Nate Robinson had his contract guaranteed today, as we outlined this morning, but Robinson represents the last non-guaranteed player with an early guarantee date. The rest of the NBA's players on non-guaranteed deals will need to remain on their respective team's roster through January 10th.
To avoid being on the hook for a full-season salary for players on non-guaranteed deals, a team must waive the player on or before January 7th, in order to ensure the players clears waivers before the 10th. As such, we're less than a week away from a number of new names hitting the free agent market, and a handful of clubs opening up roster spots.
We're not 100% sure which of the players currently on NBA rosters are on non-guaranteed deals, since that hasn't been reported for many of the contracts signed since the season began. However, based on contract databases at sites such as Storytellers Contracts, ShamSports, and HoopsWorld, we have a pretty good idea about which players may be on the bubble.
Listed below are all the players assumed to be on non-guaranteed deals. Within the next week, they'll either be released or will have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season. If they're cut, they'll receive a pro-rated salary based on their service to date. All contracts are worth the minimum salary unless otherwise indicated:
76ers: Maalik Wayns
Bobcats: Jeff Adrien
Bucks: None
Bulls: None
Cavaliers: Daniel Gibson ($4.79MM salary; $2.79MM guaranteed), Kevin Jones, Samardo Samuels, Shaun Livingston
Celtics: Kris Joseph, Jarvis Varnado
Clippers: None
Grizzlies: None
Hawks: Kyle Korver ($5MM salary; $500K guaranteed)
Heat: Josh Harrellson, Terrel Harris
Hornets: Dominic McGuire, Brian Roberts, Lance Thomas
Jazz: Kevin Murphy, Jamaal Tinsley
Kings: None
Knicks: Chris Copeland, Rasheed Wallace
Lakers: Robert Sacre, Darius Johnson-Odom
Magic: DeQuan Jones
Mavericks: Chris Douglas-Roberts
Nets: Andray Blatche
Nuggets: None
Pacers: Ben Hansbrough, Sam Young
Pistons: None
Raptors: Mickael Pietrus
Rockets: Greg Smith ($381K guaranteed), Scott Machado ($237K guaranteed)
Spurs: Gary Neal
Suns: Diante Garrett, Luke Zeller
Thunder: DeAndre Liggins, Daniel Orton
Timberwolves: Lazar Hayward
Trail Blazers: None
Warriors: Kent Bazemore
Wizards: Shelvin Mack, Garrett Temple