The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a 20-year executive with the Nets, breaks down each team's cap projection heading into free agency.

Like a puzzle, teams will need to address their own free agents before cap space is available.

Here’s a look at the projected cap space for each team once those free-agent holds are released.

SELLING THE FUTURE

Philadelphia

Expect Philadelphia to be aggressive in free agency to rebuild its roster.





However, the 76ers, still in the early stages of building their team, will likely have to overpay free agents to sign long term.

Philadelphia, in need of a point guard and shooting guard, could use their projected $58 million in cap space on the restricted free-agent market.

L.A. Lakers

The Lakers, currently with $23 million in guaranteed contracts, are technically over the salary cap with $72 million in free-agent holds.



The Lakers would need to clear cap space to re-sign Jordan Clarkson. (AP)

Los Angeles, with seven players under contract, will enter free agency with close to $56 million in cap space once the large free-agent holds of Roy Hibbert and Kobe Bryant are released.

The Lakers do benefit from the $2.7 million cap hold of restricted free agent Jordan Clarkson, but room will need to be carved out if Clarkson receives an offer sheet from another team or re-signs with Los Angeles.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets, with six players under contract and holes across the roster, will have $55 million in cap space when free agency begins.



The Nets do not have any key free-agent holds on the books and will likely start July 1 with a clean salary sheet.

Like Philadelphia and the Lakers, the Nets’ path should be about a long-term focus on the summer of 2017.

MAX ROOM, BUT NEED TO BALANCE BOOKS

Boston Celtics

The projected cap space with the Celtics is fluid because so many roster decisions must be made.





The July 3 non-guaranteed dates of Amir Johnson and Jonas Jerebko will dictate if Boston stays at $18 million in room or sees that figure increase. If both players are waived, the Celtics will have $36 million in room and could see that total increase to over $40 million based on the free agency of Evan Turner and the release of first-round cap holds of Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic.

Detroit Pistons

The Jodie Meeks trade to Orlando potentially opens up a max salary slot of $22 million.



Expect the Pistons to agree to a max contract with Andre Drummond, leave his cap hold on the books and use cap space to fill out the roster. Drummond would be signed once the cap room is used.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are technically right at the salary cap but will have $30 million in cap space once Dwight Howard signs with another team or is renounced.



The Rockets, with $11 million in cap holds from restricted free agents Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas, can use the available space in free agency and sign both players after cap space is used.

However, cap space diminishes if the Rockets are forced to match an offer sheet for either player.

Memphis Grizzlies

With free-agent point guard Mike Conley likely receiving a $26 million max offer, Memphis can leave Conley’s $14 million hold on the books and use the $25 million in projected cap space to find athletic wings in free agency.



If Conley were to sign elsewhere, Memphis would have $39 million in room but would not be able to replace his production.

Story continues

Orlando Magic

Orlando has shifted its philosophy from building through the draft to becoming active on the trade front with the additions of Serge Ibaka and Jodie Meeks.



View photos Orlando is shifting philosophies with Serge Ibaka. (AP) More

Expect Orlando, with a projected $33 million in cap space, to remain aggressive when free agency opens.

With the $5.7 million cap hold of Evan Fournier, Orlando can use cap space and then exceed the cap to re-sign Fournier.

Sacramento Kings

The Marco Belinelli trade to Charlotte and the possibility of Rajon Rondo leaving in free agency could leave the Kings with $30 million in cap space.



Until a decision is made on Rondo, the Kings will be operating with $20 million in room.

If Sacramento wishes to bring back guard Seth Curry, cap space will need to be used to re-sign him or match an offer.

NEEDS ADDRESSED THROUGH TRADES

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have used the trade market to improve.





Although the acquisition of Thaddeus Young diminished the Pacers’ cap space, Indiana now has a proven commodity on a reasonable contract.

The Pacers, with 10 guaranteed contracts, could project to have $12 million in room with the possibility of it rising to $19 million if the Ian Mahinmi cap hold is released.

MAX MONEY BUT PLENTY OF NEEDS

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks are one team that will weigh retaining their own free agents against the cost of players on the open market.





Dallas potentially could have $50 million in cap space to use in free agency to find starters at point guard, small forward and center.

But as past summers have shown, teams often find themselves at the mercy of the free-agent process and often overpay for the unknown.

New York Knicks

New York addressed its major need on the trade market by acquiring point guard Derrick Rose.



But the acquisition left the Knicks with a hole at center with Robin Lopez going to Chicago in the deal.

New York, with needs at shooting guard, center and on the bench, will likely have $30 million in cap room.

Washington Wizards

Expect the Wizards to leave the $14 million free-agent hold for Bradley Beal on the books and hit free agency with $31 million in room.



View photos Bradley Beal is expected to sign a max deal. (AP) More

The Wizards, with a lack of depth on the bench, would be wise to build some stability with second-tier free agents instead of using room on one player.

Once Washington uses cap space, expect Beal to re-sign for a max-level contract, pushing the Wizards over the salary cap.

FULL ROSTER, BUT MAX SPACE AVAILABLE

Denver Nuggets

With nine guaranteed contracts and the draft rights of Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangomez and Malik Beasley, Denver currently has $21 million in cap space.





The Nuggets’ room can increase to $30 million if the cap holds of D.J. Augustin, Darrell Arthur and Mike Miller are released.

The Nuggets, with a good balance of depth at each position, face an interesting dilemma. They have 12 guaranteed contracts but are $21 million shy of the $84 million salary-cap floor.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves will face a challenge with over $20 million in cap space and 12 guaranteed contracts.



With nine players still on rookie contracts, the Timberwolves have a big advantage based on the rising cap and their manageable salaries.

Minnesota will likely have $28 million in cap space this summer.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns, with a good blend of youth and veterans, will have a projected $21 million in cap space.



Phoenix is well positioned now and into the future with six rookie contracts and no player on the roster earning more than $14 million annually.

The Suns’ room could increase based on the $6.6 million Mirza Teletovic cap hold.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz addressed their need at point guard by trading for George Hill, taking on his $8 million annual contract.



Utah, with a projected $18 million in cap space and 12 players on guaranteed contracts, have a roster of manageable contracts and former first-round picks with flexibility now and next year.

CAP SPACE, BUT DEPENDS ON TIMING

Atlanta Hawks

The Jeff Teague trade to Indiana gave the Hawks additional flexibility this summer to address their current free agents, Kent Bazemore and Al Horford.





The likely scenario for Atlanta is to enter free agency with $21 million in cap space, which would include the $18 million hold on Horford.

Because Bazemore has early Bird rights, the Hawks will need to carve out roughly $13 million in room to re-sign him.

If Horford and Bazemore depart, Atlanta could be looking at over $40 million in room in a thin market.

Miami Heat

The amount of cap space Miami has this summer depends on Dwyane Wade.



View photos Dwyane Wade is the key to the Heat's plans. (AP) More

The Heat – with $54 million in free-agent cap holds, including Wade’s $30 million – must address their own free agents before room is created.

The Heat could have $27 million in room, but only if Wade were to re-sign for $15 million annually and Miami’s free agents other than Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson are renounced.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers’ cap situation this summer is fluid based on the $35 million in free-agent cap holds Portland has on the books.



Portland does have the ability to create close to a max salary slot of $26 million and still have the option of bringing back restricted free agents Meyers Leonard, Maurice Harkless and Allen Crabbe.

To do so the cap holds of Gerald Henderson, Chris Kaman and Brian Roberts will need to be renounced.

CAP SPACE, BUT ONLY AFTER HOLDS RELEASED

Chicago Bulls

The trade of Derrick Rose to New York brought the Bulls some insurance at center with the addition of Robin Lopez.





With Joakim Noah and Paul Gasol likely to sign elsewhere this summer, Chicago could have close to $24 million in room.

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee is technically over the cap with the large holds of Greivis Vasquez and O.J. Mayo, but could have $20 million in room if both players are renounced.



The Bucks could create an additional $9 million in room if Jerryd Bayless signs elsewhere and Milwaukee does not match a Miles Plumlee offer sheet.

New Orleans Pelicans

Before cap space is established the Pelicans will need to figure out the plan for free agents Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson. Both players currently count $34 million toward the cap for next summer, and flexibility will not be created until decisions are made.



If New Orleans elects to let Gordon walk and hold on to Anderson’s cap hold, the Pelicans will only have $8.6 million in cap space to work with.

The likely scenario is for New Orleans to have $21 million in room once Gordon and Anderson sign elsewhere.

CAP EXCEPTIONS ONLY

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets’ priority this summer will not be scouring the free-agent pool for players but retaining their own key free agents.





View photos Nicolas Batum is a key free agent for the Hornets. (AP) More

In order to do so Charlotte will need to balance its salary cap and time every free agent carefully.

The Hornets, with $66 million in free-agent cap holds, are over the salary cap and will need to create room to fit the $6.3 million salary of Marco Belinelli.

The likely scenario for Charlotte is leaving the Nic Batum and Marvin Williams cap holds on and renouncing Al Jefferson and Courtney Lee.

The released holds would allow Charlotte to take in the Belinelli contract and have $13 million in room to re-sign Williams and Batum.

San Antonio Spurs

Unless San Antonio can show the same creativity from last summer to create cap space, expect the Spurs to have only the $5.6 million mid-level and $2.1 million bi-annual exception to use in free agency.



The Spurs, currently right at the cap, would need to use one of the two exceptions if they were to bring back restricted free agent Boban Marjanovic.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors, with $69 million in guaranteed contracts, are over the cap because of $28 million in free-agent holds, including DeMar DeRozan’s $15 million hold.



Although the DeRozan hold is low based on his projected $26 million salary, Toronto does not have the luxury of signing free agents using room.

Once DeRozan likely re-signs, the Raptors will probably have only the $5.6 million mid-level and $2.1 million bi-annual exception.

KEEP EYE ON THE LUXURY TAX

Los Angeles Clippers

With $76 million in guaranteed contracts and large cap holds for key free agents, the Clippers currently have no cap space.





The Clippers would have $14 million in space if they were to renounce every free agent on their roster, including Jeff Green, Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford.

Los Angeles does have the benefit of full Bird rights on Green, Rivers and Crawford, allowing the Clippers to re-sign all three and exceed the cap.

That means free agents Wesley Johnson and Cole Aldrich would likely be the odd men out.

The Clippers could potentially have the $5.6 million room mid-level and $2.2 million bi-annual exception to fill their bench needs. However, using either would hard cap Los Angeles.

Because the Clippers will likely be close to the luxury tax, Los Angeles most likely will have only the $3.4 million tax mid-level exception.

Cleveland

With a projected cap of $94 million, Cleveland is one of the few teams that will focus on the luxury tax and not projected cap space.



The Cavaliers, with $99 million in guaranteed salaries, will see that number grow if they bring back free agents Timofey Mozgov, Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson and J.R. Smith.

Cleveland would have the tax mid-level exception of $3.4 million and minimums at its disposal if it were to sign players outside of their core free agents except for Jefferson.

Golden State Warriors

A total of $29 million in free-agent cap holds will push the Warriors over the $94 million salary cap.



Until Golden State decides what to do with its own restricted free agents (Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli) and its bench, the Warriors will not have cap space.

Golden State does, however, have several expiring contracts, including Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut, if it needed to create cap space via trade.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder, with $65 million in guaranteed contracts, are over the cap based on the $37 million cap holds of Kevin Durant and Dion Waiters, and the $3.4 million non-guaranteed contract of Anthony Morrow.



If Durant and Waiters were to return, the Thunder could be one of the few clubs operating as a luxury-tax team.

The Thunder could create $22 million in cap space, but that comes with the losses of Durant and Waiters.

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