The NBA salary cap is set to rise again this summer with the number at a reported $94 million. With the new television deal set to kick in next year that number will climb even higher and that means teams will have a ton of money to spend in free agency. The escalating salary caps should lead to plenty of intrigue beginning this summer with a number of teams poised to spend big in pursuit of contending for a championship. Here is a look at the three teams that should spend big this offseason.
Boston Celtics
Current 2016-17 Team Salaries: $27.6 Million
The Celtics will pick up from where they left off last offseason when they failed to land a big name free agent. The expectation is that they will throw a ton of money in the direction of Kevin Durant. However, money might not be enough to convince him to go to Boston and that will put the Celtics in a tough position considering their inability to land star players via either free agency or trades. Boston has only $27 million in guaranteed contracts on its books right now and while they might not get Durant they shouldn’t hesitate to push for some of the other top players available on the open market. Ryan Anderson would be an intriguing option at the power forward position while Chandler Parsons could be the perfect fit at small forward. The additions of Anderson and Parsons should make Boston substantially better than they were a year ago and could also improve their negotiating position moving forward when it comes to big name players. Al Jefferson is another option the Celtics could entertain if they miss out on either Anderson or Parsons as well. Boston took another major step forward under the guidance of head coach Brad Stevens last season and now is the time to spend big in order to continue that trend.
Dallas Mavericks
Current 2016-17 Team Salaries: $30.5 Million
Missing out on DeAndre Jordan in free agency last offseason completely changed the outlook for the Mavericks. Dallas made the playoffs but they enter this summer facing a ton of uncertainty with a good chance they could lose both Parsons, Deron Williams and Dirk Nowitzki in free agency. The Mavericks could be smart to let all three players leave with the potential to change the outlook of their franchise with the additions of a couple of key free agents. Dwight Howard has been linked to Dallas for a while now while Hassan Whiteside could be another intriguing option at the center position. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are expected to make a strong push for Mike Conley in free agency as an upgrade over Williams at both ends of the floor.
Dallas is at a crossroads after years of contending in the Western Conference but can completely change the outlook of the franchise by spending big in free agency. That’s probably what they need to do as they’re ready to turn a leaf.
Orlando Magic
Current 2016-17 Team Salaries: $41.2 Million
The puzzling trade that sent Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and rookie first-round pick Domantas Sabonis to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Serge Ibaka has been ripped on a fair bit by basketball fans but in a strange way it could be a sign Orlando wants to contend in the Eastern Conference sooner rather than later. Ibaka gives the Magic the perfect big man to pair with Aaron Gordon in the frontcourt and they still have some intriguing backcourt talent including Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton and Brandon Jennings. The key at this point is to surround those players with some veteran help with Whiteside, Parsons and Al Horford among the men in free agency that could be strong fits. Parsons would be perfect on the wing as a stretch three while Whiteside or Horford could provide more stability at the five. Orlando is in position to take a major step forward after a couple of years rebuilding but they have to be willing to spend big if they want to become a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference moving forward.
