Six NBA Teams With Significant Offseason Tasks Remaining

Despite adding Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, the Knicks currently have only 12 players under standard contracts. Mohamed Diawara, the 51st pick, is expected to join New York, potentially on a two-way deal. Speculation links Ben Simmons to the Knicks, a move that could align with Coach Mike Brown`s desire for a faster, more diverse offense, though integrating a simpler playmaker like Malcolm Brogdon might be more straightforward. Several guards who ended last season with the Knicks—Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet, and Delon Wright—are still free agents, as is Precious Achiuwa. Operating near the second apron hard cap, with only $3.7 million to spare, the Knicks face tough decisions. Without extensions for Mikal Bridges and Mitchell Robinson, another late-offseason trade before training camp remains a possibility.

The Warriors have been remarkably quiet this offseason, with no official roster moves so far. Despite only nine players on standard contracts, they reportedly have verbal agreements with Al Horford and De`Anthony Melton. Malcolm Brogdon and Seth Curry have also been mentioned as potential targets, with additional depth from players like Amir Coffey or Trey Lyles suggested. However, all plans hinge on resolving Jonathan Kuminga`s restricted free agency. ESPN reports that Golden State offered Kuminga a two-year, $45 million deal with a second-year player option, notably without the typical no-trade clause for single-guaranteed-year contracts. Kuminga is reportedly seeking three years and $82 million. While the Suns and Kings are willing to offer up to $90 million over four years (with a player option), their sign-and-trade proposals have not satisfied the Warriors. Should no agreement be reached, Kuminga might sign his $7.9 million qualifying offer, which would include a de facto no-trade clause and make him an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Financial implications are significant: signing Horford via the taxpayer midlevel exception would hard-cap them at the second apron. A sign-and-trade for Kuminga that exceeds his outgoing salary (50% due to base-year compensation) would hard-cap them at the first apron. The team also holds an $8.8 million trade exception from the Jimmy Butler deal.

The Celtics, unlike the Knicks and Warriors, aren`t scrambling for roster depth. After waiving JD Davison, they maintain 12 guaranteed contracts, two non-guaranteed deals (Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta – who could potentially start at center), and one Exhibit 10 contract (Hayden Gray). Boston`s inclusion on this list stems from a different issue: their substantial payroll, which makes them expensive despite their current non-contender status. While the Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday trades saved considerable funds, the Celtics remain approximately $18 million above the luxury tax threshold. This financial burden fuels rumors of potential trades involving Anfernee Simons ($27.7 million) and Georges Niang ($8.2 million), both on expiring contracts, either before the season or closer to the trade deadline. Team president Brad Stevens recently downplayed the urgency of further cost-cutting, stating that retaining future draft picks for roster building is a higher priority than simply ducking the tax. This suggests that if Boston trades a pick in a deal involving Simons, they would seek a significantly less expensive player with long-term potential rather than a pure salary dump. While such trade partners are scarce, they are not nonexistent, leading us to our next team…

The Nets leveraged some of their cap space to acquire Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann, also securing the Nuggets` 2032 first-round pick and the pick used for Drake Powell. However, significant cap space remains, largely contingent on the outcome of restricted free agent Cam Thomas`s situation. Thomas`s qualifying offer is $6 million. Reports indicate Brooklyn is reluctant to offer much beyond the non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($14.1 million annually), which is approximately half of Thomas`s desired salary. Similar to Golden State`s offer to Kuminga, the Nets have reportedly proposed a two-year deal with a team option for the second season. Day`Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams have verbally agreed to two-year, $12 million contracts, though formal signings are pending. Hypothetically, if one of them signs using the room exception and Thomas accepts his qualifying offer, Brooklyn could command nearly $37 million in cap space. This scenario, however, would necessitate waiving all players on non-guaranteed deals: Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin, and summer-league standout Drew Timme. If Thomas re-signs, some of these non-guaranteed contracts will likely be cut during training camp, or Brooklyn will need to find other ways to trim the roster. Even excluding Thomas, the Nets currently have 16 players under contract (including Sharpe and Williams), a number that could rise if they absorb additional “bad” contracts from other teams.

The Hornets` roster presents an interesting challenge, with 18 players currently under contract. Notably, Moussa Diabate, on one of their two non-guaranteed deals (the other being DaQuan Jeffries), could potentially be their starting center. Charlotte acquired two second-round picks from the Milwaukee Bucks by taking on Pat Connaughton`s $9.4 million expiring contract. Connaughton is a prime buyout candidate, yet his status remains unresolved. Beyond being thin at center (with options like Diabate, veteran Mason Plumlee, and 34th pick Ryan Kalkbrenner), the Hornets now possess an abundance of ball-handling guards: LaMelo Ball, new acquisitions Collin Sexton and Spencer Dinwiddie, the re-signed Tre Mann, the returning Nick Smith Jr., and summer league standout KJ Simpson on a two-way contract. The team could simplify its roster by waiving Connaughton, Smith, and Jeffries before opening night, assuming no larger transactions emerge to free up spots.

The Jazz`s 15-man roster is currently full, though this status may be temporary. While recent trade rumors around Lauri Markkanen have quieted, another floor-spacing big man, Kevin Love, is likely to depart. The former All-Star, turning 37 in September, holds a $4.2 million expiring contract. Acquired in the Norman Powell–John Collins deal, Love doesn`t fit the rebuilding Jazz`s timeline and could be bought out if a trade isn`t feasible. Kyle Anderson, also acquired in that trade, is five years younger and owed $18.9 million over the next two seasons; while not a certainty, his availability is plausible. However, Utah`s primary reason for being on this list isn`t just potential veteran departures. The Jazz, second only to the Nets, possess significant spending power. The John Collins trade generated a substantial $26.6 million trade exception, which they can utilize without nearing the first apron, providing immense flexibility for future moves.