Salary Cap Projections for the League and Pelicans

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Looking ahead to the 2014 offseason, which teams will have cap room this summer?

The league’s early projections for next year’s salary cap is $62.9 million, up from this year’s $58.7 million. The luxury tax threshold is also expected to climb to approximately $75.7 million from $71.7 million.

...New Orleans Pelicans (26-38)
Projected 1st Round Pick: None (to Philadelphia 76ers, top-five protected)
Projected Cap Space: None

The Pelicans have a sizable investment in Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson.

Their best player, Anthony Davis, is a more economical $5.6 million on his rookie contract.

Anthony Morrow has a player option at the minimum. Jeff Withey and Luke Babbitt aren’t guaranteed, also at the minimum. Brian Roberts and Darius Miller are eligible for $1.1 million qualifying offers to become restricted free agents.

If Morrow walks and the Pelicans clean house of anyone non-guaranteed, the team can muster about $6.3 million of cap room — which isn’t much more than a Mid-Level Exception (MLE) at $5.3 million.

The Pelicans do not project to be a cap team.

Unless New Orleans wins a top-three pick in the lottery, they will send their first-round pick to the 76ers.

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Eric Pincus is a Lakers beat writer for the LA times and he keeps track of all the team salary information for BasketballInsiders. So he's about as reliable on the subject as we can get with out an official press release on what the new cap will be. Keep in mind, the rumors were that the cap would go up to about $61 million last year and that didn't happen.