The offseason preparation for most lottery-bound NBA teams started when the season was put on hiatus in the middle of March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, with confirmation that the season is indeed over for eight franchises -- the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks -- those teams will continue 2020 draft preparations while outlining a plan for their roster next season. There also have been discussions of a second bubble environment in Chicago for those teams to conduct mini-camps in September.
Let's run though those teams with breakdowns on big-picture offseason priorities, draft assets, potential moves, salary cap space possibilities, team needs, extension-eligible players, likely free agents and depth charts. We'll continue to update with the latest intel and add teams as they're eliminated.
Note: All dates are subject to change pending league and union negotiations. Draft assets include projected picks for 2020. Depth charts include expected roles for players under contract in 2020-21.
We've included an explainer for Bird rights at the end of this piece.
Jump to a team:
East: ATL | CHA | CHI
CLE | DET | NYK
West: GSW | MIN
Atlanta Hawks
Offseason focus
The direction with cap space: projected $48 million to build out the roster.
Rookie extension discussions with John Collins: With his $12.4 million cap hold, waiting until 2021 is beneficial for Atlanta unless a team-friendly contract is possible.
The internal development of the roster: six players under the age of 23.
Draft assets
First: No. 4
Second: No. 52 (via Houston)
Future: The Hawks own all their future first-round picks plus a first-rounder from Oklahoma City in 2022. The pick is lottery-protected and will convert to second-rounders in 2024 and 2025 if not conveyed.
Cash: $2.5 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
Before the season was postponed, Atlanta was projected to have $48 million in cap space based on a projected $115 million salary cap. That room was based on the cap holds for all free agents being renounced.
In a scenario in which the cap remains at this season's $109 million or drops significantly (to as low as $99 million), the Hawks are still projected to have financial flexibility.
The Hawks will have the room midlevel exception available, currently projected to be $5 million.
Contract date adjustments
The deadline for Atlanta to extend qualifying offers for DeAndre' Bembry ($3.7 million), Damian Jones ($3.5 million) and Skal Labissiere ($3.5 million) is now expected to be Oct. 17.
The Aug. 1 guaranteed date for Brandon Goodwin likely will get adjusted to late November. Goodwin has a $100,000 protection that increases to $1.7 million.
The rookie extension deadline for Collins likely will be Nov. 30.
Team needs
Defensive identity of the starting five
Veteran depth at point guard and the wing
Extension-eligible: John Collins (rookie)
Free-agent status
DeAndre' Bembry | Restricted Bird
Treveon Graham | Early Bird
Damian Jones | Restricted Bird
Skal Labissiere | Restricted Bird
Jeff Teague | Bird
Charlie Brown Jr. | Restricted non-Bird
Charlotte Hornets
Offseason focus
Patient approach with whatever cap space is available; still in the early stages of building out the roster.
Extension options with Devonte' Graham.
Turning the Nicolas Batum contract into future draft assets.
Auditing young players Graham, PJ Washington, Miles Bridges and Malik Monk: Who is a part of the long-term future?
Draft assets
First: No. 8
Second: No. 32 (via Cleveland) and No. 56 (via Boston)
Future: The Hornets own all of their future first-round picks.
Cash: $5.6 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
The Hornets were projected to have $27 million in room in 2020-21 based on a projected $115 million cap.
With a $109 million cap, Charlotte will have $21 million in flexibility. A decline to a $100 million cap would leave the Hornets with $12 million in space.
The Hornets are projected to have the room midlevel exception.
Contract date adjustments
Graham had a July 7 guarantee date for his $1.7 million contract. The new date is Oct. 24.
Caleb Martin had a July 15 guaranteed date on his $1.5 million contract. Because of the shortened time frame from the start of free agency to next season's training camp, the guaranteed date is unlikely to be extended into November. Expect Martin's date to align with Graham's.
Jalen McDaniels ($1.5 million) has no salary protection. His guarantee date is likely to be adjusted to mid-February (it was Jan. 7).
The qualifying offer deadline for Dwayne Bacon ($2.0 million) is Oct. 17.
The rookie extension deadline for Monk likely will be Nov. 30.
Team needs
Bench depth: Backup point guard, power forward and center
Extension-eligible: Devonte' Graham, Malik Monk (rookie), Cody Zeller and Nicolas Batum
Free-agent status
Nicolas Batum | Player option | Bird
Kobi Simmons | Restricted non-Bird
Dwayne Bacon | Restricted Bird
Willy Hernangomez | Bird
Bismack Biyombo | Bird
Chicago Bulls
Offseason focus
Pick a direction at coach: Either retain Jim Boylen with job security or go in a different direction.
Does this roster work? How do you evaluate after key injuries to Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr.?
The future of Zach LaVine: two years left on his contract and extension-eligible.
The rookie extension of Markkanen: Has a $20.1 million free-agent hold in 2021 -- is a team-friendly contract ($10-12 million per year) possible after a below-average season?
The free agency of Dunn: All-Defense level of play before his injury.
Draft assets
First: No. 7
Second: No. 47 (via Memphis)
Future: The Bulls own all of their future first-round picks.
Cash: $5.6 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
Including a lottery pick and Porter opting in to his $28.5 million contract, Chicago has $111 million in committed salary before free agency begins.
In a drastic scenario in which the luxury tax drops to $124 million, the Bulls could lose the ability to sign restricted free agent Dunn and lose the full midlevel exception.
Contract date adjustments
The June 29 deadline for Porter's player option has been adjusted to Oct. 17.
The qualifying offer deadline for Shaquille Harrison ($2 million), Kris Dunn ($7.1 million) and Denzel Valentine ($4.6 million) is now Oct. 17.
The rookie extension deadline for Markkanen likely will be Nov. 30.
Team needs
Depth at shooting guard and small forward
Extension-eligible: Lauri Markkanen (rookie), Zach LaVine, Otto Porter Jr. and Cristiano Felicio
Free-agent status
Otto Porter Jr. | Player option | Bird
Shaquille Harrison | Restricted early-Bird
Kris Dunn | Restricted Bird
Adam Mokoka | Restricted non-Bird
Max Strus | Restricted non-Bird
Denzel Valentine | Restricted Bird
Cleveland Cavaliers
Offseason focus
The options in the draft: projected top-five pick.
The free agency of Andre Drummond and Tristan Thompson: Does $50 million per year combined make sense? Is there a comfort level committing long-term money to Drummond? Explore the sign-and-trade market for Thompson.
What are the options with cap space in the unlikely scenario that Drummond opts out?
What is the Kevin Love trade market? With $90 million owed over the next three seasons, will teams see him as a positive trade piece?
The continued development of young players Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr.
Draft assets
First: No. 2
Second: None
Future: The Cavaliers own all of their future first-round picks. They also will receive Milwaukee's 2022 top-10-protected first. The pick is protected top-10 in 2023 and top-eight in 2024. If not conveyed, Cleveland will receive 2024 and 2025 second-rounders from Milwaukee.
Cash: $5.6 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
The luxury tax threshold for 2020-21 could determine Thompson's free agency. The Cavaliers were projected to be $20 million below the original $139 million tax projection if Drummond opts in to his $28.7 million contract (which looks likely).
If the tax remains at this year's $132.7 million level, Cleveland might not be able to retain Thompson.
Contract date adjustments
Drummond's June 29 player option deadline has been pushed back to Oct. 17.
Team needs
Continued development of the young players
Bench depth
Extension-eligible: Drummond and Dante Exum
Free-agent status
Matthew Dellavedova | Bird
Matt Mooney | Restricted Non-Bird
Andre Drummond | Player option | Bird
Tristan Thompson | Bird
Ante Zizic | Fourth-year restriction
Detroit Pistons
Offseason focus
The direction with cap space: Accelerate the rebuild, rent out cap space in exchange for draft assets or pursue one-year contracts?
Is veteran coach Dwane Casey up to the task to take on a rebuild?
Figuring out the future of Blake Griffin: two years (at $36.6 million and $38.9 million) left on his contract with 18 games played in 2019-20 and coming off left knee surgery.
Are there trade options with Derrick Rose?
Extension options with Svi Mykhailiuk.
Draft assets
First: No. 5
Second: None
Future: The Pistons have all of their future first-round picks.
Cash: $3.6 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
Including the $1.7 million free-agent hold of Christian Wood, the Pistons were originally projected to have $35 million in room. That number could drop to as low as $20 million if the salary cap declines to $100 million. The most likely scenario is that Detroit will have roughly $30 million of financial flexibility given a static salary cap.
Detroit will have the room midlevel exception available.
Contract date adjustments
The Pistons have three players -- Bruce Brown ($1.7 million), Khyri Thomas ($1.7 million) and Mykhailiuk ($1.7 million) -- with non-guaranteed contracts. Mykhailiuk's deadline is Oct. 22, Thomas' is Oct. 23 and Brown's is Oct. 27. All three dates will get changed to after the start of free agency.
The qualifying offer deadline for Thon Maker ($4.9 million) is Oct. 17.
The rookie extension deadline for Luke Kennard likely will be Nov. 30.
Team needs
A healthy Griffin and Kennard
For Sekou Doumbouya to turn into a rotation player
Starting point guard
Bench depth
Extension-eligible: Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown, Khyri Thomas, Svi Mykhailiuk, Luke Kennard (rookie) and Tony Snell
Free-agent status
Langston Galloway | Bird
John Henson | Bird
Brandon Knight | Bird
Thon Maker | Restricted Bird
Svi Mykhailiuk | Team option | Restricted Early-Bird
Tony Snell | Player option | Bird
Christian Wood | Early-Bird
Jordan McRae | Early-Bird
Jordan Bone | Restricted Non-Bird
Louis King | Restricted Non-Bird
Golden State Warriors
Offseason focus
The options with a projected top-five pick: keep, trade back or explore the All-Star trade market.
Find a way to take advantage of a $17.2 million trade exception.
Explore a possible Stephen Curry extension.
Balancing the roster: 13 players under contract plus three incoming draft picks.
The financial cost of the team: $45 million projected tax bill before free agency.
Draft assets
First: No. 1
Second: No. 48 (via Dallas) and No. 54 (via Utah)
Future: Golden State owes Memphis a 2024 top-four-protected first-rounder (converts to top-one-protected in 2025 and unprotected in 2026). The Warriors have a 2021 top-three-protected first-rounder from Minnesota that turns into an unprotected first-rounder in 2022 if not conveyed.
Cash: $5.6 million (to receive) | $17,000 (to send)
Cap space breakdown
Golden State will be affected the most if the luxury tax decreases. Currently with $159 million in committed salary, $20 million above the projected $139 million tax, the Warriors' tax bill for next season stands at $45 million.
If the tax holds at this season's $132 million line, the Warriors' bill will increase to $69 million.
The Warriors will have the tax midlevel exception available.
Contract date adjustments
Golden State has a $17.2 million trade exception that was set to expire on July 7. The expiration date likely will get moved to Oct. 21.
The Warriors have four players -- Marquese Chriss ($800,000), Damion Lee ($600,000), Ky Bowman, Mychal Mulder and Juan Toscano-Anderson -- with partial or no salary protection. Chriss' July 6 guaranteed date likely will get moved to right after the projected Oct. 18 start of free agency.
Team needs
Bench depth: Point and shooting guard
Stretch-4
Extension-eligible: Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins
Minnesota Timberwolves
Offseason focus
The restricted free agency of Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez: Is the post-trade deadline sample of games a good barometer? Limited cap flexibility if both are not brought back.
Find a home for Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans, who did not make the rotation.
Creativity in building out the roster with 13 players under contract (including draft picks): expiring contract in James Johnson, cap exceptions, internal development (Jarrett Culver and Josh Okogie).
Draft assets
First: No. 3 and No. 16 (via the Nets, who will keep the pick if they fall out of the playoffs)
Second: No. 33
Future: The Timberwolves will send Golden State a 2021 top-three-protected first-rounder. The pick will become unprotected in 2022 if not conveyed.
Cash: $2.0 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
Although the Timberwolves were not projected to be a team with cap space, a drop in the $139 million projected luxury tax could affect their spending.
Combining the $96 million in committed salary, $11 million in two first-round picks and the restricted free agency of Beasley and Hernangomez could put Minnesota close to the tax threshold if the line drops.
Contract date adjustments
Naz Reid ($1.5 million), Jaylen Nowell ($1.5 million) and Jarred Vanderbilt ($1.7 million) have non-guaranteed contracts. The Vanderbilt contract was set to become fully protected if he was not waived by July 15. The mid-July date likely will be moved until after the projected Oct. 18 start of free agency.
The qualifying offer deadline for Beasley and Hernangomez (both $5.0 million) is Oct. 17.
The $15.8 million player option deadline for Johnson is Oct. 17.
Team needs
Big wing who can defend and complement Karl-Anthony Towns
Bench scoring and depth at point guard, power forward and center
Extension-eligible: Jarred Vanderbilt and James Johnson
Free-agent status
Malik Beasley | Restricted Bird
Juan Hernangomez | Restricted Bird
James Johnson | Player option | Bird
Evan Turner | Bird
Kelan Martin | Restricted Non-Bird
Jordan McLaughlin | Restricted Non-Bird
New York Knicks
Offseason focus
The importance of getting it right with the head-coaching hire.
The options in the draft: three picks in the top 38.
The direction with cap flexibility: Retain the players on partially guaranteed contracts (looking to trade for expiring contracts), wipe the roster clean (financial flexibility but with an average free-agent class) or use some cap space to retain players (Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock).
The extension options for Mitchell Robinson: He's eligible, but a deal would cost up to $11 million in cap space for 2021.
The internal audit of the former draft picks: How do RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox II, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. fit long term?
Draft assets
First: No. 5 and No. 27 (via LA Clippers)
Second: No. 38 (via Charlotte)
Future: The Knicks have a 2021 unprotected first from the Mavericks. In 2023, Dallas will send New York a top-10-protected first. The pick has top-10 protections in 2024 and 2025. The Knicks also have the right to swap first-round picks (top-four-protected) in 2021 with the Clippers.
Cash: $5.6 million (to receive) | $5.6 million (to send)
Cap space breakdown
The direction with cap flexibility will come down to what New York elects to do with the $41 million in non-guaranteed money tied up in five players: Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington, Payton, Bullock and Bobby Portis.
If the Knicks wipe the roster clean and let all five players go, the team will have anywhere from $35 to $50 million in cap space. The $15 million gap is based on a high-water mark of a $115 million cap and low of $100 million.
Contract date adjustments
Gibson ($9.45 million), Ellington ($8 million), Payton ($8 million) and Bullock ($4.2 million) have $1 million guaranteed each. The balance was set to become fully protected if they were on the roster past June 28. The end-of-June decision has been pushed back to Oct. 17.
The deadline for Portis' $15.8 million team option and Theo Pinson's $1.7 million team option have been moved to Oct. 17.
Robinson has a $1.7 million non-guaranteed contract that was to become protected on June 29. That guarantee date has shifted to Oct. 17.
The rookie extension deadline for Smith and Ntilikina likely will be Nov. 30.
The qualifying offer deadline for Damyean Dotson ($2.0 million) is Oct. 17.
Team needs
Starting point guard
Emphasis on player development: Can Knox develop into a starting small forward?
Depth if the players on partially guaranteed contracts are not brought back
Extension-eligible: Frank Ntilikina (rookie), Dennis Smith Jr. (rookie) and Mitchell Robinson
Free-agent status
Kadeem Allen | Restricted Early-Bird
Maurice Harkless | Bird
Bobby Portis | Team option | Non-Bird
Damyean Dotson | Restricted Bird
Theo Pinson | Team option | Restricted
Jared Harper | Restricted
Bird rights explainer
Bird rights
A team can exceed the cap to sign a free agent who has played three consecutive seasons with his current team (carries over in a trade).
Restricted: A free agent either coming off his first-round rookie contract or who has signed a three-year contract and has three or fewer years of service. A player becomes restricted if he receives a qualifying offer. His current team has the right to match any offers.
Early Bird rights
Teams can exceed the cap to sign a player who has spent two consecutive seasons with a team (without being waived, carries over in a trade), but they are restricted to 175% of his previous salary or 105% of the average player salary. A team can exceed either limit with available cap space. Minimum years on a new deal is two (not including options) and maximum is four.
Restricted: A free agent who signed a two-year contract, has three years of service or less and receives a qualifying offer. The maximum allowable in an offer sheet cannot exceed the full midlevel in the first year.
Non-Bird rights
A free agent who has played one season with a team can sign for 120% of his previous contract or 120% of the minimum salary exception. Teams can exceed either limit but only with cap space or an exception.
Restricted: The maximum allowable in an offer sheet from an opposing team cannot exceed the non-tax midlevel in the first year.
Other: A player who had his third or fourth year in his rookie deal declined will not be a restricted free agent. The current team can offer a contract up to the salary of only the declined option.