Checking In On 2017’s 10-Day Contracts

So far this season, 26 players have signed at least one 10-day contract with an NBA team. Some players who have received 10-day deals, such as David Nwaba, had never appeared in a regular season game before getting their shot on a short-term contract. Others, like Toney Douglas, are proven veterans who have used 10-day contracts to show that they still have something to offer an NBA club.

Our 10-day tracker provides several interesting details about the short-term contracts signed by NBA players so far this year, so let’s dive in and take a closer look…

Players who have turned 10-day contracts into full-season deals:

• Quincy Acy (Nets)
• Joel Anthony (Spurs)
• Toney Douglas (Grizzlies)
• Yogi Ferrell (Mavericks)
• Ronnie Price (Suns)
• Okaro White (Heat)

Of the players on the list above, who turned 10-day auditions into full-season commitments, Ferrell was the only player who signed just one 10-day contract before inking a rest-of-season deal. The others signed two 10-day contracts before being locked up for the season.

Of course, in Ferrell’s case, the Mavs certainly must have been sold on his potential before his first 10-day pact expired — he scored in the double digits in all but one game during that stretch, including a 32-point outburst in Portland.

Chasson Randle (Sixers) and Lamar Patterson (Hawks) also earned full-season contracts from their teams after a pair of 10-day deals, but have since been waived. Meanwhile, Derrick Williams (Cavaliers) is on track to remain with Cleveland for the rest of the season once his second 10-day contract expires.

Players who have signed 10-day contracts with more than one team:

• Johnny O’Bryant (two with Nuggets, one with Hornets)
• Briante Weber (two with Warriors, one with Hornets)

Interestingly, both players that have signed 10-day contracts with two separate teams are currently with the Hornets. That may just be a coincidence, but it’s also very possible that the Hornets scouted O’Bryant and Weber during their 20-day stints in Denver and Golden State respectively, and liked what they saw enough to roll the dice on the duo themselves.

Although players can only sign up to two 10-day deals with the same team, there’s no limit to the number of teams they can join. O’Bryant and Weber could theoretically sign 10-day contracts with a couple more clubs before season’s end.

Teams that have used 10-day contracts the most this season:

• Charlotte Hornets (4 players, 6 contracts)
• Dallas Mavericks (4 players, 5 contracts)
• New Orleans Pelicans (3 players, 3 contracts)

The Hornets have auditioned four players on short-term deals and have yet to find a keeper — none of their 10-day signings have turned into full-season contracts. The Mavericks found a guy they liked in Ferrell and continue to look at other young players. As for the Pelicans, they didn’t sign any 10-day deals until after the DeMarcus Cousins trade — now they’re carrying three at once as they attempt to identify guards that can help the club make a push for a playoff spot.

Players currently on 10-day contracts:

• Derrick Williams (Cavaliers): Expires at end of day on March 3.
• Hollis Thompson (Pelicans): Expires at end of day on March 4.
• Johnny O’Bryant (Hornets): Expires at end of day on March 5.
• Jarrett Jack (Pelicans): Expires at end of day on March 5.
• Reggie Williams (Pelicans): Expires at end of day on March 6.
• Axel Toupane (Bucks): Expires at end of day on March 6.
• Quinn Cook (Mavericks): Expires at end of day on March 7.
• Ben Bentil (Mavericks): Expires at end of day on March 7.
• Briante Weber (Hornets): Expires at end of day on March 8.
• David Nwaba (Lakers): Expires at end of day on March 9.

Williams, who is on his second 10-day contract, will be re-signed for the rest of the season, but the other players on this list are on their first 10-day deals of the season. So if they’re re-signed by their current teams, they’ll likely get a second 10-day deal before receiving a full-season commitment.