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1. Miami Heat
Pat Riley has more money to spend than anyone this offseason, and he might not be done clearing cap room. Trading swingman Daequan Cook and the 18th overall pick to Oklahoma City cut Miami's 2010 cap number by about $3 million. More cash will be saved when they complete a buyout of James Jones' partially-guaranteed contract. That puts the Heat in position to add two "max" players this summer -- while retaining Dwyane Wade. And to make things even scarier for the rest of the league... if Riley can find a taker for Michael Beasley, he could potentially clear enough space to add three max players.More »
2. Chicago Bulls
Chicago jumped to second place in the space race by agreeing to send guard Kirk Hinrich and the 17th overall pick to Washington for a future second-rounder. The Bulls now have sufficient space under the cap to add two max contracts.More »3. New York Knicks
After trading Jared Jeffries and Jordan Hill to the Rockets, the Knicks are left with just four players under contract for next season: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas and Eddy Curry. Assuming a salary cap of about $53 million, that leaves the Knicks with about $33 million to spend -- enough to offer two "max" contracts. Of course, that also means that their roster for 2010 would be pretty thin -- after signing two "max" players, they'd have to fill the rest of the roster with players making the league minimum.More »
4. New Jersey Nets
The Nets could be a real contender in the free agent game -- they have several promising young players (most notably center Brook Lopez and an excellent shot at the top overall pick in the 2010 draft), an owner with exceptionally deep pockets (Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, assuming his purchase of the team is approved this Spring), a celebrity investor popular with many NBA players (Jay-Z) and about $26 million to spend. On the other hand, the team is in the process of posting one of the worst records in NBA history, and no one really thinks LeBron James is interested in spending the next to seasons in Newark while the Nets' new Brooklyn arena is built.More »
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Mike Dunleavy's trade deadline moves left the Clippers with quality players at point guard (Baron Davis), shooting guard (Eric Gordon), power forward (Blake Griffin -- out for the season but expected to make a full recovery) and all-star center Chris Kaman, and about $20 million to spend.
There's a gaping hole at small forward. Where does LeBron play, again?
Of course, that assumes that any of the marquee free agents will be willing to share a city -- and a home arena -- with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers or play for Donald Sterling.More »
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Team president David Kahn's rebuilding program should get a boost this summer. The T-Wolves will have about $17 million to spend or use in trades, and one of the most attractive trade commodities in the league -- the draft rights to Ricky Rubio.More »
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