Things will be different this 2020 NBA offseason, as an average free-agent class is paired with a large number of teams looking to improve their rosters for playoff or title pushes.
To illustrate what to expect in the shortened offseason, we've broken out all 30 teams into six tiers -- ranging from teams that have salary-cap space to those in the luxury tax -- while highlighting which players teams can sign in each tier.
Will teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons make splashy signings? Can title contenders finagle a way to acquire another cornerstone player? Here's the latest on what each franchise can swing when free agency opens on Nov. 20.
Tier 1: Cap space teams
Besides Anthony Davis (who is expected to return to the Los Angeles Lakers), ESPN is projecting that 22 free agents will command a salary beyond the $9.3 million midlevel exception, but there could be around $100 million in available cap space. While that number might increase to $150 million depending on what the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors do with their own free agents, the math still doesn't look good for this class.
However, there are other mechanics besides cap space that teams can use to sign free agents. The New Orleans Pelicans have Bird rights on Brandon Ingram and can exceed the cap to sign the restricted free agent. The same goes for the Miami Heat with Goran Dragic and the LA Clippers with Montrezl Harrell.
The cap space free agents: Anthony Davis, Brandon Ingram (restricted), Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic, Joe Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Malik Beasley (restricted), Bogdan Bogdanovic (restricted), Gordon Hayward (player option), Danilo Gallinari, Davis Bertans, Serge Ibaka, Jerami Grant, Montrezl Harrell, Tristan Thompson, Jakob Poeltl (restricted) and Christian Wood
Projected room: $44.0 million
Who returns/joins: Clint Capela, DeAndre Hunter, Trae Young, Cam Reddish, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Bruno Fernando, Brandon Goodwin, Onyeka Okongwu, Tony Snell and Khyri Thomas
Who might be gone: Jeff Teague, Treveon Graham, DeAndre' Bembry, Skal Labissiere and Damian Jones
Projected room: $19.0 million
Who returns/joins: Nicolas Batum, Terry Rozier, Cody Zeller, Malik Monk, PJ Washington, Miles Bridges, Cody Martin, Caleb Martin, Jalen McDaniels, Devonte' Graham and LaMelo Ball
Who might be gone: Bismack Biyombo, Willy Hernangomez and Dwayne Bacon
Projected room: $9.5 million (includes the $1.6 million free agent hold of Christian Wood)
Who returns/joins: Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Sekou Doumbouya, Dzanan Musa, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Tony Bradley, Trevor Ariza, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, Dewayne Dedmon, Rodney McGruder, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Tony Bradley, Trevor Ariza, Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart
Who might be gone: Brandon Knight, John Henson, Langston Galloway, Thon Maker and Jordan McRae
Maximum room: $35 million
Who returns/joins: Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina, Ignas Brazdeikis, Ed Davis, Mitchell Robinson, Reggie Bullock, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley
Who might be gone: Bobby Portis, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Elfrid Payton, Reggie Bullock, Theo Pinson, Maurice Harkless and Damyean Dotson
Tier 2: Cap space at a cost
There is a path to cap flexibility for the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors, but it would come at the cost of their own free agents.
Heat would have to cut bait with Dragic and Jae Crowder to use $21 million in cap space. The Raptors would be sitting with $15 million in room if VanVleet, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol head elsewhere.
The most likely outcome here is that Miami and Toronto act as teams over the cap, preserving the $9.3 million midlevel exception.
Maximum room: $21 million
Who returns/joins: Jimmy Butler, Andre Iguodala, Kelly Olynyk (player option exercised), Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, KZ Okpala, Chris Silva, Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson and Precious Achiuwa
Who might be gone: Goran Dragic, Solomon Hill, Jae Crowder, Meyers Leonard, Derrick Jones and Udonis Haslem
Projected room: $15.0 million
Who returns/joins: Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Patrick McCaw, OG Anunoby, Stanley Johnson, Terence Davis, Matt Thomas, Dewan Hernandez and Malachi Flynn
Who might be gone: Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Fred VanVleet, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Malcolm Miller and Chris Boucher
Tier 3: The midlevel exception club
These teams are not in a position to have cap space, but they can use all of their $9.3 million midlevel exception and still avoid the luxury tax. That will be valuable in this constricted market.
The $9.3 million midlevel free agents: Jordan Clarkson, De'Anthony Melton (restricted), Jae Crowder, Rodney Hood, Dario Saric (restricted) Paul Millsap, Kris Dunn, Hassan Whiteside, Marcus Morris and Derrick Favors
Room under the tax: $21.0 million
Who returns/joins: Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Enes Kanter (player option exercised), Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Robert Williams, Carsen Edwards, Daniel Theis, Javonte Green, Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard
Who might be gone: Gordon Hayward, Brad Wanamaker
Room under the tax: $20.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $25.0 million
Who returns/joins: Otto Porter Jr. (player option exercised), Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young, Tomas Satoransky, Cristian Felicio, Lauri Markkanen, Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr., Ryan Arcidiacono, Chandler Hutchison, Luke Kornet, Daniel Gafford and Patrick Williams
Key free agent: Denzel Valentine
Who might be gone: Kris Dunn and Shaquille Harrison
Room under the tax: $18 million
Room under the hard cap: $24.0 million
Who returns/joins: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dwight Powell, Delon Wright, Maxi Kleber, Luka Doncic, Josh Richardson, Justin Jackson, Boban Marjanovic, Dorian Finney-Smith, Willie Cauley-Stein, Jalen Brunson and Josh Green
Who might be gone: Courtney Lee, JJ Barea and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Room under the tax: $18.3 million (does not include the salary of restricted free agent De'Anthony Melton
Room under the hard cap: $23.0 million
Who returns/joins: Jonas Valanciunas, Gorgui Dieng, Justise Winslow, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marko Guduric, Brandon Clarke, Grayson Allen, and Desmond Bane
Who might be gone: Josh Jackson, Jontay Porter and Anthony Tolliver
Room under the tax: $43 million (OKC is operating over the cap because of its exceptions)
Who returns/joins: Steven Adams, Al Horford, James Johnson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, Darius Bazley, Mike Muscala,, Isaiah Roby, Lu Dort, Hamidou Diallo, Ty Jerome and Jalen Lecque
Who might be gone: Andre Roberson, Danilo Gallinari and Nerlens Noel
Room under the tax: $32 million
Who returns/joins: Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Abdel Nader, Cameron Payne (team option exercised), Elie Okobo and Jalen Smith
Key free agent: Dario Saric and Jevon Carter
Who might be gone: Aron Baynes, Frank Kaminsky and Cheick Diallo
Room under the tax: $28 million
Room under the hard cap: $34 million
Who returns/joins: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Robert Covington, Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, Mario Hezonja (player option exercised and, Gary Trent Jr.
Key free agent: Hassan Whiteside
Who might be gone: Carmelo Anthony, Wenyen Gabriel and Caleb Swanigan
Room under the tax: $34 million
Room under the hard cap: $40 million
Who returns/joins: Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Cory Joseph, Marvin Bagley, De'Aaron Fox, Jabari Parker, Richaun Holmes, Nemanja Bjelica and Tyrese Haliburton
Who might be gone: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kent Bazemore, Alex Len, Harry Giles and Yogi Ferrell
Tier 4: Watching their own free agents
The availability of the full midlevel exception for these teams is still to be determined.
Although each franchise is positioned far below the luxury tax, that could change depending on the cost of their own free agents, including: Tristan Thompson (Cleveland), Jerami Grant (Denver) and Davis Bertans (Washington).
Note: The hard cap triggers only if a team uses more than the $5.7 million of its midlevel exception, the $3.6 million biannual exception or by acquiring a player in a sign-and-trade. A team can sign its own free agents using the Bird, early Bird or non-Bird exceptions and not trigger the hard cap.
Room under the tax: $14.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $20.0 million
Who returns/joins: Kevin Love, Andre Drummond (player option exercised), Larry Nance Jr., Dante Exum, Cedi Osman, Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Dylan Windler, Kevin Porter Jr., Alfonzo McKinnie, Jordan Bell, Dean Wade and Isaac Okoro
Key free agent: Tristan Thompson
Who might be gone: Matthew Dellavedova and Ante Zizic
Room under the tax: $26 million
Room under the hard cap: $32 million
Who returns/joins: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Michael Porter Jr., Vlatko Cancar, PJ Dozier, Monte Morris, Keita Bates-Diop, RJ Hampton and Zeke Nnaji
Key free agents: Jerami Grant (player option declined), Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, Torrey Craig
Who might be gone: Noah Vonleh and Troy Daniels
Room under the tax: $15.5
Room under the hard cap: $7.0 million
Who returns/joins: James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Danuel House, Ben McLemore, Chris Clemons and David Nwaba
Who might be gone: Austin Rivers, Bruno Caboclo, Tyson Chandler, Thabo Sefolosha, DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Green
Room under the tax: $22 million
Room under the hard cap: $27 million
Who returns/joins: Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Ricky Rubio, Jarrett Culver, Jake Layman, Josh Okogie, Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaylen Nowell, Naz Reid, Anthony Edwards, Leandro Bolmaro and Jaden McDaniels
Key free agents: Malik Beasley (restricted) and Juancho Hernangomez (restricted)
Who might be gone: Evan Turner
Room under the tax: $20.0 million (factors in a max contract for Brandon Ingram)
Room under the hard cap: $26 million
Who returns/joins: Ingram, Eric Bledsoe, George Hill,, JJ Redick, Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, Nicolo Melli, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, Darius Miller and Kira Lewis Jr.
Who might be gone: Kenrich Williams, Jahlil Okafor and Frank Jackson
Key free agents: Brandon Ingram, Derrick Favors and E'Twaun Moore
Room under the tax: $20 million
Room under the hard cap: $24 million
Who returns/joins: Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale, Donovan Mitchell, Tony Bradley, Nigel Williams- Goss, Miye Oni, Rayjon Tucker, Juwan Morgan, Georges Niang and Udoka Azubuike
Key free agent: Jordan Clarkson
Who might be gone: Emmanuel Mudiay
Room under the tax: $25.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $31.3 million
Who returns/joins: John Wall, Bradley Beal, Thomas Bryant, Ish Smith, Rui Hachimura, Jerome Robinson, Troy Brown, Moritz Wagner, Admiral Schofield, Isaac Bonga, Anzejs Pasecniks and Deni Avdija
Key free agent: Davis Bertans
Who might be gone: Ian Mahinmi, Gary Payton II and Shabazz Napier
Tier 5: The hard cap teams
Due to the $138.9 million hard cap, these teams will need to find a balance between using the full midlevel and retaining their own free agents.
The Lakers could have the full $9.3 million midlevel exception but need to balance new contracts for Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to stay below the hard cap. Re-signing Marcus Morris and Montrezl Harrell would leave the Clippers with only the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel to use.
In Indiana, free agent Justin Holiday is a priority but the most the Pacers can offer is that $5.7 million.
The Bucks would be hard capped if they revisit the Bogdan Bogdanovic sign-and-trade. The restriction would limit how Milwaukee builds out its bench.
The $5.7 million and below free agents: Aron Baynes, Mason Plumlee, Marc Gasol, Nerlens Noel, Maurice Harkless, Derrick Jones, Torrey Craig (restricted), JaMychal Green, Carmelo Anthony, Markieff Morris, Rajon Rondo, Jeff Teague, DJ Augustin, Reggie Jackson, Langston Galloway, Brad Wanamaker (restricted), Avery Bradley, E'Twaun Moore, Alec Burks, Justin Holiday, Bryn Forbes, Garrett Temple, Wesley Matthews and Pat Connaughton
Room under the tax: $8.5 million
Room under the hard cap: $7.0 million
Who returns/joins: Victor Oladipo, Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, T.J. Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott, T.J. Leaf, Goga Bitadze, Aaron Holiday, Edmond Sumner and T.J. McConnell
Key free agent: Justin Holiday
Who might be gone: JaKarr Sampson and Alize Johnson
Room under the tax: $27 million
Room under the hard cap: $23.0 million
Who returns/joins: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Ivica Zubac, JaMychal Green (player option exercised), Mfiondu Kabengele, Luke Kennard and Terance Mann
Key free agents: Marcus Morris and Montrezl Harrell
Who might be gone: Patrick Patterson, Justin Patton, Reggie Jackson and Joakim Noah (waived)
Room under the tax: $27 million
Room under the hard cap: $33 million
Who returns/joins: LeBron James, Anthony Davis (new contract starting at $32.7 million), Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso and Talen Horton-Tucker
Key free agents: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Who might be gone: Rajon Rondo (player option declined), Quinn Cook (waived), Markieff Morris, Avery Bradley, Jared Dudley, Dion Waiters and Dwight Howard
Room under the tax: $19.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $21.0 million
Who returns/joins: Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, DJ Wilson, Donte DiVincenzo and Thannis Antetokounmpo
Key free agent: Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez
Who might be gone: Pat Connaughton, Ersan Ilyasova, Kyle Korver and Sterling Brown
Room under the tax: $11.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $16 million
Who returns/joins: Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Markelle Fultz, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jonathan Isaac, Mo Bamba, Khem Birch, Melvin Frazier, Chuma Okeke and Cole Anthony
Key free agent: DJ Augustin
Who might be gone: James Ennis, Michael Carter-Williams, Wesley Iwundu and Gary Clark
Room under the tax: $8.0 million
Room under the hard cap: $12.0 million
Who returns/joins: DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay, Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, Derrick White, Lonnie Walker IV, Luka Samanic, Keldon Johnson, Trey Lyles, Chimezie Metu and Devin Vassell
Key free agent: Jakob Poeltl
Who might be gone: Marco Belinelli, Tyler Zeller (waived) and Bryn Forbes
Tier 6: Tax teams
Outside of signing their own free agents, these teams will only have the $5.7 million midlevel and minimum exceptions available.
Above the tax: $5.8 million
Who returns/joins: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Caris LeVert, Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Jarrett Allen, Bruce Brown, Rodions Kurucs, Nic Claxton, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Landry Shamet
Key free agent: Joe Harris
Who might be gone: Wilson Chandler, Garrett Temple and Tyler Johnson
Above the tax: $39 million
Who returns/joins: Stephen Curry, Kelly Oubre, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole, Alen Smailagic, Eric Paschall, Damion Lee, Ky Bowman, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Marquese Chriss, Mychal Mulder and James Wiseman
Who might be gone: None
Above the tax: $11 million
Who returns/joins: Tobias Harris, Danny Green, Ben Simmons, Al Horford, Seth Curry, Mike Scott, Zhaire Smith, Matisse Thybulle, Terrance Ferguson, Vincent Poirier, Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz and first-round selection (No. 21)
Who might be gone: Kyle O'Quinn, Raul Neto, Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III and Norvel Pelle (waived)