This offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers don't have a disgruntled superstar to make headlines. However, the Blazers' financial situation is a significant aspect that General Manager Joe Cronin and the Blazers must consider this summer. It seems like it will only be a matter of time before Rip City trades away one of their highest-paid players, making them an offseason team to watch closely.
Trail Blazers team payroll for 2024-25 NBA season
Here's a full breakdown of the Blazers' salaries for the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season:
- Deandre Ayton: $34,005,126
- Jerami Grant: $29,793,104
- Anfernee Simons: $25,892,857
- Malcolm Brogdon: $22,500,000
- Robert Williams III: $12,428,571
- Matisse Thybulle: $11,025,000
- Scoot Henderson: $10,259,160
- Shaedon Sharpe: $6,614,160
- Kris Murray: $2,990,040
- Dalano Banton: $2,196,970 (team option)
- Duop Reath: $2,048,780
- Jabari Walker: $2,019,699
- Toumani Camara: $1,891,857
- Rayan Rupert: $1,891,857
The Trail Blazers picked up Shaedon Sharpe's team option for the 2024-25 season back in October. Now, they must decide on point guard Dalano Banton's team option. Accounting for Banton's team option puts the Blazers' salary for next season at a little over $167 million. They are already well over the NBA's salary cap for next season, projected to be $141 million, according to The Athletic's Shams Carania.
Blazers must make offseason trade to avoid tax obligations
The Blazers' primary offseason focus should be avoiding the $171 million luxury tax. At first, bringing a bench player like Banton back doesn't make sense if the Blazers are trying to avoid the luxury tax. However, Banton won't be the needle mover, as they will be well over it after adding in the rookie deals for their two lottery picks. Pick No. 7 has a $6,856,440 cap hit, while pick No. 14 sits at $4,467,960. Portland needs to make a trade to get off one of their more substantial contracts.
Additionally, the first apron projects to be $178.7 million, roughly $7 million more than the luxury tax line. After factoring in their draft picks, Portland will be extremely close to this. As a team that finished with a 21-61 record this season, the Blazers have no incentive to take on these tax obligations.