If the cap doesn’t rise above this season’s $109 million per team, or even falls a bit, the Hornets could still be $20 million or more below the cap. They could leverage other teams’ needs to trim payroll. That could mean acquiring a quality veteran without giving up much in trade or absorbing a contract in return for a draft pick. “We don’t know what the cap is going to be. Fortunately for us, we’re not contract-heavy,” said Kupchak. He knows his phone will ring come October, with teams looking to deal. “Cap room is generally considered a valuable asset,” Kupchak said. “Whether it’s to sign players or acquire a player in trade.”