Free Agent 2025-26 Blazers Salary Cap

[SharpesTriumph]

Edit updated to correct tax per CJisGone;

Looking at what contracts we have on the books right now for next season of 2025-26 from Spotrac I see these;

Ayton 35,550,814
Grant 32,000,001
Simons 27,678,571
Avdija 14,375,000
Timelord 13,285,713
Thybulle 11,550,000
Scoot 10,748,040
Clingan 7,178,400
Sharpe 8,399,983
Murray 3,132,000
Camara 2,221,677
Rupert 2,221,677
Didi 268,032
Duop 2,221,677
2025 pick 10,000,000 (likely 6-13 mil)​

Total 180,831,585

Luxury Tax 187,897,000

Tax Space 7,065,415

Banton UFA/MLE not included above

edit changed this explanation as it appears we have some room under the tax.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Looking at what contracts we have on the books right now for next season of 2025-26 from Spotrac I see these;

Ayton 35,550,814
Grant 32,000,001
Simons 27,678,571
Avdija 14,375,000
Timelord 13,285,713
Thybulle 11,550,000
Scoot 10,748,040
Clingan 7,178,400
Sharpe 8,399,983
Murray 3,132,000
Camara 2,221,677
Rupert 2,221,677
Didi 268,032​

Total 168,609,908

Luxury Tax 170,563,553

Not included above;

Duop unguaranteed 2,221,677
Banton UFA ?
2025 Draft Pick ? probably $6-13 mil
​

So appears if we do any trade in the next two months the Blazers may need to send compensation to the other team to reduce next seasons salary in order to stay under the tax. If we want to resign Banton with the MLE or add any free agent we will need to cut even more salary.

I doubt Thybulle wants to stick around another year. I bet there is a better than 50% chance he opts out. That would save another 11.5

 

[HansenYang]

Looking at what contracts we have on the books right now for next season of 2025-26 from Spotrac I see these;

Ayton 35,550,814
Grant 32,000,001
Simons 27,678,571
Avdija 14,375,000
Timelord 13,285,713
Thybulle 11,550,000
Scoot 10,748,040
Clingan 7,178,400
Sharpe 8,399,983
Murray 3,132,000
Camara 2,221,677
Rupert 2,221,677
Didi 268,032​

Total 168,609,908

Luxury Tax 170,563,553

Not included above;

Duop unguaranteed 2,221,677
Banton UFA ?
2025 Draft Pick ? probably $6-13 mil
​

So appears if we do any trade in the next two months the Blazers may need to send compensation to the other team to reduce next seasons salary in order to stay under the tax. If we want to resign Banton with the MLE or add any free agent we will need to cut even more salary.

Tax threshold is anticipated to be $188M, not $170M.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/tax/_/year/2025/sort/tax_total

So Portland will have ~$18M to work with for 2 roster spots (assuming Reath is retained). Or they will have ~$20M to work with for 3 spots.

Assuming the lotto pick will be making ~$7-10M of that, there's still plenty of room to work with.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Tax threshold is anticipated to be $188M, not $170M.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/tax/_/year/2025/sort/tax_total

So Portland will have ~$18M to work with for 2 roster spots (assuming Reath is retained). Or they will have ~$20M to work with for 3 spots.

Assuming the lotto pick will be making ~$7-10M of that, there's still plenty of room to work with.

Much appreciated - your update appears correct. I had googled something that projected next years tax at $170mil tax (must have been current year though) then when confirming on spotract incorrectly looked at the Blazers total.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I doubt Thybulle wants to stick around another year. I bet there is a better than 50% chance he opts out. That would save another 11.5

I've heard multiple posters say this but I can't imagine he is going to walk away from $11 million?

Yes he's good defensively - but he's averaged 4.8ppg in his career. Thats a part time fringe role player at best. Last year starting a third of his games for us he averaged a massive 5.4ppg. Now he has been injured since then - more than Timelord. Why would any team offer him more than 11 million? Superior players are taking the vet minimum.

We would probably just trade or release him at or before February next season so its only 3-4 months until he gets that full $11 million and is out of Portland. Then he gets to a different team either way. He would be a full free agent the following summer to pick his city when he is still only 29 but with $11million extra in the bank.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Banton contract offer is kind of the only decision we will need to immediately make. The tax MLE was about $5.2 million with a max of 2 years. If we offer more years or more dollars we need to use the full MLE - which I think is fine as we will likely operate with the luxury tax as an effective hard cap.

So will probably be a contract starting at up to around $7 million we can offer Banton up to 4 years so about $30 million max. If our pick isn't at the top of the draft or we don't have Duop we can likely offer more. Depends a lot on how Banton looks the rest of this year though - I wouldn't think he is more than a $30 million player.

 

[wizenheimer]

I've heard multiple posters say this but I can't imagine he is going to walk away from $11 million?

he obviously wanted out of Portland last season, so there's that

I think it will depend on what his agent tells him he can get as a UFA. If he can get 7-10M year for 3-4 years, he could theoretically triple that guaranteed 11M. Even a 3-year/25M deal vs 11M could look a lot better than spending another season in the Portland purgatory. Dallas may come calling again

 

[SharpesTriumph]

he obviously wanted out of Portland last season, so there's that

You mean because he signed with Dallas? That was just getting the biggest offer on the table. I saw him at a local minor league baseball game in PDX months ago in the summer. He threw the first pitch, sure didn't seem like a guy that wanted to be out of the city or on a different team.

 

[Pinwheel1]

he obviously wanted out of Portland last season, so there's that

I think it will depend on what his agent tells him he can get as a UFA. If he can get 7-10M year for 3-4 years, he could theoretically triple that guaranteed 11M. Even a 3-year/25M deal vs 11M could look a lot better than spending another season in the Portland purgatory. Dallas may come calling again

Exactly. He will be 28 in March. So if he thinks he can get a 4-year contract this summer at those numbers you suggested AND go to a contender.....why not?
He has had some minor injuries and I am not sure how that plays into it, but if I were him I would roll the dice now on a longer contract.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I think it will depend on what his agent tells him he can get as a UFA. If he can get 7-10M year for 3-4 years, he could theoretically triple that guaranteed 11M. Even a 3-year/25M deal vs 11M could look a lot better than spending another season in the Portland purgatory. Dallas may come calling again

I can't imagine his market is that high. Look at all the superior players signing for the vet minimum every offseason.

When Dallas signed him he was coming off a rookie contract and had shot 39% on threes in Portland. He was only 25, there was probably hope he could become a bit better bench role player or temporary starter. Now not being able to break into a bad wing rotation for a 21 win team while posting worse numbers I can't imagine has him with the same demand.

I guess we will see.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Exactly. He will be 28 in March. So if he thinks he can get a 4-year contract this summer at those numbers you suggested AND go to a contender.....why not?
He has had some minor injuries and I am not sure how that plays into it, but if I were him I would roll the dice now on a longer contract.

He is already earning more than the tax MLE. You think a team will open up the full MLE and hard cap themselves to sign Thybulle? Just doesn't make any sense.

If Thybulle really has this kind of value the Blazers should flip him for a 2nd round pick in the next few months. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[wizenheimer]

I can't imagine his market is that high. Look at all the superior players signing for the vet minimum every offseason.

When Dallas signed him he was coming off a rookie contract and had shot 39% on threes in Portland. He was only 25, there was probably hope he could become a bit better bench role player or temporary starter. Now not being able to break into a bad wing rotation for a 21 win team while posting worse numbers I can't imagine has him with the same demand.

I guess we will see.

I'm not saying he will, I'm saying he could depending on his market. At this point it's probably 50-50, but I do believe if he has an opportunity to increase his guaranteed money while escaping the mess of a franchise he's in, he probably will

 

[Pinwheel1]

He is already earning more than the tax MLE. You think a team will open up the full MLE and hard cap themselves to sign Thybulle? Just doesn't make any sense.

If Thybulle really has this kind of value the Blazers should flip him for a 2nd round pick in the next few months. I'll believe it when I see it.

Sure take a 2nd........if we get an ending contract in return (or if he slides into another team's unused MLE). But that seems even less likely. I would take the chance that he opts out and save the cap space. If he doesn't then try to trade him for a 2nd.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

So these are the next deadlines this summer.

• 6/24 Thybulle player option for $11.6 million - so he can't be in any trades until he declines that option.
• 7/1 Dalano Banton is an unrestricted free agent - he was earning $2.2 million
• 7/1 Jabari Walker is a restricted free agent with a ~$2.6 million qualify offer
• 7/1 #11 pick is slotted for about $5.7 million
• 7/1 Full MLE is about $14.1 million
• 8/1 Duop Reath $2.2 million becomes guaranteed, current guarantee is $0. With his limited playing time I wouldn't be surprised if he got cut especially if we are close to the roster limit

Ayton, Ant, Timelord, Thybulle, Sharpe, Camara, Rupert are all eligible for extensions

 

[SharpesTriumph]

So I suppose current depth chart is projected as;

Ayton Clingan Timelord
Grant Deni
Camara Murray Rupert
Sharpe Thybulle
Simons Scoot

So thats 12 guys, 13 with the #11 pick.

Obviously a trade could totally change the above. But who knows I never would have imagined we'd stand pat for 12 months when doing the Deni trade last summer.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I kind of have changed my tune on Thybulle. I still think he will opt out despite his exit interview, but now I hope he doesn't.
If he does leave, then give those minutes to Rupert.

In terms of the salary cap, Grant is the only issue I see. However, keeping him would make us better this next year. But I still think they will trade him if they can get an ending contract. (or easily tradable assets)

In terms of the depth chart, I am not sure if Deni starts or not, but he will still log the most minutes. Although the only reason I can see him not starting is that he is also needed to play with the 2nd team. So if he came in halfway through the 1st, he could play with both.
But we really need to know who is still on the team before that is debated.

Simon's contract, IMO, is the easiest to move. But they should not take a bad contract back unless the other team steps up with a valuable asset in return.

Ayton's offense is needed at this point, so I would not dump his contract the way they would Grant's.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I doubt Thybulle wants to stick around another year. I bet there is a better than 50% chance he opts out. That would save another 11.5

you did not watch his exit interview.

 

[Pinwheel1]

you did not watch his exit interview.

Yeah, I did. It was one of the best I have ever heard. I actually posted the interview. But I also believe he is a master politician and is smart enough to always say the right things. I am sure he likes it here, but that doesn't mean he won't opt out this year if he thinks he can get a long-term contract.

He did miss a lot of games, and if he opted in and he got hurt again, could that affect his next contract? He might think it would, thus
a solid reason he might opt out now and get the guaranteed 50+ million.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Yeah, I did. It was one of the best I have ever heard. I actually posted the interview. But I also believe he is a master politician and is smart enough to always say the right things. I am sure he likes it here, but that doesn't mean he won't opt out this year if he thinks he can get a long-term contract.

He did miss a lot of games, and if he opted in and he got hurt again, could that affect his next contract? He might think it would, thus
a solid reason he might opt out now and get the guaranteed 50+ million.

gotcha.

 

[42N8Bounce]

As I see it now -



The Blazers have to free up one roster spot to fit in the #11 draft pick.

The most obvious option is to not re-sign Banton. All else remains the same.

I think we're all hoping for a consolidation trade with some vets going out freeing up a few roster spots.

This should be a fun summer!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

you did not watch his exit interview.

That's a December post you quoted

 

[SharpesTriumph]

As I see it now -

View attachment 73869

The Blazers have to free up one roster spot to fit in the #11 draft pick.

The most obvious option is to not re-sign Banton. All else remains the same.

I think we're all hoping for a consolidation trade with some vets going out freeing up a few roster spots.

This should be a fun summer!

If were keeping Ayton Clingan and resigning Walker there isn't much of a need for Duop so makes sense to cut his unguaranteed contract.

I don't see Grant happily starting the year as a backup.

Hoping we see a trade of most or all of the GrantAytonAnt "big 3" but until it happens I don't see how any would be benched.

 

[wizenheimer]

If were keeping Ayton Clingan and resigning Walker there isn't much of a need for Duop so makes sense to cut his unguaranteed contract.

I don't see Grant happily starting the year as a backup.

Hoping we see a trade of most or all of the GrantAytonAnt "big 3" but until it happens I don't see how any would be benched.

yeah, I mentioned in another thread that over the last 2 seasons, the Ant-Ayton-Grant trio had combined for 312 games; and had started all 312 games. I don't see why that would change if the roster is relatively static. If you assume those 3 would start, along with Camara, then one of Avdija/Sharpe would be benched. I would be really fucking ridiculous if all three of Portland's last 3 top-7 picks are backups in year 4

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Here's where we are with the cap today... not sure where the #11 will come in at. Also think its possible we cut Duop (his deal is non guaranteed);



Yeah still lean to thinking we made a mistake with adding Jrue... However seeing the 2027-28 cap projections with luxury tax at $227 million has me feeling a bit better;




https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/yearly
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/info/salary_cap

 

[SharpesTriumph]

So these are the next deadlines this summer.

• 6/24 Thybulle player option for $11.6 million - so he can't be in any trades until he declines that option.
• 7/1 Dalano Banton is an unrestricted free agent - he was earning $2.2 million
• 7/1 Jabari Walker is a restricted free agent with a ~$2.6 million qualify offer
• 7/1 #11 pick is slotted for about $5.7 million
• 7/1 Full MLE is about $14.1 million
• 8/1 Duop Reath $2.2 million becomes guaranteed, current guarantee is $0. With his limited playing time I wouldn't be surprised if he got cut especially if we are close to the roster limit

Ayton, Ant, Timelord, Thybulle, Sharpe, Camara, Rupert are all eligible for extensions

There we go - should have read my own post. So #11 is about 5.7 million if we stay at that spot.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I will say with trading away Ant I think I'm MORE likely to want us to resign Banton. Jrue is a different type of player. Banton can go get buckets. We might be able to use that as a backup or 3rd string injury fill in. Plus that it will be his 3rd year here so he knows the system well. I wouldn't think his market is too high. Hope he comes back. DB Hooper is an epic nickname.

Murray I'm fine sending elsewhere for nothing or basically cutting if he would agree to a bit of a buyout. Maybe Sacramento wants both twins.

Rupert I'm starting to lose hope on but I'd like to see one more season.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Yang cap hold is 4.4 million per spotrac (4,422,360)

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I will say with trading away Ant I think I'm MORE likely to want us to resign Banton. Jrue is a different type of player. Banton can go get buckets. We might be able to use that as a backup or 3rd string injury fill in. Plus that it will be his 3rd year here so he knows the system well. I wouldn't think his market is too high. Hope he comes back. DB Hooper is an epic nickname.

Murray I'm fine sending elsewhere for nothing or basically cutting if he would agree to a bit of a buyout. Maybe Sacramento wants both twins.

Rupert I'm starting to lose hope on but I'd like to see one more season.

That usually gets lost in the mike schmitz trust talk. I hope to be proven wrong but Murray does not look good and Rupert doesn't either. Can't win them all but those likely losses should be in the overall grading of Schmitz. There weren't many great prospects taken after Murray or Rupert, but Camara was taken after both. GG Jackson, Sensabaugh are a couple others that are upgrades.

I have no idea if Chicago would have taken it but I still believe giving up the Kris Murray pick to them would have been the right move.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Ayton reported by Jake Fisher to have a $10 million buyout and Jabari QO wasn't tendered.

Anybody able to calculate our cap space? Possibly with Ayton at tax MLE/Full MLE?

I probably was capable of doing this at one time but way to lazy now.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Ayton reported by Jake Fisher to have a $10 million buyout and Jabari QO wasn't tendered.

Anybody able to calculate our cap space? Possibly with Ayton at tax MLE/Full MLE?

I probably was capable of doing this at one time but way to lazy now.