NBA free agency: Priorities, needs for 30 teams post-draft – ESPN

The NBA free agency period has started and expect some big deals in what’s turning to be a pivotal offseason.
Stars players such as Klay Thompson and Paul George are now among the big free agents on the market. LeBron James is also a free agent though he is expected to return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Several other stars — James Harden (LA Clippers) Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers), OG Anunoby (New York Knicks), Malik Monk (Sacramento Kings), Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) — will sign new deals to remain with their respective teams.
We’re breaking down for all 30 teams what to watch, team needs, salary cap analysis, available exceptions, the impact of the collective bargaining agreement, the depth chart, extension candidates and free agents.
Notes: Depth charts include expected roles for players who are under contract for the 2024-25 season. There’s also an explainer for Bird rights at the end of this piece. The future draft assets rating from 1-10 takes into account first- and second-round picks each team possesses in the next seven years. For example, the Oklahoma City Thunder rate a 10, with 28 picks (13 first-rounders, 15 second-rounders) while the LA Clippers (with two second-rounders) rate a 1.
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTA | WAS

Offseason transactions: Zaccharie Risacher (first round), Dyson Daniels (trade), Larry Nance Jr. (trade), E.J. Liddell (trade)
Offseason priority: The Dejounte Murray trade to New Orleans now clears a path to extend Jalen Johnson.
The forward averaged career highs in points (16.1) and 3-point percentage (35.3%). Overall, Johnson has increased his scoring average from 5.6 last season to 16.1 this season. That is the second-largest increase among players to play at least 50 games in both seasons, trailing Cam Thomas. Johnson ranked in the bottom-10 in field goal percentage on all jumpers last season but saw an increase this year, going from 29% to 39%.
Since Landry Fields joined the front office in October 2020, Atlanta has signed a player to a rookie extension in each of the past three offseasons (Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu). Young is eligible to sign a three-year, $157 million extension up until Oct. 21.
Team needs:
Rim-protector and defensive depth on the perimeter
Playmaker who can create shots for others
Shooting off the bench
Improved availability from the rotation forwards (Hunter, Bey, Johnson)
Forward depth
Future draft assets rating: 6 out of 10
Atlanta received two first-round picks as part of the Murray trade, including the Lakers unprotected first in 2025. They also receive the least favorable 2027 first of New Orleans or Milwaukee. The Hawks will send their 2025 and 2027 picks to San Antonio as part of the trade that brought Murray to Atlanta in 2022. San Antonio also has the right to swap firsts in 2026. The first allowable year the Hawks can trade a first is 2029. Atlanta has six second-round picks available.
Cash: $7.3 million (to send) | $7.3 million (to receive)
Cap space breakdown: Atlanta has $166 million in salary and are $5.5 million below the luxury tax. They are also $9.5 million below the first apron.
Available exceptions: $12.9 million non tax mid-level, $4.7 million biannual, veteran minimum and trade ($18, $3.7, $2.6 and $2.3 million).
CBA impact: Because Atlanta sent cash to Miami, they are now hard capped at the $189.5 million second apron. They are $20.3 million below the threshold.
Extension eligible: Young, Johnson and Clint Capela (as of July 6); Wesley Matthews; Fernando (as of Oct. 2)
Free agent status
Saddiq Bey | Bird | UFA
Wesley Matthews | Non-Bird | UFA
Trent Forrest | Early Bird | UFA
Vit Krejci | Non-Bird | RFA
Seth Lundy | Non-Bird | RFA
Dylan Windler | Non-Bird | UFA

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