Tonight’s games:
Orlando @ Atlanta
LA Lakers @ Houston
San Antonio @ LA Clippers
Orlando Magic
Last 10 Games: 8-2
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$50,450,238
1st Apron Space: -$6,222,699
2nd Apron Space: $6,487,301
11 players on Standard Contract (10 Gtd.)
Mogami Kariya, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Is there enough frustration with their offense to bring large scale structural changes?
Are Banchero and Franz Wagner a sustainable core duo?
Impact Free Agent
Moritz Wagner
Impact Extensions
Anthony Black
Goga Bitadze
Most Tradable Offseason Contracts
Jonathan Isaac - $14,500,000 (Would need to be guaranteed)
Wendell Carter Jr. - $18,102,000
Goga Bitadze - $7,608,695
Biggest Decisions
Suggs
Jalen Suggs has emerged as a premier perimeter defender and passing lane pest, but he also is their best trade chip outside of their core of Banchero, Wagner and Bane. Black has emerged in a way that may make the tandem of Suggs and Black redundant. The direction of the franchise may be decided with what happens with Suggs and/or Black in the next two years.
Center Rotation
Both Carter Jr. and Bitadze are serviceable NBA rotation level centers, and Banchero can play over into the center position if need be but there are some questions about how the performance of the center position may be a place of improvement for Orlando.
Atlanta Hawks
Last 10 Games: 9-1
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: $9,679,091
1st Apron Space: $53,493,058
2nd Apron Space: $66,203,058
10 players on Standard Contract (8 Gtd.)
Floridagal17, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
What is the identity of this team around Jalen Johnson?
Is Zaccharie Risacher a part of the core for this team?
Impact Free Agent
Gabe Vincent
CJ McCollum
Impact Extensions
Onyeka Okongwu
Tradable Contracts
Onyeka Okongwu - $16,100,000
Nickeil Alexaner-Walker - $14,403,710
Biggest Decisions
Supporting Cast
The Hawks officially turned the page to the next phase of their franchise when they traded Trae Young and handed the reins of the offense to Jalen Johnson. This leads to questions about how the rest of the current roster fits around Johnson, especially scorers like Kuminga and McCollum. Also, is Okongwu a starting caliber 5 in a starting rotation that features Johnson as the main facilitator?
LA Lakers
Last 10 Games: 8-2
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: $55,138,326
1st Apron Space: $102,052,264
2nd Apron Space: $114,726,264
10 players on Standard Contract (9 Gtd.)
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
How do Reaves, Luka, Lebron, mesh in a lineup, specifically on the defensive end?
Is there a big roster overhaul this summer with so many contracts coming off of the books?
Can Knecht or other young players carve out a role?
Impact Free Agents
Lebron James
Austin Reaves (Player Option)
Rui Hachimura
Impact Offseason Extensions
None
Most Tradable Offseason Contracts
Jared Vanderbilt - $12,428,571
Jake LaRavia - $6,000,000
Biggest Decisions
Lebron’s Future
Lebron will likely be the ultimate last-say, but the Lakers also have a decision on whether this is a sustainable partnership.
Center Position
The Ayton signing made some sense, especially if he can become consistently aggressive as a roll man. But past that, returning Jaxson Hayes and not upgrading in rim protection could spell trouble for the Lakers driving them right back to the drawing board for a center this summer.
Houston Rockets
Last 10 Games: 6-4
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$23,539,447
1st Apron Space: $16,722,278
2nd Apron Space: $29,432,278
9 players on Standard Contract (9 Gtd.)
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
What does the core look like long term?
Will the young core be broken up to compete short-term around KD?
What does the rotation look like after a solid season from Reed Sheppard and FVV returning?
Impact Free Agent
Fred VanVleet (Player Option)
Tari Eason (RFA)
Impact Offseason Extensions
Amen Thompson
Fred VanVleet
Most Tradable Offseason Contracts
Steven Adams - $13,000,000
Dorian Finney-Smith - $13,335,000
Reed Sheppard - $11,108,880
Biggest Decisions
Amen Thompson
Perhaps their crown jewel young player, Amen Thompson is going to be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer and his potential could reach as high as Defensive Player of the Year. The max language that could be in his deal should be monitored.
Tari Eason
Eason and Houston were unable to reach an extension last offseason. For one of the integral pieces of the roster, this leaves a huge question mark as Eason takes the floor this year.
San Antonio Spurs
Last 10 Games: 8-2
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: $8,775,927
1st Apron Space: $53,351,834
2nd Apron Space: $66,061,834
9 players on Standard Contract (8 Gtd.)
Frenchieinportland, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Will the team take the patient building route, or is there a superstar that comes available that convinces them to cash in their assets?
Would a specialty shooter improve their rotation enough to justify the cost?
Impact Free Agent
Harrison Barnes
Impact Extensions
Victor Wembanyama
Keldon Johnson
Most Tradable Offseason Contracts
Keldon Johnson - $17,500,000
Biggest Decisions
Organic vs. Manufactured Growth
Barring an improbable but not impossible finals run, this summer will bring a renewed look at whether the organic growth of young players is enough to take the next step or whether it is the time to rely on external talent accumulation around Wembanyama.
Backcourt
With Castle and Harper both blossoming in their young careers, the role for Fox and even Vassell may look very different than originally envisioned when they signed their respective contracts. How leadership values each of them in the coming years will be worth monitoring.
LA Clippers
Last 10 Games: 7-3
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: $3,307,659
1st Apron Space: $38,462,897
2nd Apron Space: $51,172,897
13 players on Standard Contract (10 Gtd.)
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
What is the plan for moving forward with newly acquired pieces that have important decision dates coming up?
Is this team still functioning on Kawhi’s timeline?
Impact Free Agent
John Collins
Bennedict Mathurin
Impact Extensions
Kawhi Leonard
Kris Dunn
Tradable Contracts
Bogdan Bogdanovic - $16,020,000
Derrick Jones Jr. - $10,476,191
Brook Lopez - $9,187,500
Biggest Decisions
Summer 2027
The Clippers have systematically built their cap sheets to clear in 2027 which leads to questions about whether they will be willing to sacrifice flexibility for one more run.
Bennedict Mathurin Restricted Free Agency
It will be interesting to watch how the Clippers handle their recent addition in restricted free agency, which has been increasingly hostile in recent years.