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October 31st represents the deadline by which fourth-year players must sign extensions with their current teams or become ticketed for free agency next summer. However, that's not the only deadline that many teams will face as Halloween approaches.

A player entering the third year of his rookie contract is under contract for the 2012/13 season, but not necessarily for the 2013/14 season — that year is a team option. Rather than getting to make that option decision next summer, teams must decide by October 31st whether to exercise the option or turn it down. A declined option means that the player will hit unrestricted free agency next summer, rather than restricted free agency in 2014.

For the most part, these fourth-year options will be exercised. The cost is generally small enough and the first-round pedigree is strong enough that most teams would prefer to keep their young players around for another year. But that's not always the case. Last year, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Hasheem Thabeet were among the third-year guys to have their fourth-year options declined, making them free agents this offseason. Flynn and Williams are still looking for work.

Here's the complete list of players for whom a fourth-year option decision is due by October 31st, sorted by team. The salary for the 2013/14 option year is in parentheses:

• 76ers: Evan Turner ($6.68MM)
• Bucks: Ekpe Udoh ($4.47MM), Larry Sanders ($3.05MM)
• Celtics: Avery Bradley ($2.51MM)
• Clippers: Eric Bledsoe ($2.63MM)
• Grizzlies: Quincy Pondexter ($2.23MM)
• Hornets: Al-Farouq Aminu ($3.75MM), Xavier Henry ($3.2MM), Greivis Vasquez ($2.15MM)
• Jazz: Derrick Favors ($6.01MM), Gordon Hayward ($3.45MM)
• Kings: DeMarcus Cousins ($4.92MM)
• Magic: Christian Eyenga ($2.12MM)
• Mavericks: Dominique Jones ($2.3MM)
• Pacers: Paul George ($3.28MM)
• Pistons: Greg Monroe ($4.09MM)
• Raptors: Ed Davis ($3.15MM)
• Rockets: Patrick Patterson ($3.11MM)
• Suns: Wesley Johnson ($5.42MM)
• Thunder: Cole Aldrich ($3.25MM), Lazar Hayward ($2.12MM)
• Trail Blazers: Luke Babbitt ($2.9MM), Elliot Williams ($2.37MM)
• Wizards: John Wall ($7.46MM), Kevin Seraphin ($2.76MM), Trevor Booker ($2.35MM), Jordan Crawford ($2.16MM)

Earlier today, we listed the fourth-year players who are eligible for contract extensions of up to five years. The criteria for those players are fairly simple: If you're still playing on the deal you signed as a first-round draft pick and you're entering the final year of that contract, you're extension-eligible.

For veteran players, however, the criteria are a bit more convoluted. As Larry Coon explains in his invaluable CBA FAQ, veteran contracts of less than four years cannot be extended. However, longer deals can be extended in the following scenarios:

• If a player is on a four-, five-, or six-year deal, it can be extended three years after it was signed.
• If a player previously signed a contract extension, his contract can be extended again three years after the extension was signed.
• If a player previously renegotiated his contract, his deal can be extended three years after the renegotiation was signed, if his salary was increased by more than 10%.

Given the specific circumstances required for a veteran contract extension, not a ton of players are eligible for them in any given year. Veteran extensions can also be for no more than four years, which includes the current season, meaning a player in the final year of his deal could only add three new seasons.

As such, top extension-eligible veterans (Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, etc.) are more likely to wait until free agency, where they can maximize their earnings. On the other hand, many extension-eligible players such as DeSagana Diop, Hedo Turkoglu, and Charlie Villanueva have virtually no chance of receiving new deals from their current teams, who are just waiting to clear those salaries.

Still, somewhere in the middle, there are a handful of players that we can reasonably expect to at least discuss the possibility of a contract extension with their respective teams at some point before next June. Here's the complete list, by my count, of veteran players currently eligible for extensions:

• 76ers: Andrew Bynum
• Bobcats: Matt Carroll, DeSagana Diop
• Bucks: Monta Ellis, Beno Udrih
• Bulls: Luol Deng
• Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao, Luke Walton
• Clippers: Lamar Odom, Chris Paul
• Hawks: Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Smith
• Jazz: Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Marvin Williams, Mo Williams
• Kings: Francisco Garcia
• Lakers: Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace
• Magic: Hedo Turkoglu
• Mavericks: Dahntay Jones, Shawn Marion
• Nuggets: Andre Iguodala
• Pacers: Danny Granger
• Pistons: Corey Maggette, Jason Maxiell, Charlie Villanueva
• Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon
• Rockets: Kevin Martin
• Spurs: Stephen Jackson
• Suns: Marcin Gortat
• Timberwolves: Chase Budinger
• Warriors: Andris Biedrins, Andrew Bogut, Jarrett Jack
• Wizards: Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor

Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this list.

While there are a number of different forms of contract extensions available to players under the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the most common type of extension is for guys entering the final year of their rookie scale contract. Unlike veteran extensions, which only add up to three new years to a player's current contract, rookie contract extensions can add up to five new years.

Blake Griffin became the first of 2012's extension-eligible fourth-year players to ink a new deal, agreeing to a five-year, maximum-salary contract with the Clippers early in July. Serge Ibaka and the Thunder finalized a four-year, $49MM extension a few weeks later. Griffin's and Ibaka's deals mean that a pair of prime extension candidates are locked up, but there are still plenty of rookie-scale players eligible for extensions. If they don't sign long-term deals with their current teams by October 31st, they'll become free agents next summer.

We've examined a number of these fourth-year, extension-eligible players in our Extension Candidate series, but here's the complete list, sorted by team:

• 76ers: Jrue Holiday
• Bobcats: Gerald Henderson, B.J. Mullens
• Bucks: Brandon Jennings
• Bulls: Taj Gibson
• Cavaliers: Omri Casspi
• Grizzlies: Wayne Ellington
• Hawks: Jeff Teague
• Kings: Tyreke Evans, James Johnson
• Mavericks: Rodrigue Beaubois, Darren Collison
• Nuggets: Ty Lawson
• Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough
• Pistons: Austin Daye
• Raptors: DeMar DeRozan
• Rockets: Toney Douglas
• Thunder: James Harden, Eric Maynor
• Warriors: Stephen Curry

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You can keep up with the offseason's free agent signings with the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Tracker, but that only tells one part of the player movement story. Here's a roundup of the offseason's trades, with the latest moves on top. Click the date above for details on the transaction. You can find out more about the trade exceptions changing hands by checking out our Outstanding Trade Exceptions post.

August 10th: 

• The Magic get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Josh McRoberts, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Christian Eyenga, a protected 2014 first-round pick (from the Nuggets), a protected 2015 first-round pick (from the Sixers), a protected 2017 first-round pick (from the Lakers), the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick (from the Nuggets), and a conditional 2015 second-round pick (from the Lakers).
• The Nuggets get Andre Iguodala.
• The Sixers get Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson. 
• The Lakers get Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark.

July 30th: 

• The Clippers get Willie Green.
• The Hawks get the rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis.

July 27th: 

• The Hornets get Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and $1.15MM.
• The Suns get Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Jerome Dyson, and a 2013 first-round pick (from Timberwolves).
• The Timberwolves get a 2013 second-round pick (from Hornets), a 2014 second-round pick (from Suns) and a 2016 second-round pick (from Hornets).

July 25th: 

• The Cavaliers get Jeremy Pargo, a 2014 second-round pick and cash.
• The Grizzlies get D.J. Kennedy.

July 24th:

• The Timberwolves get Dante Cunningham.
• The Grizzlies get Wayne Ellington.

July 20th: 

• The Celtics get Courtney Lee.
• The Rockets get JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, Sean Williams, Bobcats' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and the rights to Jon Diebler.
• The Trail Blazers get Sasha Pavlovic, the Celtics' 2013 second-round pick, the Timberwolves' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and cash.

July 16th:

• The Knicks get Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas.
• The Trail Blazers get Jared Jeffries, Dan Gadzuric, the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou, the rights to Giorgos Printezis, cash, and a 2016 second-round pick.

July 16th:

• The Hawks get Kyle Korver.
• The Bulls get cash.

July 16th:

• The Kings get James Johnson.
• The Raptors get a 2014 second-round pick.

July 13th:

• The Hornets get Brad Miller, a 2013 second-round pick (from the Nets) and a 2016-second round pick (from the Timberwolves).
• The Timberwolves get a conditional 2017 second-round pick.

July 12th:

• Pacers get Ian Mahinmi.
• Mavericks get Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones.

July 11th: 

• The Warriors get Jarrett Jack.
• The Sixers get Dorell Wright and Darryl Watkins.
• The Hornets get the rights to Edin Bavcic.

July 11th:

• The Nets get Reggie Evans.
• The Clippers get the right to swap 2016 second-round draft picks.

July 11th:

• The Hawks get Devin Harris.
• The Jazz get Marvin Williams.

July 11th: 

• The Nets get Joe Johnson.
• The Hawks get Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, a protected 2013 first-round pick (from the Rockets), the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in both 2014 and 2015, and a 2017 second-round pick.

July 11th:

• The Hornets get Ryan Anderson.
• The Magic get Gustavo Ayon. 

July 11th:

• The Raptors get Kyle Lowry.
• The Rockets get Gary Forbes and a protected 2013 first-round pick.

July 11th:

• The Lakers get Steve Nash.
• The Suns get first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 and second-round picks in 2013 and 2014.

July 9th:

• The Knicks get Marcus Camby.
• The Rockets get Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan and second-round picks in 2014 and 2015. 

June 29th:

• The Clippers get Lamar Odom.
• The Jazz get Mo Williams and the rights to Shan Foster.
• The Mavericks get the rights to Tadija Dragicevic and cash.
• The Rockets get the rights to Furkan Aldemir.

June 28th:

• The Lakers get the 55th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Johnson-Odom).
• The Mavericks get cash.

June 28th: 

• The Nets get the 54th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tornike Shengelia).
• The Sixers get cash.

June 28th: 

• The Cavaliers get Kelenna Azubuike and the 17th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyler Zeller).
• The Mavericks get the 24th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jared Cunningham), 33rd pick in the 2012 draft (used on Bernard James) and the 34th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jae Crowder).

June 28th:

• The Sixers get the 27th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Arnett Moultrie).
• The Heat get the 45th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Justin Hamilton) and a protected 2013 first-round draft pick.

June 28th:

• The Nets get the 41st pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyshawn Taylor).
• The Trail Blazers get cash.

June 28th:

• The Pacers get the 36th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Orlando Johnson).
• The Kings get cash.

June 27th:

• The Bucks get Samuel Dalembert, the 14th pick of the 2012 draft (used on John Henson), and a protected 2014 second-round draft pick.
• The Rockets get Jon Brockman, Jon Leuer, Shaun Livingston and the 12th pick of the 2012 draft (used on Jeremy Lamb).

June 26th:

• The Bobcats get Ben Gordon and a protected 2013 first-round pick. 
• The Pistons get Corey Maggette. 

June 26th:

• The Timberwolves get Chase Budinger and the rights to Lior Eliyahu.
• The Rockets get the 18th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Terrence Jones).

June 20th:

• The Wizards get Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.
• The Hornets get Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Miller).

After taking a look at the roster sizes of teams in the Eastern Conference yesterday, here's the Western Conference version. There are two numbers at play for NBA teams this time of year. There's a 20-man limit for rosters during the offseason, but only 15 players can be around by the time the regular season starts. That means getting a guaranteed deal is important for the lingering free agents who want to make sure they stick around for opening day. Teams, given the choice between equals, would naturally prefer to waive someone whom they wouldn't have to pay.

We've combed reports from across the league over the summer, but teams don't officially announce the terms of their contracts, so we can't be completely sure that some of the contracts that are reportedly guaranteed actually are. In some cases, like yesterday's signings of second-round picks Darius-Johnson Odom by the Lakers and Kevin Murphy by the Jazz, there's been no indication of whether the contracts are guaranteed or not. For them, I've made reasonable assumptions — most second-rounders who've signed this year have gotten at least a partial guarantee for this season, so that's how we'll count them until we know more. The totals also include agreements that have been reached but haven't been finalized yet.

The first number is the total number of players under contract, and the number of players who have at least a partial guarantee is in parentheses.

Updated 11-1-12

Southwest Division
Grizzlies 13 (13)
Hornets 14 (13)
Mavericks 15 (14)
Rockets 15 (15)
Spurs 14 (13)

Northwest Division
Jazz 15 (14)
Nuggets 15 (15)
Thunder 13 (13)
Timberwolves 15 (15)
Trail Blazers 15 (14)

Pacific Division
Clippers 14 (14)
Kings 14 (14)
Lakers 15 (13)
Suns 15 (14)
Warriors 15 (15) 

Training camps start to open two weeks from Saturday, and the scramble for the last available roster spots is under way. We've seen a significant uptick in free agent activity this past week, and that should continue as we get ever closer to the 2012/13 season. Teams can have as many as 20 players during the offseason and in camp, but once the regular season begins, the limit is 15. That's why many unsigned free agents are holding out for a guaranteed deal, since they would otherwise be vulnerable to getting waived, particularly if they sign with a team that's carrying more than 15 players right now. 

A guaranteed deal ensures a player will get his money, but it doesn't mean he'll start the regular season with his current team. Some teams, like the Raptors and Pacers, have more than 15 players on at least partially guaranteed deals, so those clubs will either have to make a trade or waive one of their players, eating the guarantee in the process. Also, teams can carry as few as 13 players in the regular season, so even guys on teams with 14 or 15 players aren't completely assured of sticking.  

Here's a rundown of the roster sizes for every Eastern Conference team, with the Western Conference to come soon. This includes some deals that have not yet been finalized, and because teams don't disclose the terms of their contracts even when they are finalized, there is a margin of error in these counts. However, they're based on a variety of reports from around the league this summer, so they're as accurate as possible. When we hear more, we'll update the count. 

The first number is the total number of players under contract, and the number of players who have at least a partial guarantee is in parentheses. 

Updated 10-29-12

Atlantic Division
Celitcs 15 (14)
Knicks 15 (13)
Nets 15 (13)
Raptors 15 (15)
Sixers 14 (13)

Southeast Division
Bobcats 14 (13)
Hawks 14 (14)
Heat 15 (13) 
Magic 15 (14) 
Wizards 15 (14)

Central Division
Bucks 15 (15)
Bulls 13 (13)
Cavaliers 15 (14)
Pacers 15 (14)
Pistons 15 (15)

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Southwest

• Grizzlies: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
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Northwest

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Former NBA guard Kevin Ollie is set to replace long time coach Jim Calhoun as head coach of the University of Connecticut basketball team, according to CBSSports.com. A former player under Calhoun, Ollie spent last season as an assistant coach with the team. 

According to a tweet from Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, Thunder general manager Sam Presti was hoping to groom Ollie as his right hand man. Ollie finished his playing career after signing a one-year deal with the Thunder, retiring from the NBA in 2010. 

• Scott Brooks replaced P.J. Carlesimo as the Thunder head coach after 13 games, finishing the year with a 22-47 record. With four seasons under his belt, his current coaching record stands at 174-125. 
• With newly hired Marc Iavaroni, the Grizzlies complete the season at 22-60. He would only last an additional 41 games the following year upon going 11-30, being replaced by Johnny Davis and ultimately Lionel Hollins. He is now an assistant for the Clippers. 
• Reggie Theus guided the Kings to 38-44. After starting 6-18 the following year, Theus was replaced by his assistant and another first-year coach, Kenny Natt. Theus was most recently an assistant for Kurt Rambis in Minnesota, but is not currently in the league. 
• Jim Boylan finished with a 24-32 record upon replacing Pete Myers, who served as the interim coach for one game after the firing of Scott Skiles. Boylan was eventually replaced by Vinny Del Negro and is now an assistant for Skiles in Milwaukee. 
• Sam Vincent went 32-50 in his lone year in the NBA as a head coach with the Bobcats. He is not currently in the league. 

2008-09

• Erik Spoelstra became head coach of the Heat, starting his career with a 43-39 record. In a total of 312 games, Spoelstra stands at 194-118. 
• Vinny Del Negro had his first chance at head coaching with the Bulls, guiding Chicago to 41-41. With the same 41-41 record in 2009-10, Del Negro was fired and is eventually hired by the Clippers. He is 154-158 overall. 
• Kenny Natt served as an interim head coach in Sacramento, but was not retained after an 11-47 record to complete the season. Natt is not currently in the NBA. 
• Tony Dileo took over for the final 59 games for the 76ers after Mo Cheeks is fired, winning 32 games and losing 27. Dileo is presently working for the team's front office in Philadelphia.
• Jay Triano guided the Raptors to 33-49 after Sam Mitchell's 8-9 start. Triano was relieved of his head coaching duties after a 62-102 record over the following two seasons. He was recently hired as an assistant coach to Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts. 
• Michael Curry lasted one year with the Pistons, going 39-43. He is now serving as an assistant for Doug Collins on the 76ers. 
• Ed Tapscott took the reins of the Wizards upon the departure of Eddie Jordan, winning 18 of the final 71 games. He is not currently coaching in the NBA. 

2009-10

• John Kuester led Detroit to 27 wins and 55 losses. After just a three-win improvement in 2010-11, Kuester is eventually fired and replaced by Lawrence Frank during the 2011 offseason. Last year, he served as an assistant under Mike Brown, and was most recently named an advance scout for the Lakers.   
• Kiki Vandeweghe ultimately replaced Lawrence Frank and interim coach Tom Barrise on the Nets while still serving as the team's general manager, concluding the season with 12 wins and 52 losses. Vandeweghe was not retained in any capacity the following season. 
• Jeff Bower was named head coach of the Hornets after Byron Scott's 3-6 start, finishing 34-39. Bower is not currently with an NBA franchise. 
• Kim Hughes took over as the interim Clippers coach after Mike Dunleavy was fired, finishing at 8-25. Although Hughes was subsequently released that summer, he was recently hired as an assistant coach by the Trail Blazers. 

2010-11

• Pacers coach Frank Vogel received his opportunity as an interim coach after Jim O'Brien started the season at 17-27, finishing with a 20-18 record. He remarkably led Indiana to a 42-24 record in 2011-12 and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. In a total of 104 games, Vogel has gone 62-42. 
• Chicago's Tom Thibodeau made quite the debut, guiding the Bulls to 62-20. After 148 games, Thibodeau owns 112 wins and 36 losses. 
• Atlanta's Larry Drew started his career with the Hawks at a record of 44-38. Drew followed up with a 6% improvement in winning percentage in 2011-12, and currently stands at 84-64.
• Tyrone Corbin replaced Jerry Sloan in Utah, grabbing eight wins in the Jazz' final 28 games that year. In 2011-12, Corbin led Utah to the eighth seed at 36-30 and is 44-50 overall. 
• Monty Williams was able to notch a playoff berth with the Hornets, going 46-36. In his second season, Williams finished 21-45. 

2011-12

• Mark Jackson led the Warriors to a 23-43 record.