under the tax threshold.

The elephant in the room is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the team’s limited window to win with him until he makes a decision about where he will play in the future. Luckily, the cap space cleared in the trade will make it easier to Kris Middleton to pick up his player option and for the team to resign free agent Eric Bledsoe and/or Malcolm Brogdon.

Toronto Raptors

With a whopping $141,176,053 payroll this season, and all of their big contracts returning next year, this assuming Kawhi Leonard picks up his option and stays in Toronto, the Raptors could be in a tough spot.

If Leonard does return on a contract of any length, general manager Masai Ujiri will essentially be forced to do whatever it takes to maximize on the opportunity, with Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka both only having one year left on their current deals, luxury tax be demand.

If Leonard leaves, then that opens other options such as a one-year, full go push with Lowry and Ibaka, or perhaps they try to sell some pieces for assets down the road.

**All salary cap info for this article came from hoopshype.com**

https://hoopshype.com/salaries/#hh-tab-team-payroll