NBA Teams' Money Moves: What's the Deal with the 2025 Free Agency?

The NBA Draft is over, and now all eyes are on free agency. Teams are looking to spend big to win a championship. But first, they need to check their wallets. The salary cap is expected to go up by 10 percent. That's some extra breathing room. But not all teams are in the same boat. Some have more money to spend than others. For example, the Utah Jazz are in the red by almost $15 million. The New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers are in the worst shape, owing over $87 million each. The Golden State Warriors are in the deepest hole, with over $111 million in debts. The Boston Celtics were in big trouble. They were about to hit the $500 million mark. But they made some smart moves. They traded Jrue Holiday to Portland. That saved them $32. 4 million next season and $72 million after that. They also traded Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal. That freed up another $30. 7 million. These moves were huge for the Celtics. They saved about $180 million in luxury tax penalties. And they got to keep Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. These two are key players for next season, especially with Jayson Tatum recovering from an injury.