Assuming we remove all of our cap holds (Barnes, Davis, etc.) and considering the 2023 SAC 1st cap hold, I think we'll have
~$22 mil in cap space next year with the following players under contract...
PG - Fox / Mitchell
SG - Huerter / Monk
SF - Murray / Moneke
PF - Okpala
C - Sabonis / Holmes
Picks - 2023 SAC 1st / 2023 IND 2nd / 2023 SAC 2nd
...that should give us some room to try and find a SF/PF that will fit with this core longer term. Some notable FAs that I'm sure we're keeping an eye on this year:
- Jerami Grant (28)
- Christian Wood (27)
- Cam Johnson (26)
- Jalen McDaniels (24)
- Isaiah Roby (24)
- PJ Washington (24)
- Cam Reddish (23)
- Paul Reed (23)
- Grant Williams (23)
- Jaxson Hayes (22)
Obviously, some of the players listed above would have to have a breakout season for us to consider them at starting SF/PF but I wouldn't be surprised if 1 or 2 had a solid season.
Having said all of that, the 2024 offseason is still an option to sign a notable free agent if we sign players to expiring deals in the 2023 offseason. If Sabonis signs a max extension in the offseason (which he shouldn't do since he can only get ~$105 mil over 4 years) or if he waits until the 2024 offseason to resign, it will either result in a $23.3 mil cap hit (if he signs an extension) or a $29.1 mil cap hold (if he waits to resign), but let's just say he waits until the 2024 offseason to resign, that leaves us with
~$29 mil in cap space during the 2024 offseason (assuming Holmes opts in). If Holmes opts out (or we trade him for cap space prior to this offseason), that leaves us with
~$40-42 mil in cap space with the following players still under contract...
PG - Fox / Mitchell
SG - Huerter
SF - Murray
PF -
C - Sabonis
Picks - 2023 SAC 1st / 2023 IND 2nd / 2023 SAC 2nd / 2024 DAL 2nd
But even if we resigned Sabonis to the max during the 2024 offseason, we still could have a lot of cap space during the 2025 offseason if we are maintaining flexibility with the contracts we have signed in 2023 and 2024. For the 2025 season, Sabonis would be making $44 mil, Fox would be making $37 mil, Huerter would be making $18 mil, Murray would be making $11 mil, our 2023 SAC 1st would be making around $5 mil (I'm guessing), Mitchell would have a cap hold of $12 mil, and our 2025 SAC 1st would have a cap hold of $3-5 mil (I'm guessing). If the salary cap jumps up to $171 mil like some are anticipating, we could have
~$35 mil in cap space with the following players under contract...
PG - Fox / Mitchell
SG - Huerter
SF - Murray
PF -
C - Sabonis
Picks - 2023 SAC 1st / 2023 IND 2nd / 2023 SAC 2nd / 2024 DAL 2nd / 2025 SAC 1st / 2025 SAC 2nd / 2025 POR 2nd
TLDR: McNair could have ample cap space in 2023, 2024, and 2025 which maybe allows him to be patient and sign someone notable when the timing is right.