The first game of the 2024/25 regular season is less than eight weeks away and for the vast majority of NBA teams, rosters are complete. While there will still be a few spots up for grabs in training camp, overall, the maximum of fifteen players (plus three ” two-way contract“), for the start of the season, is reached in many franchises. However, there are still opportunities for players like Evan Fournier or Danilo Gallinari, who are still waiting to bounce back to stay in the NBA. Given their standing, we can't imagine them accepting a simple invitation, and they are waiting for a guaranteed contract. At worst, at the minimum salary.
Where are these openings? Not in Denver or San Antonio, which already have 21 players under contractthe maximum allowed for the “training camp”. Houston, Milwaukee, Toronto and the Lakers have 20 players in their squad, and therefore one last place to invite a player.
Indiana, too, but the Pacers only have 12 players on guaranteed contracts, so James Johnson, James Wiseman, Kendall Brown and Cole Swider will have to fight for a spot — though all four could just as easily be in the mix.
Five places left for the Cavaliers!
Right next door in Ohio, in Cleveland, the Cavaliers have only 10 players with guaranteed contracts! At worst 12, if Craig Porter and Sam Merrill are kept. So there are three free spots, one of which will perhaps be used for Isaac Okoro, who could be extended before being transferred.
Still in the East, there is Philadelphia. The Sixers have been very, very active this summer with the extension of Tyrese Maxey, the signing of Paul George or the arrival of Guerschon Yabusele, who will be the 13th signing of the group. Since Ricky Council's contract is not guaranteed, the Sixers have, for the moment, two places. But since the finances are in the red, the management will be patient and will only sign a player if they believe he will bring something significant.
Three places for the Warriors
We now move on to the Western Conference, in California more precisely, with the Kings and their 12 guaranteed contracts, of which Orlando Robinson and Keon Ellis are not part. But keeping them seems logical, both sportingly since the latter was in the rotation last season, and financially, to avoid burdening the finances, which are flirting with the red zone.
Finally, the last team where a player can hope to slip into the group: the Warriors. The 2022 champions have 12 guaranteed salaries, plus Lindy Waters and Gui Santos. But the payroll is so enormous – Golden State is the team that pays the most luxury tax – that like the Sixers, signing new players cannot be a maneuver taken lightly.
GUARANTEED CONTRACTS (out of 15 possible)
Atlanta Hawks: 15
Boston Celtics: 14
Brooklyn Nets: 13
Charlotte Hornets: 13
Chicago Bulls: 14
Cleveland Cavaliers: 10
Dallas Mavericks: 14
Denver Nuggets: 15
Detroit Pistons: 13
Golden State Warriors: 12
Houston Rockets: 15
Indiana Pacers: 12
Los Angeles Clippers: 15
Los Angeles Lakers: 15
Memphis Grizzlies: 14
Miami Heat: 14
Milwaukee Bucks: 14
Minnesota Wolves: 13
New Orleans Pelicans: 13
New York Knicks: 14
OKC Thunder: 13
Orlando Magic: 15
Philadelphia Sixers: 12*
Phoenix Suns: 14
Portland Blazers: 14
Sacramento Kings: 12
San Antonio Spurs: 15
Toronto Raptors: 14
Utah Jazz: 14
Washington Wizards: 15
* 13 with Guerschon Yabusele
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to have them play mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
