All 90 bilateral contract slots throughout the NBA is filled, and each team currently carries a trio of players with two-way deals. However, even after Bulls signed Orlando Robinson on Friday as their 15th man, half of the league’s 30 clubs still have vacancies on their standard lists.
With help our list count trackerhere are 15 teams with 14 players on standard contracts and one roster spot:
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
Most of these teams have good reasons not to field a full 15-man roster right now. The Celtics and Rockets would cross the luxury tax line by adding a veteran free agent on a minimum wage contract, while Cavaliers, Nuggets, Pacers, Heat, Timberwolves, Nix, magic, Sixers, The sunand Predators already work in the tax territory. Several of those teams can’t fit a 15th man below their respective roster spots, and those who can will increase their projected tax bills by filling open roster spots.
That leaves only three teams that could add a 15th man while staying below the luxury tax limit. The Trail Blazerswith $8.3 million in cap space below that threshold, are in the best position to add a 15th man at any time without affecting their cap hit. The The necklaces ($4 million) and Spurs ($2.1M) have less flexibility to spend below the tax line, so they’ll likely be wary of using their 15th roster spots.
It should be noted that the NBA also has several teams that have a full 15-man roster but have at least one player with a non-guaranteed salary. Those clubs have the option to replace their 15th man if the opportunity presents itself, as the Thunder did last weekend when they opted out Dalen Terry in order to trade Nick Clifford.
This group includes the following teams. Their players without fully guaranteed contracts are noted in parentheses:
Some of these roster situations are more volatile than others. For example, no chance Pistons waive Robinson before his salary becomes fully guaranteed in January, but it’s much more possible that Jazz could release Bradley in the next month or two.
