Roster Move Required Soon For Cavaliers

The Cavaliers will have to add a player to their roster in the coming days in order to get to the NBA-mandated minimum of 14 players (not including two-way contracts). Cleveland is currently carrying 13 players on standard NBA contracts.

The NBA’s roster rules allow a team to carry fewer than 14 players for up to two weeks at a time before getting back up to the minimum. The Cavs took advantage of that rule after the trade deadline, carrying a 13-man roster for nearly two weeks in February before signing G Leaguer Marcus Thornton to a 10-day contract. Thornton’s 10-day deal expired overnight on March 3, and Cleveland has once again been carrying 13 players since then — with the two-week mark right around the corner, a signing will be required.

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It makes sense that the Cavs have been reluctant to fill the final two spots on their roster, despite being hit with some injuries. The team already has a projected luxury tax bill of $50MM+, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted (via Twitter) at the time of the Thornton signing. While a short-term minimum salary deal wouldn’t have a significant cap hit, it would cost the franchise exponentially more due to tax penalties.

It remains to be seen how the Cavs will fill their 14th roster slot, but another 10-day signing like Thornton seems like a viable possibility. Then the team could wait until near the end of the regular season to fill one or both of its open roster spots with veteran help for the playoffs.

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