NBA Notebook: Which Celtics rivals still have money to spend in NBA free agency?

The Celtics have already put the finishing touches on their offseason maneuvering after assembling a roster of 15 players with guaranteed deals. They managed to do this without touching their taxpayer mid-level exception, which is worth $5.3 million for the 2018-19 season. Much like the disabled player exception last season (which the Celtics were awarded after Gordon Hayward went down for the year), the MLE will be a tool for the Celtics to use during buyout season in February to try to entice a useful player to join a loaded squad for a deep playoff run.

Having extra cash came in handy last year for the C’s (at least during the regular season) when Greg Monroe took $5 million to sign with Boston in February after being bought out by Phoenix. Monroe turned down more potential playing time in New Orleans for the extra dough.

The question that is intriguing to explore now around the league is which projected playoff teams also are maintaining a stash of cash to potentially bid against the Celtics in the buyout market. Let’s take a look at how the contenders in both conferences are positioning themselves on this front to see where the Celtics stand if/when they are ready to spend.

No money left to offer free agents besides the league minimum:

These teams have already used up their full mid-level exception this summer. If and when they get into the bidding next season for a midseason free agent, they won’t be able to offer as much as Boston.

Golden State: The Warriors used the full taxpayer mid-level exception on DeMarcus Cousins. It’s a move that could help the Warriors a ton, but also leaves them vulnerable from a bench depth standpoint during the first half of the year before he returns.

Indiana: They had lots of cap space this offseason but they spent it all on various free agents (Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott). They also used their room-level exception ($4.4 million) on Kyle O’Quinn.

Milwaukee: Ersan Ilyasova and Pat Connaughton combined to take up the full mid-level exception for the Bucks. They also spent their bi-annual exception on Brook Lopez.

Washington: The Wizards used the full taxpayer MLE on Dwight Howard.

A portion of mid-level exception left to use

These teams used some of their mid-level exception on players in free agency, but have a portion of it leftover to offer during the season, if they choose.

Houston ($4.4 million remaining of MLE): This could change over the course of the offseason as they still have second-round pick De’Anthony Melton left unsigned. They spent a small chunk of the MLE to sign Isaiah Hartenstein to a long-term deal for the league minimum, so this is one team to worry about for Boston, since they will have playing time available at a lot of positions off the bench.

Denver ($2.3 million remaining of MLE): The Nuggets actually cost themselves a few million dollars of the MLE by spending the taxpayer MLE and then trading themselves out of the tax with the Kenneth Faried/Darrell Arthur trade to Brooklyn. If they had waited to spend the MLE until that swap was made, they would have been eligible for the full MLE ($8.6 million). However, since they had spent a chunk of it already on Torrey Craig and Jarred Vanderbilt, they are just left with what’s left of the taxpayer MLE ($2.3 million of $5.4 million).

Minnesota ($2 million remaining of MLE): The Wolves used a chunk of it on Anthony Tolliver and second-round pick Kenta Bates-Diop. 

Oklahoma City ($4.5 million remaining of MLE): Sam Presti almost has his full taxpayer MLE intact. He spent a very small chunk of it (league minimum) to sign second-round pick Hamidou Diallo to a long-term deal. However, tax concerns may limit how much of this the Thunder are willing to spend midseason.

Portland ($1.7 million remaining of MLE): The Blazers used the rest of it on Seth Curry and second-round pick Gary Trent Jr.

San Antonio ($2.0 million remaining of MLE): Marco Belinelli was one of their first signings of free agency and he took up the majority of their remaining cap exception.

Room exception left to spend

Philadelphia ($4.4 million): The Sixers are operating as an under the cap team this offseason, which means they get the room-level exception ($4.4 million) instead of a MLE. They thought they had used this on sharpshooting big man Nemanja Bjelica, but the power forward walked away from the deal and ultimately signed with the Kings for more money. The Sixers could use this money on another free agent before the season begins or take it with them into the season.

Full MLE left to spend

Like the Celtics, these teams did not touch their full mid-level exception at all this summer, so they will be able to bid as much as Boston, or in the case of Utah, more.

Miami ($5.3 million): Unless they can cut some salary to get out of the tax, don’t look for them to spend this. They aren’t a contender and their owner (Mickey Arison) is looking to cut costs.

Toronto ($5.3 million): Boston’s cheap East rival is already deep into the tax but they will surely put up a fight on a free agent target after going all in on this season with Kawhi Leonard.

Utah: ($8.6 million): They aren’t a tax team, so they get the full mid-level exception to use (not the taxpayer one). This gives them the ability to offer the most out of any playoff team right now for a potential free agent. Utah ownership won’t necessarily be looking to spend big, but it’s a trump card.

Ranking Boston’s chief threats during buyout season

Based on the money they have to spend, the urgency they have to win this season and their contending chances, these are the teams that are most likely to be competing against Boston for potential free agents.

1. Toronto ($5.3 million)
2. Houston ($4.4 million)
3. Philadelphia ($4.4 million)
4. Utah ($8.6 million)
5. Oklahoma City ($4.5 million)