The NBA’s rules require teams to carry a minimum of 14 players on their standard 15-man roster (not counting two-way contracts). However, teams are permitted to dip below 14 players for up to two weeks at a time, and that often happens around the trade deadline when clubs send out multiple players in a deal without acquiring as many in return.
Entering this week, there were six NBA teams who were carrying only 13 players on standard contracts. However, the Heat filled their two open roster spots by signing Kevin Love and Cody Zeller, while the Bucks are reportedly signing Meyers Leonard to a 10-day contract to be their 14th man (they’ll have to finalize that deal by Thursday).
That leaves four teams with roster moves to make in the coming days, as our roster counts page shows. Here’s the breakdown:
New York Knicks
The Knicks had a full 15-man roster heading into trade deadline day, but they sent out three players – Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, and Svi Mykhailiuk – in the multi-team deal that landed Josh Hart in New York.
As a result, the Knicks have been carrying just 13 players on standard contracts since February 9 and will have until this Thursday to add at least one player to their roster. Two-way player DaQuan Jeffries has been mentioned as a candidate for a possible promotion.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets didn’t make any mismatched trades at the February 9 deadline, but they already had one open roster spot at that time and created another when they bought out Reggie Jackson after acquiring him from the Clippers.
Since Jackson was officially waived on February 12, the Hornets’ two-week window to add a 14th man will close on Feb. 26, so they still have a few days to make a decision on that spot. Promoting a two-way player (Theo Maledon or Bryce McGowens) is one option for Charlotte, though the team could also target a free agent for either a 10-day or rest-of-season contract.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets made a series of cuts after the trade deadline passed, waiving John Wall and buying out Danny Green and Justin Holiday. They did sign Boban Marjanovic during that time as well, so they only have two openings on their roster, rather than three. But they’ll have to add a 14th man by February 27, two weeks after Holiday was officially cut.
Again, the Rockets could choose to promote a two-way player, but Darius Days or Trevor Hudgins have barely played at the NBA level this season, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Houston opt for a free agent or a G League call-up instead.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz had a full roster entering February 9, but traded four players for three in their deal with the Lakers and Timberwolves. They subsequently created two more roster openings by buying out Leandro Bolmaro (on Feb. 16) and Russell Westbrook (on Monday).
Because they first dipped below the 14-man minimum last Thursday, Utah will have until next Thursday (March 2) to add two players.
The 29-31 Jazz remain very much in the play-in mix, just a half-game behind the No. 10 Thunder, so it’s possible they could have interest in a veteran who could contribute immediately.
On the other hand, the Jazz’s deadline moves suggested management wasn’t focused on going all-out for a top-10 seed, so they may rather bring in young players they could develop — Utah could potentially sign those players to multiyear contracts that aren’t guaranteed beyond this season, allowing the team to take cheap fliers on a couple prospects.
[Note: The Jazz reached agreements to sign Frank Jackson and Kris Dunn to 10-day contracts a few hours after this story was published.]
Jazz should really add a true playmaking guard like Rondo, Elfrid Payton, or Brandon Goodwin. That’s the one thing they completely lack after trading Conley and releasing Westbrook. Sexton, THT, and Clarkson are all more SG than PG. Idk if Rondo would be interested in joining a non-contender, but Goodwin or Payton should be jumping at the chance to play with anyone who will let them.
I don’t think the Jazz want to win immediately. Therefore they’ll probably opt to develop someone instead of going with a veteran.
I don’t either, but I sincerely doubt any of those three will move the needle in a competitive direction. Instead, they should have an eye on seeing what a balanced roster looks like and try to get the aforementioned SGs to start trying to pass more.
I’d argue that the Knicks and Jazz would also want to fill the 15th spot as well by March 1. They could send the additional players to their G-League teams for playing time, if necessary, but any team that has a shot at the playoffs should fill the depth on its roster with playoff eligible players in case of injury.
I’d include another team that many wouldn’t among those that should fill their 15-man standard contract slots by March 1 for injury protection in the event of a playoff run. Orlando is four games out of the play-in. They could fill the spot with a player on a ten-day contract, renew it, then sign the player for the rest of the season if the team gained any ground.
Players don’t have to be signed by March 1 in order to be playoff-eligible — they just have to be waived by their old team by then.
For instance, if Will Barton is waived on Feb. 25 and doesn’t sign until April 5, he’s still playoff-eligible. But he wouldn’t be playoff-eligible if he’s waived on March 2 and signs with a new team on March 5.
Barton a good acquisition by NYK
I’m surprised Barton was picked up. Hope he has a Nunn-like try-out for the Knicks.
He can keep Fournier & Rose company on the Bench if it doesn’t work, and NY has lost nothing but a roster spot they needed to fill.
i mean nyk should acquire him as a bench sparkplug
I’m thinking that unless they have players in mind, they should bring up Juzang and Jackson from the G-League. Both can handle the ball and score. They’re worth looking at more closely. Then add a free agent PG or possibly another PF.
If the Knicks play .500 ball these final 22 games, you think they avoid the play-in? Alot of the teams vying for positioning hav just about the same strength of schedule for their remaining games.
Luke: Is Stanley Johnson still available off waivers? I feel the NYK should grab him as another strong wing defender for the playoff run.
Yep, he’s a free agent.
Gotcha! So if he can be signed for the veterans minimum, it keeps NYK under the cap?
They’re over the cap, but they could sign him to a minimum-salary deal and stay below the tax line.
I should have qualified…the luxury tax. They below, correct?