Wednesday Is Decision Day For Non-Guaranteed Contracts

The NBA’s league-wide salary guarantee date technically falls on January 10 each season, but January 7 always represents decision day for teams carrying players on non-guaranteed contracts.

A player with a non-guaranteed contract who is still on waivers as of Jan. 10 is assured of receiving his full salary, so in order to avoid that scenario, a team must cut that player on or before Jan. 7. As long as the player is placed on waivers by 4:00 pm Central time on Wednesday, he’ll clear waivers on Friday (Jan. 9), a day before his salary would become guaranteed.

A couple teams have already made moves with players on non-guaranteed contracts so far this week. The Pacers waived center Tony Bradley on Monday, while the Raptors cut big man Mo Bamba on Tuesday. More transactions may be on the way ahead of Wednesday’s deadline, but most of the players with non-guaranteed salaries around the NBA look pretty safe.

For instance, the Hornets aren’t about to waive Moussa Diabate, who has been their starting center as of late; the Mavericks aren’t going to cut Brandon Williams, who made a game-winning three-pointer on Tuesday vs. Sacramento. Those are just two of many players on non-guaranteed deals who have earned not just spots on their team’s roster but a regular place in the rotation.

Wednesday is also a big day for players on two-way contracts, who are subject to the same salary guarantee deadline and will receive their full salaries if they’re not cut today. That works out to $636,435 for players who have been under contract since the start of the season, and a prorated portion of that figure for players who have signed during the season.

A handful of two-way players have been waived within the past couple weeks – including Bulls guard Trentyn Flowers on Tuesday – and more could follow today. However, there’s less urgency for clubs to make moves involving two-way players, since those deals don’t count against the salary cap and won’t meaningfully impact a team’s roster and cap flexibility as the trade deadline nears.

The full list of players on non-guaranteed contracts is below, while the full list of players on two-way contracts can be found right here. The players listed below are earning minimum salaries unless otherwise noted.

Atlanta Hawks

• Vit Krejci
  • Partially guaranteed for $1,500,000.
• N’Faly Dante
  • Note: Dante would receive his full salary even if he’s waived due to his season-ending ACL tear.
• Mouhamed Gueye
• Keaton Wallace

Boston Celtics

• Jordan Walsh
  • Partially guaranteed for $1,110,839.

Brooklyn Nets

• Tyrese Martin
• Jalen Wilson

Charlotte Hornets

• Moussa Diabate

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Dean Wade ($6,623,456)
  • Partially guaranteed for $4,623,458.
• Thomas Bryant
• Craig Porter Jr.

Dallas Mavericks

• Brandon Williams

Detroit Pistons

• Javonte Green
• Isaac Jones

Golden State Warriors

• Trayce Jackson-Davis
• Gui Santos

Indiana Pacers

• Micah Potter

Miami Heat

• Terry Rozier ($26,643,031)
  • Partially guaranteed for $24,924,126.

Milwaukee Bucks

• Amir Coffey

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Bones Hyland

New York Knicks

• Mohamed Diawara
• Ariel Hukporti
• Landry Shamet

Phoenix Suns

• Jordan Goodwin

Sacramento Kings

• Precious Achiuwa
• Keon Ellis
• Russell Westbrook

San Antonio Spurs

• Bismack Biyombo
• Lindy Waters

Washington Wizards

• Justin Champagnie