Hoops Rumors is in the process of 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 continuing our pre-camp Roster Snapshot series today with the Pacific Division. Let’s dive in…
Golden State Warriors
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 12
- Kyle Anderson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, De’Anthony Melton, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins
- 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
- Unsigned draft picks: 1
The Warriors are hard-capped at the first tax apron and are currently less than $1MM away from that threshold, so carrying a full 15-man standard roster won’t be an option to start the season. That doesn’t mean roster changes aren’t possible, since either Santos or Waters could be replaced with a minimum-salary player. However, recent reporting suggested that Golden State will probably stick with those two for opening night, despite recently working out several veteran free agents.
The Warriors have been in the process of shuffling Exhibit 10 players on and off the roster, having waived Donta Scott, Yuri Collins, and Javan Johnson within the last few days. That process figures to continue.
One key outstanding question in Golden State is which two-way player will be cut to make room for Post — the No. 52 overall pick is expected to receive a two-way contract of his own, but either Beekman, Plowden, or Spencer will have to be waived to open up a spot.
Two-way players who are holdovers from the prior season are generally more in danger of losing their roster spots than newly signed players, which is why I’d long viewed Spencer as the Warriors’ most likely release candidate. However, the fact that the College Park Skyhawks recently surrendered a G League draft pick in a trade for Plowden’s returning rights is a signal that he could be the odd man out. Complicating matters further? Beekman was easily the trio’s least effective performer in Summer League play. I wouldn’t necessarily assume that any one of these three players is entirely safe.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 15
- Mohamed Bamba, Nicolas Batum, Kobe Brown, Cam Christie, Amir Coffey, Kris Dunn, James Harden, Bones Hyland, Derrick Jones, Kawhi Leonard, Terance Mann, Kevin Porter Jr., Norman Powell, P.J. Tucker, Ivica Zubac
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
- Players on two-way contracts: 2
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 1
With 15 players on standard guaranteed contracts, the Clippers‘ standard roster looks pretty set for opening night. They’d probably like to find a taker for Tucker’s expiring contract, but I wouldn’t count on that happening before the season begins.
There’s still work to be done with the Clippers’ two-way contracts though. Even if Flowers and Miller keep their spots, the club will almost certainly add a third player to that group prior to the start of the regular season. Of the camp invitees on Exhibit 10 contracts, Jones – the 19th overall pick in 2021 – looks like the most intriguing option for that final two-way slot.
Meanwhile, the reporting on Williams’ alleged agreement with the Clippers was somewhat vague and has yet to be corroborated, so it’s unclear if and when that signing will be finalized and what kind of contract he’ll get. It’s possible Williams could be among the players in the mix for the final two-way spot.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 15
- Max Christie, Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Bronny James, LeBron James, Dalton Knecht, Maxwell Lewis, Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 1
Like the Clippers, the Lakers have one or more potential salary-dump candidates among their 15 guaranteed players on guaranteed contracts, but those trade opportunities are more likely to materialize during the regular season than during the preseason. I’d expect the 15 players on standard contracts listed above to be the ones on the Lakers’ opening night roster.
The Lakers have shown already this offseason that they don’t mind shaking up their two-way spots — they signed Blake Hinson to a two-year, two-way contract in July, only to waive him a couple months later in favor of Koloko. It’s possible the team will make another change to that group (Goodwin, notably, is eligible to converted). Otherwise, we should just expect minor Exhibit 10 signings and cuts in the coming weeks.
Phoenix Suns
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 14
- Grayson Allen, Bradley Beal, Bol Bol, Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant, Oso Ighodaro, Tyus Jones, Damion Lee, Monte Morris, Jusuf Nurkic, Royce O’Neale Josh Okogie, Mason Plumlee
- Players on Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
- Players on two-way contracts: 3
- Players who have reportedly reached contract agreements: 3
This is the first time in a few years that the Suns have had a G League team of their own, so we’ll see just how many affiliate and returning-rights players they sign to Exhibit 10 contracts prior to the season. If they complete their reported deals with Buie, Diakite, and Samuel, they’ll be at the 21-man roster limit, but more transactions are certainly a possibility.
The Suns, who had been carrying 16 players on guaranteed contracts, opened up a spot on their projected 15-man regular season roster by waiving both Nassir Little and E.J. Liddell last month. Given that they stretched both players’ salaries in an effort to reduce their projected tax bill, I imagine they aren’t all that eager to fill that 15th spot with a new addition right away — that may not happen until later in the season.
Sacramento Kings
- Players on guaranteed standard contracts: 12
- Devin Carter, DeMar DeRozan, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Colby Jones, Alex Len, Trey Lyles, Jalen McDaniels, Jordan McLaughlin, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis
- 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: 2
The Kings are in a similar spot to the Warriors. With just 12 players on fully guaranteed contracts, plus two more without full guarantees, Sacramento theoretically has some room to make changes at the back of its roster. But adding a 15th man would push the team’s salary into luxury tax territory. Plus, Keon Ellis should have a rotation role and Robinson has a $500K partial guarantee, so neither looks like a great candidate to be cut before opening night.
While Sacramento could carry a 15th man into the season and worry down the road about ducking out of the tax, I don’t expect that to be the plan unless the club is hit hard by injuries in the preseason. For what it’s worth, the Kings are already dealing with one injury — Carter is expected to be sidelined until at least January as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Even if they were to finalize the Labissiere and Taylor signings today, the Kings would still have an open spot on their 21-man preseason roster, so more Exhibit 10 signings (and cuts) are likely coming. We’ll see if any of those players, including Boogie Ellis, get a shot to unseat Crawford or the Joneses for a two-way spot or whether Sacramento is content to carry its current two-way players into the season.
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