Lakers, Celtics, Clippers, Nets To Battle For 40-Percent Flamethrower

CLEVELAND — The ripple effects of a shifting market have created an unexpected opportunity for teams seeking elite perimeter depth. The Lakers, Celtics, Clippers, Nets to battle for 40-percent 3-and-D swingman. Front offices are evaluating their cap sheets to land the dynamic Keon Ellis.Cleveland Cavaliers’ recent choice to fully prioritize retaining forward Dean Wade to navigate their luxury tax compliance means that Ellis will be hitting the open market as an unrestricted asset.

Lakers, Celtics, Clippers, Nets To Battle For 40-Percent Flamethrower

According to updated data on the Spotrac team cap tracker for the upcoming 2026-27 season, these high-profile franchises have clear paths to secure his services. The league luxury tax line for the upcoming year is set at $201 million, with the punitive first apron resting at $210 million.

Under current collective bargaining rules, any interested franchise that utilizes more than $5.6 million of their non-taxpayer mid-level exception will trigger a hard cap explicitly at that first apron line. For competitive rosters monitoring their spending, finding a way to shed or bypass cap space will grant direct access to Ellis without crippling their  flexibility. He figures to be worth around the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($15.1 million). A team could negotiate for slightly less.

The Pacific Division Arm Race: Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers

The two franchises sharing Southern California are both highly motivated to upgrade their backcourt point-of-attack defense. The Lakers are actively looking to diversify their bench rotation after a top-heavy postseason run left them vulnerable against deeper rosters. If Rob Pelinka really wants to, Los Angeles can easily absorb Keon Ellis into their rotation while avoiding any hard-cap triggers beneath the first apron line.

In Inglewood, the Clippers find themselves in a similar boat. While the front office will focus heavily on retaining core pieces (Bennedict Mathurin and John Collins), adding a lethal 40-percent perimeter shooter in Ellis completely fits their drive-and-kick system. The Clippers can open up the necessary cap flexibility by making minor roster trims, allowing them to use a chunk of their mid-level exception without pushing past the first apron threshold.

The East Coast Contenders: Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets

The Eastern Conference houses two more prime destinations looking to enter the sweepstakes. The Boston Celtics are managing a frugal championship core and must be highly precise with their auxiliary spending. By moving a depth contract or shedding matching salary in an off-season trade, Boston can comfortably carve out the resources required to integrate Ellis as a plug-and-play spacer behind their starting guards.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets possess the flexibility required to make an aggressive run. Unlike tax-strapped rosters, Brooklyn can comfortably offer a $15 million contract to the wing without any stress to their baseline cap sheet. With the open market setting in, the Nets can offer a significant rotational role and immediate minutes, making them a very dangerous dark horse against the elite teams.

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