Training Camp Survivors

Ten players achieved a significant goal Tuesday just by remaining on their respective rosters. All of them signed non-guaranteed contracts for the minimum salary this summer, essentially making them training camp invitees with slim chances of surviving preseason cuts. As they watched most others on make-good deals fail to hang on until opening night, these guys stuck around, with Tuesday’s date of January 7th circled on their calendars. That’s the de facto leaguewide contract guarantee date, which was officially set for today but in practice comes three days early to accommodate the 48-hour waiver process. Everyone who had a non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contract was assured of a full-season salary after Tuesday, but the smiles had to have been especially wide on the faces of those who overcame the longest odds to make it happen.

A few of the names on this list represent some of the league’s best success stories this season, with former No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley reviving his career in Miami, and Xavier Henry of the Lakers, another one-time lottery pick, finally delivering on his potential. Other players appear to have remained on their teams merely to provide necessary depth, like Cole Aldrich and A.J. Price, who put together have played a total of only 100 minutes.

Not listed are players who signed their contracts prior to this summer or after the regular season began, or who received partial guarantees or more than the minimum salary. All of the players below are on one-year pacts except Brandon Davies, whose fully non-guaranteed contract with the Sixers covers four years.

• Cole Aldrich, Knicks
• Michael Beasley, Heat
• Rasual Butler, Pacers
• Brandon Davies, Sixers
• Xavier Henry, Lakers
• Robbie Hummel, Timberwolves
• Ryan Kelly, Lakers
• Roger Mason Jr., Heat
• Toure’ Murry, Knicks
• A.J. Price, Timberwolves

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