We've all been looking close at the FAs and thinking about how much it would take to sign them.  I'm starting to wonder what the actual pool of money out there looks like.  Lets have a look at the teams in the east, and what they're planning to sign this summer.

Atlanta is going to use their money locking up Marvin Williams.  A qualifying offer of 7.3 mil is there to let everyone else know they mean business.  They'll try to re-sign Bibby because they're comfortable with him.  The Hawks need a true PG, but don't want to pay for one right now.  (Ben, I caught you cheatin on Peachtree Hoops.)

The Boston Celtics have a full MLE extended to Rasheed Wallace.  Apparently, he's keeping them waiting with his answer, to hear out other offers.  Apparently, this is making Boston fans kinda nervous that Plan B will evaporate while Plan A is taking it's time.  Plan B, by the way, is to split the MLE for Grant Hill and Antonio McDyess (They won't be that blessed.  Only the Lakers are that blessed.)

Charlotte isn't the worst train wreck in the league anymore, but they'll still be in contention for at least the next two years.  They've got the full MLE then they'll be pushing on the tax, but they don't want to spend much.  The best player the Bobcats are even considering is Anthony Carter as a backup to Raymond Felton.

According to BlogABull, despite losing Ben Gordon, Chicago is strapped financially, and won't really be able to improve for next year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have the full MLE and the 2 mil bi-annual up for grabs, and intend to use as much of it as neccesary to get either a former Pistons big, or a tall wing player like Grant Hill, Anthony Parker, Marquis Daniels, Josh Childress or Matt Barnes.

Detroit may not be signing anyone else, after their spending spree on Ben Gordon and Charlie V, but they're not done making moves.  Expect either Rip Hamilton or Rodney Stuckey (I would automatically assume Hamilton if not for all of the statements out there by the team that he's staying.) to be traded before the season starts.  With the firing of Coach Curry, the Pistons are in full blow it up mode.

Indiana has 8 mil to spend, but they are looking for bargain players.  They're reportedly interested in Dahntay Jones (less than a mil last year), Anthony Carter, and Linas Kleiza.  (Kleiza would be a great addition to fill out the Magic's SF rotation, BTW.)  Pacer's GM Larry Bird say's they're in the midst of a "three year plan."  Nothing flashy...

While D-Wade would prefer that Miami pick up some help so that they can win now, they are in 2010 mode.  Don't expect much, although it's rumored that Iverson might be interested in going to the Heat.  (To play PG to Wade's SG?  That doesn't sound like a match made in heaven to me.)  Riley wants to stand pat.

Milwaukee is looking at a full MLE that they might throw at Josh Childress, but that would prevent them from re-signing Ramon Sessions, who they would really like to keep around, in case Brandon Jennings is as bad as some scouts have been saying.  (They drafted him because he might be as good as some scouts are saying, but it sounds, overall, like it's more athletics than skill and intelligence that's the buzz around Jennings.)  If they re-sign Sessions, the Bucks are still going to have maybe half of an MLE to play with, until they move Bruce Bowen and Kurt Thomas in late August...

New York has offered Jason Kidd something in the range of 18 mil for 3 years, which is solid full MLE territory.  Dallas offered him 25.  So it seems the Knicks may still be on the hunt, maybe for a Grant Hill, or something else old.  Seems Donnie Walsh's interested in old this year.  Can't fathom why.

The Philadelphia fanbase seems extremely downtrodden, as a side note.  To be honest, they don't seem to really have a direction this off-season, other than figuring out their PG spot.  They don't like the idea of giving a long term contract to Andre Miller.  They want a PG who's going to hold that spot for their rookie, (former HS player of the year) Jrue Holiday for two years.  They threw out Brevin Knight...  If that's not giving up on next year, I don't know what is...

The Washington Wizards have pretty much nothing to spend, but they're looking for a cheap big.

That boils down to either two above MLE deals, three MLEs, and five sub MLEs, unless Cleveland splits their money up, in which case we're looking at one, four, and six.  I'll expect the latter.  The Bucks re-signing Sessions would move one of those MLEs to a sub MLE as well.