Wednesday, April 11 represents the last day of the 2017/18 NBA regular season, which means there are just nine days left in this season. As such, we won’t see another 10-day contract signed this season, since a simple rest-of-season deal would run through the final nine days of the year.
With no more 10-day contracts on the way for 2017/18, we’ll make use of our 10-day tracker to break down a few details on this year’s 10-day signings. Let’s dive in…
Total number of 10-day contracts signed:
- Signed one 10-day contract: 19
- Signed one 10-day contract, then signed for rest of season: 3
- Signed two 10-day contracts: 8
- Signed two 10-day contracts, then signed for rest of season: 12
- Total 10-day contracts signed: 61
While the number of 10-day contracts signed this season will stay at 61, the number of players who signed rest-of-season contracts after inking a 10-day deal or two could still increase. Larry Drew II (Pelicans), MarShon Brooks (Grizzlies), David Stockton (Jazz), Xavier Silas (Celtics), Jeremy Evans (Hawks) have active 10-day contracts. Those players could be re-signed when their current contracts expire.
Teams that completed the most 10-day signings:
- New Orleans Pelicans: 8 (four players)
- Atlanta Hawks: 7 (four players)
- Dallas Mavericks: 5 (four players)
- Memphis Grizzlies: 5 (four players)
- Los Angeles Lakers: 4 (three players)
- Orlando Magic: 4 (two players)
- Phoenix Suns: 4 (two players)
- Utah Jazz: 4 (two players)
No NBA team signed more than four different players to 10-day contracts this season. Of those teams that signed four players to 10-day deals, the Pelicans were the most inclined to extend a player’s audition — they re-signed all four of their 10-day players to a second 10-day deal, and ultimately locked up both Emeka Okafor and DeAndre Liggins for the season.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Grizzlies hadn’t re-signed any of their 10-day contract recipients to second deals until they locked up Marquis Teague for the rest of the season today.
Teams that didn’t complete any 10-day signings:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Golden State Warriors
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
For many of the teams on this list, roster limits prevented a 10-day signing — with full 15-man rosters, they would have needed to waive a player on a guaranteed contract in order to sign a player to a 10-day contract. However, that wasn’t the case for every club on this list.
The Hornets, for instance, have carried an open roster spot for most of the season — they’ve perhaps been more concerned with finding a new general manager than with auditioning a 15th man. Charlotte probably also doesn’t have much interest in further increasing its $117MM+ team salary for a lottery-bound squad.
The Timberwolves are another team that has been carrying 14 players, giving them the ability to sign players to 10-day contracts without making a corresponding roster move. Of course, considering how averse Tom Thibodeau is to using even the ninth or 10th man on his bench, adding a player to that 15th spot was probably deemed unnecessary.
10-day MVPs:
While no players have really parlayed 10-day contracts into true breakout years this season, there are a handful of guys who turned 10-day auditions into regular rotation roles and have been solid contributors for their respective clubs. Emeka Okafor (Pelicans) headlines that list — he assumed the starting center role after DeMarcus Cousins went down, and has played well, with 4.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 23 games (14.7 MPG).
Honorable mention:
- Troy Williams (Knicks): 7.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, .490 FG% in 17 games (17.1 MPG).
- Damion Lee (Hawks): 9.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.3 SPG in 10 games (26.0 MPG).
- Ramon Sessions (Wizards): 6.5 PPG, 3.7 APG, .400 3PT% in 13 games (16.9 MPG).
- Travis Wear (Lakers): 5.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, .390 3PT% in 13 games (13.2 MPG)
- MarShon Brooks (Grizzlies): 22.5 PPG, .600/.857/1.000 shooting in two games (20.0 MPG).