This week, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors must sign a standard contract to comply with NBA roster rules. Both teams have 13 players on standard contracts and need to add a 14th player by Thursday to meet the minimum requirement.
NBA regulations mandate that teams carry at least 14 players on standard contracts. Teams are allowed a grace period of 14 consecutive days to reach this minimum, or up to 28 days throughout the season.
The Cavaliers and Warriors both fell below the 14-player threshold following their trade deadline moves, which involved uneven player exchanges.
The Cavaliers are well-positioned to fill their 14th roster spot. They have enough room under the luxury tax limit to add two players, likely signing one this week and saving the other spot for later in the season.
The Warriors face a more complicated scenario. Golden State has less than $1.4 million available under their first-apron hard cap, which limits their ability to complete the roster while maintaining flexibility for potential future needs.
Golden State is expected to sign Kevin Knox to a 10-day contract as they return from the All-Star break. Cleveland might follow a similar strategy, using a short-term contract to satisfy the roster requirement without committing to a player for the rest of the season.
Cavaliers, Warriors Must Sign 14th Player By Thursday https://t.co/ZbdjuMVZI0
— RealGM (@RealGM) February 18, 2025
