Recap Of 2024/25 Salary Guarantee Decisions
Entering the day on January 7, there were 25 players who were signed to standard, full-season contracts but whose salaries for the 2024/25 campaign weren’t fully guaranteed.
The deadline for teams to waive those players and avoid having their full ’24/25 salaries become guaranteed was on Tuesday, January 7 at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Although their salaries won’t technically become guaranteed until January 10, those players would still receive their full-season guarantees if they’re cut today or tomorrow, since they wouldn’t clear waivers before Friday’s guarantee deadline.
Here’s a roundup of the decisions teams made with those 25 players:
Players on standard contracts who will have their salaries guaranteed:
Each player’s salary is noted here. His cap hit is identical to his salary unless otherwise indicated.
- Zion Williamson, Pelicans: $36,725,670
- Taj Gibson, Hornets: $3,303,771 *
- James Johnson, Pacers: $3,303,771 *
- Doug McDermott, Kings: $3,303,771 *
- Markieff Morris, Mavericks: $3,303,771 *
- Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers: $3,303,771 *
- Jae Crowder, Kings: $2,620,232 ^
- Talen Horton-Tucker, Bulls: $2,425,403 *
- James Wiseman, Pacers: $2,237,691
- Dalano Banton, Trail Blazers: $2,196,970
- Lindy Waters, Warriors: $2,196,970
- Sam Merrill, Cavaliers: $2,164,993
- Keon Johnson, Nets: $2,162,606
- Keon Ellis, Kings: $2,120,693
- Jaylin Williams, Thunder: $2,019,699
- Ricky Council, Sixers: $1,891,857
- Andre Jackson, Bucks: $1,891,857
- Craig Porter Jr., Cavaliers: $1,891,857
- Gui Santos, Warriors: $1,891,857
- Jalen Wilson, Nets: $1,891,857
- Landry Shamet, Knicks: $1,682,008 #
- Ariel Hukporti, Knicks: $1,064,049
(*) cap hit of $2,087,519
(^) cap hit of $1,655,619
(#) cap hit of $1,343,690
Besides Williamson, whose maximum salary was already mostly guaranteed prior to Tuesday, each of the players on a non-guaranteed contract who was retained through January 7 is earning his minimum salary for the season, so the financial impact of keeping those players is relatively minor for their respective teams.
Still, open roster spots are valuable at this time of year. A handful of these players were fortunate not to be let go by a club prioritizing flexibility ahead of the trade deadline; many others have played regular rotation minutes during the first half or hold long-term value and were never candidates to be cut.
Players on standard contracts who were waived before their salaries became guaranteed:
Each player’s cap hit is noted here. The team would no longer be on the hook for that cap charge if a player is claimed off waivers.
- Bruno Fernando, Raptors: $1,115,128
- Orlando Robinson, Kings: $959,779
- Branden Carlson, Thunder: $365,767
All three of these players were on minimum-salary contracts. Carlson is a rookie who was signed well after the regular season began, which is why his cap hit is so modest compared to the others.
These players are all still on waivers, so they’re technically candidates to be claimed on Thursday. A team that places a claim on one of those players would have to commit to guaranteeing his salary for the rest of the season, so it’s unlikely.
There were several other players with partially or non-guaranteed salaries who were cut earlier in the season. That group consisted of the following players, listed in the order they were waived (with their accompanying cap hits):
- Alex Reese, Thunder: $79,804
- Malevy Leons, Thunder: $126,356
- Jaylen Nowell, Pelicans: $278,782
- Elfrid Payton, Pelicans: $274,809
- Moses Brown, Pacers: $306,660
- Paul Reed, Pistons: $2,485,563
- Note: After clearing waivers, Reed was re-signed to a guaranteed minimum-salary contract.
- Javante McCoy, Pistons: $32,596
- Matt Ryan, Knicks: $621,438
- PJ Dozier, Timberwolves: $1,051,255
These moves didn’t go down to the wire like the others listed above, having occurred well in advance of the salary guarantee deadline.
Players on two-way contracts who were waived before their salaries became guaranteed:
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league-wide salary guarantee date of January 10 also applies this season to players on two-way contracts. Prior to 2024, the guarantee date had been Jan. 20 for two-way salaries.
Two-way salaries are only worth half of the rookie minimum and don’t count against the salary cap, so many teams likely weren’t feeling a ton of pressure to make rest-of-season decisions on their two-way players by Tuesday. Two-way contracts can be signed until March 4, so there will be many clubs that make changes between now and then.
Still, there were seven players on two-way contracts who were waived between the start of January and Tuesday’s waiver deadline. Those players, who subsequently won’t receive their full two-way salaries this season, are as follows:
- David Jones, Jazz
- Jaylen Martin, Nets
- Daishen Nix, Timberwolves
- Cole Swider, Pistons
- Alondes Williams, Pistons
- Pete Nance, Sixers
The seventh player in that group, Tristen Newton, was waived by the Pacers but was claimed two days later by the Timberwolves and retained through Tuesday’s deadline, so he’ll still earn his full two-way salary despite being cut within the last week.
There are currently three open two-way slots around the NBA, belonging to the Warriors, Magic, and Sixers.
The full list of players who are still on two-way contracts and earned full guarantees can be found right here.
Central Notes: Atkinson, Cavaliers, Ivey, Mathurin
After finishing 22nd in the NBA in pace last season, the Cavaliers are playing at the sixth-fastest pace so far this season, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, who notes that coaches and scouts around the league are praising new head coach Kenny Atkinson for embracing the strengths of his players while implementing his preferred style.
“It’s exactly the way Kenny wants to play,” one scout said. “The speed with which they play is so advantageous for (Evan) Mobley and (Darius) Garland, and it also helps cover up deficiencies for other players. … They’ve simplified things from last year.”
The 31-4 Cavaliers have the NBA’s best record and will carry a 10-game winning streak into a showdown with the West-leading Thunder (who have won 15 regular season games in a row) on Wednesday night.
Still, as impressive as Cleveland has been in the first half of this season, there are people across the league who remain somewhat skeptical about how the club’s style will translate to the postseason.
“I think they’re a really good regular-season team, but when the game slows down and is more targeted, I have some concerns,” said an assistant coach whose team recently faced the Cavs. “Can Donovan (Mitchell) and Darius make a bunch of shots when that happens? That’ll be the biggest question.”
Here’s more from around the Central:
- The Cavaliers‘ front office is hesitant to risk messing with the chemistry in the team’s locker room in order to make a marginal deal ahead of the February 6 trade deadline, sources tell ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. That doesn’t necessarily mean Cleveland will stand pat, but it probably means that in order to make any deal of significance, the club would have to be pretty confident it would be a meaningful on-court upgrade.
- Dr. Clint Soppe, a sports medicine doctor based in Los Angeles, tells Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press that a fibula fracture like the one Pistons guard Jaden Ivey suffered generally takes four-to-six months to fully recover. The Pistons haven’t ruled out Ivey for the season after he broke his leg last week, but that timeline suggests the odds are against him returning this spring. Still, it’s worth noting that Soppe hasn’t examined Ivey himself and can’t speak to his specific case.
- Bennedict Mathurin‘s willingness to buy into his role has been an important factor in the cohesion of the Pacers‘ starting five, which has helped fuel the team’s run of nine wins in 12 games, writes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. “This is a winning brand of basketball that he’s playing now,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s learned some things. He’s realized some things. He and I have spent a lot of time talking about it and watching things. If he’s willing to run and take open shots, avoid the temptation to drive into crowds and try to draw fouls and play tough, hard-nosed defense, that’s a winning formula for a young player.” Mathurin will be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2025 offseason.
Beal’s Agent: Waiving No-Trade Clause Not Being Discussed
Suns guard Bradley Beal and his agent Mark Bartelstein haven’t had any talks about waiving Beal’s no-trade clause to approve a deal to a new team, Bartelstein tells ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“There have been no discussions about trades with the Suns or any other team,” Bartelstein said. “Bradley’s total focus is on helping the Suns turn things around.”
As we outlined on Tuesday, Beal has been at the center of trade rumors as of late due to the reported mutual interest between the Suns and Heat forward Jimmy Butler, who is seeking a trade out of Miami. Phoenix is reportedly the only team willing to pay Butler the contract he wants and is believed to be the 35-year-old’s preferred landing spot.
Due to the Suns’ position relative to the second tax apron, they’re not permitted to aggregate salaries in a trade for Butler, meaning they would have to give up one of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, or Beal, all of whom have bigger cap hits than Butler’s $48.8MM figure.
Beal is the obvious choice of that trio from the Suns’ perspective, but his no-trade clause – one of just two in the NBA – complicates matters, as does his maximum-salary contract, which the Heat are reportedly unwilling to take on.
Phoenix has reportedly explored the market in search of a third team that would take on Beal, but any facilitator would have to be well compensated and the Suns, who would also have to incentivize Miami, don’t have many draft assets available to trade.
Speaking to Windhorst, Bartelstein didn’t rule out the possibility that Beal would waive his no-trade clause for a “perfect” situation, as he did when he was sent from Washington to Phoenix in 2023. But that isn’t currently under consideration.
It’s also worth reiterating that a no-trade clause doesn’t go away after a single trade — it covers a player’s entire contract unless he agrees to surrender it. Bartelstein tells Windhorst that his client wouldn’t be willing to give up that veto power before the end of the contract.
If Beal agreed to remove the no-trade clause from his contract upon being dealt, it might make a rival team more willing to roll the dice on him, since that club would have freedom to move him in a year or two. However, as long as Beal insists on hanging onto his NTC, it will make it that much more difficult for the Suns to find a taker.
And-Ones: Randle, Ingram, EuroLeague, Non-Guaranteed Deals
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram each have All-Star berths under their belts, and Ingram is coming off a five-year, maximum-salary contract. Under the NBA’s old new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Randle and Ingram might have already secured lucrative new extensions. In the current CBA landscape, their uncertain futures reflect teams’ wariness to commit big money to second- or third-tier stars, according to William Guillory and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Guillory and Krawczynski take a closer look at potential next steps for the two standout forwards, pointing out that both players continue to perform well but also laying out reasons why their days with their current teams may be numbered. Ingram will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, while Randle holds a player option for 2025/26.
Guillory believes Ingram is more likely than not to be somewhere besides New Orleans next season. Krawczynski suggests Minnesota may look to trade Randle or let him walk as a free agent in the summer unless everything comes together for the Wolves during the second half of this season in a way that it hasn’t in the first half.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- The EuroLeague and IMG, the league’s primary business partner, have reached an agreement to extend their relationship through the 2035/36 season. What does that mean for the NBA’s efforts to introduce a new professional league in Europe? Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic digs into the subject, writing that the EuroLeague’s 13 permanent members – including clubs like Real Madrid, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Anadolu Efes – now seem less likely to leave for an NBA-run European league, though the new contract does include opt-out clauses for teams.
- Noting that it was a relatively quiet January 7 in terms of roster cuts, Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron explores whether teams have become more inclined in recent years to hang onto players on non-guaranteed contracts through the annual league-wide salary guarantee deadline.
- In an ESPN roundtable, Tim Bontemps, Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton, Michael Wright, and Jamal Collier discuss several topics related to the upcoming trade deadline, including which team most needs to make a splash, which team in each conference will improve the most at the deadline, and whether the Lakers will make another in-season deal.
Grizzlies Notes: Trade Options, GG Jackson, Morant, JJJ, More
Reporting on Monday suggested the Grizzlies were among the teams discussing the possibility of pursuing Jimmy Butler, but a Tuesday report stated that Memphis has been advised not to trade for the 35-year-old, who is allegedly uninterested in joining the Western Conference’s current No. 3 seed.
If that puts an end to the idea of the Grizzlies acquiring Butler, what are the most logical alternatives on the trade market for the front office? Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal weighs that question, suggesting three possible paths for the team.
Checking in on Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is one option the Grizzlies could consider, according to Cole, who says focusing on Nets forward Cameron Johnson might also make sense for a team that could use an upgrade on the wing.
Of course, standing pat and seeing how this version of the team performs down the stretch and in the postseason is another viable route, Cole writes, noting that it could benefit the Grizzlies to take a longer look at youngsters like GG Jackson and Vince Williams once they’re healthy.
Here’s more out of Memphis:
- Speaking of Jackson, he appears to be nearing his season debut after recovering from offseason surgery on his right foot. The Grizzlies announced on Tuesday (via Twitter) that the second-year forward was assigned to the Memphis Hustle to participate in today’s practice.
- Grizzlies star Ja Morant has been out of his sling for at least four days and is doing more on-court work as he moves closer to a return from his shoulder injury, Cole writes for The Commercial Appeal. “It is going to be on the shorter term than the longer term,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said on Monday. “He is making progress. I cannot pinpoint a game, but I don’t think that it will be much longer.”
- In two more Commercial Appeal stories, Cole examines Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s growing case for All-Star consideration and details a memorable day for brothers Cam Spencer of the Grizzlies and Pat Spencer of the Warriors, who shared the same NBA court for the first time on Saturday in Golden State and even spent a few possessions guarding one another.
- Grizzlies point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. recently spoke to Grant Afseth of RG.org about stepping into a starting role with Morant sidelined, why and how he’s succeeded in Memphis, and the lessons he learned from his Hall-of-Fame father Scottie Pippen, among other topics.
Mavs Hopeful Gafford’s Ankle Injury Not Significant
5:00 pm: While Gafford will miss Tuesday’s game vs. the Lakers, the Mavericks are hopeful that he’ll be day-to-day going forward rather than having to be ruled out for an extended period, Kidd told reporters (Twitter link via Afseth).
8:19 am: Already missing top scorers Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks had another key rotation player go down with an injury during Monday’s loss in Memphis.
With 8:26 left in the second quarter, center Daniel Gafford turned his left ankle when he came down on Grizzlies forward John Konchar‘s foot while battling for a rebound (video link via NBA.com). After spending a moment on the floor in pain, Gafford limped to the locker room and didn’t return (Twitter video link via Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal).
Speaking to reporters after the game (YouTube link), Kidd acknowledged that the team is expecting to be without Gafford for the next little while.
“A sprained ankle, I think it is, so we’ll see how he feels. But he’s probably going to be out for some time,” Kidd said with a sigh. “That’s just part of the game. Unfortunately it’s happening to us — it seems like we’re losing a guy each day. So, next-man-up mentality.”
Gafford has shared center duties with Dereck Lively this season, starting 15 of 35 games and averaging a career-high 11.7 points per game with a league-leading 71.8% field goal percentage. He has also contributed 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 20.1 minutes per night.
Gafford’s return timeline is unclear, but Maxi Kleber – who started Monday’s game – figures to continue playing an increased role, with P.J. Washington seeing some time at center in small-ball lineups. Veteran big man Dwight Powell will also move up the depth chart in Gafford’s absence.
The shorthanded Mavericks will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they host the Lakers on Tuesday on the second night of a back-to-back set.
Kings Waive Orlando Robinson
4:45 pm: The Kings have officially waived Robinson, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
1:57 pm: The Kings, who entered the day with four players on non-guaranteed contracts, will retain three of those players and waive one, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, Sacramento is cutting center Orlando Robinson, but will hang onto veteran forwards Doug McDermott and Jae Crowder, guaranteeing their full-season salaries. Defensive ace Keon Ellis also technically had a non-guaranteed deal, but was never in danger of being released.
Robinson, 24, joined the Kings as a free agent over the summer to provide depth at center behind Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len. However, the former Heat big man has appeared in just nine games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per contest. Sacramento has primarily used Len and power forward Trey Lyles to back up Sabonis.
By waiving Robinson, the Kings will take on a dead-money cap hit of $959,779, which is also the salary he’ll earn for the time he spent with the team.
Retaining McDermott, Crowder, and Ellis will mean locking in cap charges of $2,087,519, $1,655,619, and $2,120,693, respectively. McDermott ($3,303,771) and Crowder ($2,620,232) will earn salaries exceeding their cap hits because the NBA reimburses a team for a portion of a player’s salary if he has more than two years of experience and signs a one-year, minimum-salary contract.
The transaction will leave the Kings with an open spot on their 15-man roster. The team is unlikely to fill that spot immediately, since it could be useful in trade season and keeping it open for the time being will give the club a little extra breathing room below the luxury tax line. Sacramento will be about $3.2MM below the tax line once the move is official, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
Sixers Cut Two-Way Player Pete Nance
The Sixers have placed two-way player Pete Nance on waivers, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Nance, who is the younger brother of Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr., signed with Philadelphia a little over a month ago after beginning the season with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate. He appeared in one NBA game for the Sixers and five G League contests for the Delaware Blue Coats during his time on a two-way deal with the organization.
Across 13 total NBAGL outings for the Charge and the Blue Coats this season, Nance has averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game. He posted a solid shooting line of .500/.375/.731 in those 13 appearances.
The Charge would hold Nance’s rights if he decides to return to the G League.
Although the contracts for two-way players don’t count against the salary cap, their salaries become fully guaranteed if they remain under contract through January 7. Nance will receive only a prorated portion of his two-way salary for the month-plus he spent under contract with the 76ers, who will become one of three teams around the NBA with an open two-way slot.
Bradley Beal Discusses Move To Bench, Trade Rumors
Coming off the bench on Monday for the first time in nearly nine years, Bradley Beal led the Suns to their first victory since Christmas Day, scoring a team-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting in 30 minutes of action vs. Philadelphia.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Beal said he doesn’t consider himself a bench player, but made it clear he doesn’t intend to make waves by pushing back against head coach Mike Budenholzer‘s decision to make lineup changes.
“I’m a starter in the league. I firmly believe that,” Beal said, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “No disrespect to anybody, but I’m a starter and that’s what I firmly believe, but Coach made his decision. I’m not going to sit there and argue with him. I’m not going to sit here and be a distraction. I’m not going to sit here and be an a–hole. He made his decision. Got to live with it.”
Despite coming off the bench, Beal logged the third-most minutes among Suns players on Monday, behind only Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, which suggests that his workload may not change significantly even if he’s not one of Phoenix’s first five players on the court.
Ryan Dunn, the Suns’ talented rookie wing defender, stepped into the lineup in Beal’s place, and was lauded by his veteran teammate for how he handled the promotion, notes Rankin (Twitter video link).
“My first thought process was him,” Beal said. “He’s thrown in the fire and the mix of everything. He doesn’t really get to enjoy starting as a young rookie in the league. That’s big. Everybody is so caught up in my s–t and whatever is going on (with me). … I told him before the game, ‘Just lock in. Just be you. Keep playing the way you’ve been playing. You ain’t doing nothing wrong. Stay locked in and be you.’ And he did that and I’m so proud of him.”
Beal’s comment about the media focusing on “my s–t and whatever is going on” with him was presumably a reference not only to the fact that he came off the bench for the first time since March of 2016, but also to the trade rumors swirling around him.
Reports have continually linked Heat forward Jimmy Butler to the Suns, with Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link) citing executives who say that Butler’s camp has been strongly signaling that Phoenix is his “one desired destination.” Beal would almost certainly have to be included in any deal for Butler due to the Suns’ second-apron restrictions. Crucially, he’d also have to approve the deal, since he holds a no-trade clause.
“(The Suns) absolutely are trying to trade Bradley Beal,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a First Take appearance on Tuesday (YouTube link). “… So they put him on the bench. Now you may say, ‘Why would you do that? If you’re trying to trade a player, why would you put him on the bench?’ And that’s because…the only way they can trade him is if he says, ‘I’m OK to be traded.’ So instead of trying to build him up, they have to violate the cardinal rule (of boosting a player’s trade value) and put him on the bench.
“Now I know that there were schematic reasons why they did it, and Mike Budenholzer tried to explain. But they’re basically trying to make him feel unwelcome in Phoenix so that he will waive that no-trade clause.”
While there’s a belief that Beal would sign off on a trade to Miami, the Heat reportedly have no interest in acquiring him due to his no-trade clause and the two years and $111MM left on his deal beyond this season. That means if the Suns want to land Butler, they’ll have to find a third team willing to take on Beal and his massive contract.
Asked after Monday’s game if he believes the demotion to the bench is related to a potential trade, Beal reminded reporters that he’ll have a say in that process.
“If so, I need to be addressed because I hold the cards,” Beal said, according to Rankin. “Until I’m addressed and somebody says something different, then I’ll be a Sun.”
Trade Rumors: Collins, Hachimura, Knecht, Johnson, Kings, Nets
Big man John Collins is having a strong season for the Jazz, averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, with career highs in assists (2.5) and steals (1.1) per game, as well as three-point percentage (43.8%).
While Collins’ contract – which includes a $26.58MM salary this season and a 2025/26 player option worth the same amount, will limit his value on the trade market, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears the 27-year-old has drawing interest from several teams.
However, the Suns aren’t one of those clubs — there have been no talks between Phoenix and Utah about Collins, Gambadoro reports. That’s not a surprise, given Phoenix’s apron-related constraints.
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Rival executives have told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report that the Lakers have shown no interest thus far in discussing deals that would involve forwards Rui Hachimura and/or Dalton Knecht. That lines up with reporting from Jovan Buha of The Athletic, who suggested last month that the team viewed Knecht as a long-term keeper and wouldn’t be eager to part with Hachimura.
- Within the last few weeks, the Lakers, Grizzlies, Kings, Thunder, and Pacers are among the teams that have been mentioned as potential suitors for Nets forward Cameron Johnson. According to Net Income and Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily, one well-placed source said that much of what’s been written about Johnson recently is “completely incorrect.” However, that source didn’t offer any further specifics, per NetsDaily’s duo, who note that there’s plenty of time for the situation to develop before the February 6 trade deadline. NetsDaily also hears from sources that Sacramento has been willing to offer at least one first-round pick for Johnson, but Brooklyn is seeking a more significant return.
- In a separate story, NetsDaily stresses that the Nets continue to focus on maximizing their cap room for 2025 and aren’t interested in taking on multiyear money in trades. That means, for instance, if the Kings wanted to make a Johnson trade that included Kevin Huerter (who has an $18MM guaranteed salary for 2025/26), it would likely require a third team.
- In a pair of ESPN articles for subscribers, Brian Windhorst examines the biggest roster holes for 15 potential contenders and explores the odds of each of those clubs making a significant trade, while Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton identify one trade candidate to watch from all 30 NBA teams.