With just one week left in the NBA’s regular season, there are still a number of teams around the league with open roster spots, and there’s little downside to filling those openings before the regular season ends.
For playoff teams, adding one more player would create a little extra depth in the event of postseason injuries or garbage-time minutes. For non-playoff teams, it makes sense to try to convince a young player to accept a multiyear deal that includes little or no guaranteed money beyond this season, since it gives those teams another option for next year’s roster.
Even clubs over the luxury tax line or right up against it shouldn’t have a problem paying one more player a prorated minimum salary for the last day or two of the season — the prorated minimum for a veteran on a rest-of-season deal is just $10,552 per day, which is a drop in the bucket for NBA franchises.
With all that in mind, it’s safe to assume that some – if not all – of the teams with open roster spots should fill them by next Sunday. Here are those teams:
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets *
- Charlotte Hornets *
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- New York Knicks
- Phoenix Suns ^
- Utah Jazz #
The two teams marked with an asterisk (*) here technically have full 15-man rosters as of today, but one of their players is on a 10-day contract. That’s Moses Brown for the Nets and Xavier Sneed for the Hornets. Both of those contracts run through Thursday night before expiring, so Brooklyn and Charlotte will have the opportunity to sign a player to a rest-of-season or multiyear deal at that time.
The Suns (^) have a full 15-man standard roster but have an open two-way contract slot alongside Saben Lee. It’s possible Phoenix won’t bother signing someone to fill that opening, since two-way players aren’t eligible to play in the postseason and the Suns don’t have a G League affiliate (the NBAGL season is just about over anyway).
As for the Jazz (#), they currently have one open spot on their 15-man standard roster and will open up a second when Luka Samanic‘s 10-day contract expires on Thursday night. So Utah could technically bring in two new players before season’s end without waiving anyone.
The rest of the teams on this list – the Celtics, Rockets, Lakers, and Knicks – are carrying 14 players on standard contracts, leaving one spot available.
Boston and New York are postseason-bound and L.A. is in good position to join them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean each of those teams will sign a “win-now” veteran as a 15th man. They already have enough depth on their respective rosters that they may prefer to promote a player from the G League on a multiyear deal, assuming they decide to fill those openings at all. Boston and L.A. are taxpayers, so a signing would cost them a little more than just $10,552 per day.
If Moses Brown isn’t playoff-eligible for the Nets, I think they will either elevate one of their two-ways or sign one of the players from the LI Nets. Though it’s unlikely, I believe they could sign Nerlens Noel to a rest-of-season contract to have him for the playoffs since his 10-day contract expired and he wasn’t resigned. Could the Knicks sign Moses Brown for the playoffs since he was a two-way for them.
No one wants to play for the Celtics. Terrible organization. That’s why they can’t sign anyone. Pretty sad for a team a top of the standings
Didn’t Malcolm Brogdon choose Boston over other teams? Isn’t Danilo Gallinari trying to come back early to play for the Celtics? Doesn’t Blake Griffin look happy as a lark? I’d bet Luke Kornet loves it here, getting minutes & being praised by Brad Stevens. I’m not sure where you’re getting your information. Go Celtics!
Boston is always bashed. Tony Snell will be 15 or Kabengale will get add to normal roster for the Celtics. Slight chance for Valentine.
Bring Juwan Morgan back
I don’t see why the Jazz don’t sign Samanic the rest of the season? I guess if there’s a personality clash, but that’s about it.
I suppose they could still make a trade after the season ends. Don’t remember how that works with salaries and deadlines. For example, the Jazz traded Royce just before the Summer deadline and therefore didn’t have to pay his salary = No luxury tax or something like that.