Over the next week, Hoops Rumors will be taking a closer look at each NBA team’s current roster situation, evaluating which clubs still have some moves to make and which ones seem most prepared for training camp to begin.
This series is meant to provide a snapshot of each team’s roster at this time, so these articles won’t be updated in the coming weeks as more signings, trades, and/or cuts are made. You can follow our roster counts page to keep tabs on teams’ open spots as opening night nears.
We’re beginning our pre-camp Roster Snapshot series today with the Atlantic Division. Let’s dive in…
Boston Celtics
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 14
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
The Celtics are at their 21-man limit, so this could be the roster they take into training camp during the first week of October. It also wouldn’t be a surprise if the 14 players on guaranteed contracts and three on two-way deals are the ones who are on Boston’s opening night roster.
Outside of the usual shuffling in and out of Exhibit 10 players, there are two minor storylines to keep an eye on here. One, will Walker – who has 322 NBA regular season games under his belt – make the team as a 15th man? And two, what are the Celtics’ plans for Jay Scrubb?
Scrubb was set to start the 2023/24 season on a two-way contract with the Celtics before he tore his ACL, resulting in his release just ahead of opening night. A report this offseason indicated the team plans to bring him back on an Exhibit 10 contract once he’s fully recovered from his ACL surgery. If he shows he’s back to 100% health, could he be in the mix for a two-way spot?
Brooklyn Nets
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 13
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 2
- Keon Johnson (partial guarantee), Jalen Wilson (partial guarantee)
- Players on two-way contracts: 1
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 4
- Mark Armstrong (Exhibit 10), Amari Bailey (Exhibit 10), Killian Hayes (Exhibit 10), KJ Jones (Exhibit 10)
The Nets have several Exhibit 10 agreements to finalize and a pair of two-way slots to fill. It’s possible the club will leave those two-way spots open during the preseason and allow their camp invitees to compete for them (of the presumed Exhibit 10 signees, only Hayes is ineligible for a two-way). They may also keep their eye out for intriguing targets cut by other teams ahead of opening night.
Johnson ($250K) and Wilson ($75K) each have modest partial guarantees for now, but those guarantees will increase to $700K and $325K, respectively, if they make the opening night roster. While Wilson is the safer bet of the two to survive the preseason cuts, it’s possible both players will open the season with the club.
New York Knicks
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 14
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 2
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 1
- Alex O’Connell (Exhibit 10)
The Knicks are well above the luxury tax line and may not feel compelled to carry a full 15-man standard roster into the regular season, but Morris and Shamet are quality NBA veterans who deserve a look. I’d be a little surprised if both are waived at the end of the preseason.
While more minor moves could happen before camp tips off, the Knicks would be at their 21-man preseason roster limit if they simply finalize their reported deal with O’Connell.
Philadelphia 76ers
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 13
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 1
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
There shouldn’t be any surprises in Philadelphia ahead of training camp, though the team still has some breathing room below the second tax apron to add a 15th man to its projected standard roster, if it so chooses.
If the Sixers intend to carry a 14-man roster into the season, filling out the preseason roster will likely just be a matter of signing two more camp invitees to Exhibit 10 contracts to get to 21 players.
Toronto Raptors
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 14
- Players on non-guaranteed standard contracts: 1
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 1
- Quincy Guerrier (Exhibit 10)
As is the case with the Knicks and O’Connell, the Raptors could finalize their training camp roster by simply signing Guerrier to his reported Exhibit 10 contract, though that doesn’t necessarily have to happen before camp begins. If the goal is simply to secure Guerrier’s G League rights, he could be signed-and-waived at any time before opening night.
Shuttling Exhibit 10 players on and off the roster could allow the Raptors to bring in another veteran free agent to compete with Fernando for the final spot on the standard 15-man roster, though there have been no reports so far suggesting that’s the plan.