3/17 Games:
Cleveland @ Milwaukee
Philadelphia @ Denver
Tonight’s Games:
Golden State @ Boston
LA Lakers @ Houston
Cleveland Cavaliers
Last 10 Games: 5-5
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$58,100,727
1st Apron Space: -$12,548,758
2nd Apron Space: $161,242
11 players on Standard Contract (10 Gtd.)
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Is the move to bring in Harden enough to put them on even playing field with the best of the West?
Is the idea to retain Harden for the foreseeable future or just the stretch run of this year?
Impact Free Agent
James Harden (PO)
Dean Wade
Keon Ellis
Impact Extensions
Donovan Mitchell
Max Strus
Tradable Contracts
Max Strus - $16,660,836
Sam Merrill - $9,160,714
Dennis Schroder - $14,809,200
Biggest Decisions
Physicality
Although they run a two big lineup, they aren’t the most physical team down low. How effectively their bigs are able to rim run will be very telling in their success around Harden and Mitchell.
Depth
When Ty Jerome left, the bench production took a significant hit. They have not completely re-calibrated their bench unit. Their bench unit can be transformed again in the offseason at a relatively low asset cost.
Milwaukee Bucks
Last 10 Games: 2-8
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$13,775,142
1st Apron Space: $19,220,267
2nd Apron Space: $31,930,267
12 players on Standard Contract (11 Gtd.)
Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
What is the attitude of Giannis toward this new roster construction?
Is there enough in the asset arsenal to make roster tweaks if necessary?
Impact Free Agent
Kevin Porter Jr. (PO)
Gary Trent Jr. (PO)
Cam Thomas
Ousmane Dieng (RFA)
Impact Extensions
Kyle Kuzma
Most Tradable Contracts
Bobby Portis - $14,521,414
Kyle Kuzma - $20,345,152
Biggest Decisions
Guard Rotation
With Giannis being the dominant force that he is, the front court numbers will continue to be solid. However, they need to decide whether KPJ, Cam Thomas, and/or Ryan Rollins are the long-term answer to their guard rotation deficiencies.
Philadelphia 76ers
Last 10 Games: 4-6
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$17,387,082
1st Apron Space: $29,526,856
2nd Apron Space: $42,236,856
10 players on Standard Contract (8 Gtd.)
All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
What is the role moving forward for Embiid and George?
How do we maximize the ceiling of Edgecombe and Maxey?
Impact Free Agent
Quentin Grimes
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Andre Drummond
Impact Extensions
Adem Bona
Offseason Prime Tradable Contracts
None
Biggest Decisions
Transition vs. Complimentary
The emergence of a new core has lead to questions about how George and Embiid will be integrated and financially managed as the new core is incubated in the Philadelphia system.
Guard Future
Edgecombe and Maxey have become inherent to the future of the organization. The questions come when Grimes and Oubre are concerned as both are free agents and leadership will need to evaluate whether this pair are ideal running mates for this group.
Denver Nuggets
Last 10 Games: 5-5
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$51,054,864
1st Apron Space: -$17,697,996
2nd Apron Space: -$4,987,996
10 players on Standard Contract (9 Gtd.)
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Are the health issues persistent enough to lead to a roster reset?
How will the offseason unfold with Watson’s restricted free agency as he established himself as a key member of their rotation in Braun’s absence?
Impact Free Agent
Peyton Watson (RFA)
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Bruce Brown Jr.
Impact Extensions
Cam Johnson
Julian Strawther
Tradable Contracts
Zeke Nnaji - $7,466,667
Jonas Valanciunas - $10,000,000 (Would need to be guaranteed)
Biggest Decisions
Depth
Denver had a great offseason signing highly coveted veterans like Hardaway and Brown, but only to short term contracts. Leadership will need to either retain these key rotation players or find replacements in their young players or in the draft.
Young Players
The previous leadership traded assets to take many bites at the draft apple in the hopes that they could find the correct rotation players late in the draft to surround and support Jokic and the core. Thus far, this leadership has gone searching for veteran role players to be in the rotation and players like Strawther and Holmes have fallen out of the rotation as a result. This offseason may provide some direction.
Golden State Warriors
Last 10 Games: 3-7
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$20,093,444
1st Apron Space: $25,042,704
2nd Apron Space: $37,752,704
9 players on Standard Contract (9 Gtd.)
Noah Salzman, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Does the Buter injury force a big swing in the summer?
Is Porzingis being brought in for a long-term fit, or only expiring salary?
Is there enough in the arsenal to make another pivot?
Impact Free Agent
Draymond Green (Player Option)
Al Horford (Player Option)
De’Anthony Melton (Player Option)
Impact Offseason Extensions
Steph Curry
Draymond Green (?)
Offseason Most Tradable Contracts
Moses Moody - $12,500,000
Biggest Decisions
Age and Injuries
This core has proven that they can win together, but Butler’s injury on an already truncated window simply due to age brings the move to bring in Porzingis under the microscope. If Porzingis and Butler can get and stay healthy for the stretch run next season, this could be the last run for Curry and Green.
Next Step
Simply put, the question we have been asking for years, what happens when Steph and Draymond move on?
Boston Celtics
Last 10 Games: 7-3
2026-27 Cap Outlook:
Projected Salary Cap: $165,427,000
Functional Cap Space: -$16,872,296
1st Apron Space: $27,317,704
2nd Apron Space: $40,027,704
12 players on Standard Contract (8 Gtd.)
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biggest Questions
Are Brown, Tatum and White all necessary building blocks for another run or should there be a complete reshuffling?
How will leadership handle their newfound flexibility after taking a year outside the tax?
Impact Free Agent
Nikola Vucevic
Impact Extensions
Neemias Queta
Tradable Contracts
Sam Hauser - $10,848,214
Payton Pritchard - $7,767,857
Biggest Decisions
Center Rotation
After shoring up their center rotation at the deadline with Vucevic, the front office has theoretically already solved this part of their rotation. However, the question is whether Vucevic sticks long term seeing as he is a free agent this summer.
Youth in Prominent Roles
This year the Celtics are leaning on young players in very important roles for their team. How these young rotation pieces perform in the playoffs could very well inform how the team moves forward in the offseason.
LA Lakers
Last 10 Games: 9-1
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: 5-5
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.