The NBA is just a month into its 2026 offseason, and boy has it been exciting, with 30-plus trades and several star players switching teams.
Analyzing The NBA Teams Who Still Have Work To Do With Roster
Of the 30 NBA teams, only four have 15 players on standard contracts and don’t need to do any work. These teams are the Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz. Granted, some teams have more than 15; thus, they have work to do to get down to the minimum before opening night/
There is a caveat to the Pistons’ situation as they are expected to re-sign restricted free agent Jalen Duren at some point before the season. However, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne, the Pistons and Duren are at a standstill.
“I just talked to someone who said that negotiations on Jalen Duren are at a standstill right now, could take deep into August, could take quite a while,” Shelbourne said on NBA Today.
Ramona Shelburne on Jalen Duren:
“I just talked to someone who said that negotations on Jalen Duren are at a standstill right now, could take deep into August, could take quite a while” pic.twitter.com/WnsJzil8qu
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 21, 2026
The Nets have an open two-way spot left. Meanwhile, the Pistons, Suns, and Jazz have all three of their minor league spots filled.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have 17 players on standard contracts and are $11.2 million under the luxury tax after trading Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team deal that brought in Ryan Nembhard and Lu Dort. The Hawks have been linked to unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, whether keeping him or moving him in a signing and trade. Regardless, they will have to make roster moves before the start of the season. Mouhamed Gueye, who fractured his left foot during a workout last Wednesday and subsequently underwent surgery on Tuesday, and Buddy Hield ($9.6 million) are the main candidates to be waived, if it comes down to that.
Jalen Wilson inked a two-way deal yesterday. Thus, filling the Hawks’ last two-way spot with the others: RayJ Dennis and Keshon Gilbert.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have one open roster spot on their 15-man roster. However, the Celtics are $1.7 million below the luxury threshold. So, the Cs may decide to open the season with a roster spot open to give them flexibility. The Cs are also over $10 million below the first apron, where they are hardcapped.
Miami and Boston are potential landing spots for Bradley Beal, per @JakeLFischer
(Via @BleacherReport ) pic.twitter.com/NFpmXyOWo6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 21, 2026
Amari Williams returns for a second season a two-way contract though he was promoted to a standard contract at the end of last season. Thus leaving Boston with open minor league roster spots.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte was very active early in the offseason and has 17 players on standard deals to show for their aggressiveness. Therefore, the Hornets will have to make two roster moves before training camp. Moussa Diabate‘s $2.4 million contract doesn’t fully guarantee until January 10, but he is not going anywhere. The Hornets have plenty of wiggle room as they are $27 million under the luxury tax threshold.
Tidjane Salaun, the Hornets‘ 2024 first-round pick, could be in jeopardy of not making the team if he doesn’t impress during training camp. The Hornets have two of their three minor league spots filled with Michael Ajayi and PJ Hall.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have brought in just four newcomers. The Bulls have one open spot on their 15-man roster and still have $1.9 million in cap space. They could use another combo guard who can handle the ball and score a little.
Chicago also has an open two-way spot. Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers are on minor league deals.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has three open roster spots, though the Cavaliers have at least two players at the top of their wish list. James Harden, who opted out of his player option to give the Cavs some flexibility, is expected to re-sign with the team once LeBron James makes his decision. Speaking of James, the Cavs are one of the favorites to land himThe Cavs may enter the season with just 14 players on standard contracts.
ESPN reported this afternoon that it’s realistically down to Cleveland, Heat, Philadelphia for LeBron.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) July 17, 2026
If the Cavaliers lose out on James, they could pivot to Jonathan Kuminga. The Cavs have filled all three of their two-way spots.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have added three players, Moussa Cisse, Zaccharrie Risacher and Jett Howard (2-way), to their ledger over the last few days. The Mavs now have 16 players on standard deals and are $2.2 million below the tax line. They also now have all three of their minor league spots spoken for with John Poulakadis and Tobi Lawal joining Howard.
Denver Nuggets
Denver also has three open roster spots. The Nuggets are in the LeBron James sweepstakes, though they are a long shot to sign him. They are also optimistic about re-signing restricted free agent Peyton Watson. The problem is that the Nuggets are $3.9 million below the second apron. Given their financial constraints, they will enter the season carrying 14 players.
“The Nuggets, according to those league sources, value Watson significantly,” Tony Jones of The Athletic wrote. “They feel they are in a good spot to retain his services and just need to let the restricted-free-agency process play out. The three teams registering interest in Watson will almost certainly have to go the sign-and-trade route, which brings its own set of complications.
“Denver’s conundrum is finding a potential contract resolution that’s good for Watson while also keeping the team in a good financial space,” Jones continued. “Because the Nuggets have invested heavily in [Nikola] Jokić, [Aaron] Gordon and [Jamal] Murray, an expensive contract with Watson would likely yield significant luxury tax penalties, something Denver has been loath to do in the past.”
Spencer Jones is also a restricted free agent. The Nuggets have filled just one of their three two-way spots. KJ Simpson is returning to the franchise for a second season on a minor league deal.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State was hoping to be a serious suitor for James. Part of the reason that Draymond Green opted out of his $27.5 million player option was to give the Warriors a legitimate chance at securing “The King’s” services. However, that is unlikely to come to fruition.
The Warriors have 11 players under contract with a salary cap hit of $185.2 million. The Warriors are $35.9 million below the second apron threshold, where they are hardcapped. Green will likely re-sign for around $20 million for the upcoming season, giving the Dubs plenty of flexibility to make a big-time move at some point during the season, if they so choose. They have the league’s bi-annual and $9.6 million of their Mid-level exception left.
The Warriors have one open two-way spot. LJ Cryer and Malevy Leons are the players on a minor league deal.
Houston Rockets
Houston has two open roster spots, and JD Davison’s $2.5 million is nonguaranteed until January 10. The Rockets are also $2.3 million below the tax line so that they may start the season with 14 players. They could use another wing. However, their only tool, besides signing a player to the league minimum, is a $13.3 million trade exception.
The Rockets have two of their two-way spots filled: Quadir Copeland and Tristen Newton. Isaiah Crawford, who was on a two-way contract last season, is a restricted free agent.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers figure to enter the regular season with 14 players as they are in the luxury tax and $2.2 million from being hardcapped at the first apron. The Pacers have two of their two-way spots filled after waiving Taelon Peter yesterday. The Pacers filled their last open two-way spot today by inking Jalen Slawson, who was on a two-way deal last season.
The Indiana Pacers and Jalen Slawson have agreed to a two-way deal, league sources told @hoopshype. Slawson averaged 7.3 points on 44.2% shooting from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 13 games for Indiana last season pic.twitter.com/G8p9gyrGmL
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 21, 2026
Kobe Brown and Ethan Thompson are the players with minor league pacts.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have an upcoming decision to make on Cam Christie’s $2.29 million contract, due on October 15, about whether to guarantee it. The Clippers have been linked to Peyton Watson, though they are in a holding pattern until Kawhi Leonard‘s situation is cleared up. Bennedict Mathurin is a restricted free agent.
If the Clippers guarantee Christie’s deal, they will have one spot left on the 15-man roster while being$40 million under the tax threshold. The Clippers have filled all three of their minor league deals with their latest signing today with Jamarion Sharp.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Jamarion Sharp have agreed to a two-way deal, agent Scott Nichols of @Rize_Management told @hoopshype. Sharp was last year’s G League Defensive Player of the Year and blocks leader (4.1). With Yanic Konan Niederhauser hurt, Sharp adds frontcourt depth pic.twitter.com/L2ExtXjn1C
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 21, 2026
Nick Martentelli and Sean Pedulla are the other Clippers on two-way deals.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers added their 16th player yesterday with Matisse Thybulle‘s signing (1-year for $3.3 million). The Lakers, hardcapped at the first apron, are $469,322 over the luxury tax. The Lakers have all three of their 2-way spots filled: Arthur Kaluma, Chris Manon, AK Okereke.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis has plenty of upcoming decisions to make with 20 players on standard contracts. So, the Grizzlies will need to waive or trade five players in a salary dump before the season opener.
Jaylen Wells has a nonguaranteed deal, though he is part of the Grizzlies’ young core, so he isn’t going to be waived. Taj Gibson‘s deal doesn’t guarantee until January 10, so he projects to get his walking papers unless there are trades. D’Angelo Russell is a candidate to get bought out or traded.
The Griz have all three two-way spots filled with Carson Cooper, Jahmai Mashack, and Javon Small.
Miami Heat
Miami is another team waiting for James‘ decision. Despite being $2 million below the tax line, the Heat project to fill only two of their three open roster spots, as they are $10 million from being hardcapped at the first apron. The Heat have been linked to Bradley Beal, Max Strus (if Cavs trade him), and DeMar DeRozan, among others. They have one open two-way spot with Tre Donaldson and Vlad Goldin holding minor league deals.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been making some surprising decisions since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat. The Bucks have 17 players on standard deals, including Gary Trent Jr, so they may have to make tough decisions before opening night. Trent’s new four-year, $64 million deal is under review with the league. They also have all three of their two-way spots filled with Kam Jones, Rafael Castro, and Cormac Ryan.
Minnesota Timberwolves
One of the finalists for James, Minnesota is another team facing financial issues as they are $3.98 million from being hardcapped at the second apron. Therefore, the only player the Wolves can afford is at the veteran minimum. They have all three of their two-way players under contract: Enrique Freeman, Zyon Pullin, and Rocco Zikarsky.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans has an open roster spot and is $8.2 million below the tax line. The Pelicans have their entire bi-annual and $7.1 million of their non-taxpayer exception. Acquiring another point guard should be a priority for the Pelicans. Meanwhile, the Pels have filled just one of their two-way spots, and that is Hunter Dickinson.
New York Knicks
The Knicks’ attempt to fill their last roster spot with Moussa Cisse was foiled by the Mavericks, who matched the offer. The Knicks are $3.2 million below the second apron and have 13 players on standard deals, though they will likely fill just 14 due to financial constraints. Finding a third center figures to be a priority for the Knicks for the final roster spot. They need to fill all three of their two-way spots.
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC has cleared a lot of money off their books with their three trades. The Thunder’s roster now stands at 14 and is $5.7 million above the first apron. The Thunder are unlikely to fill the 15th spot before the start of the campaign. All three of the Thunder’s minor league spots are filled.
Orlando Magic
Orlando has 14 players on its ledger and is just $2.49 million from the second apron. Therefore, don’t expect the Magic to add anyone else on standard deals. All three of their minor league spots are spoken for as well.
Philadelphia 76ers
The last team on this list waiting for James. If James doesn’t head to the City of Brotherly Love, don’t expect the 76ers to add to their ledger, as they are $3.4 million from being hardcapped at the first apron. Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert have signed with the Sixers on a two-way deal. Thus, leaving them with an open minor league spot.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland has 14 players on standard contracts and is $8.2 million below the tax threshold. The Blazers could use another wing. Jayson Kent and Chris Youngblood are on two-way deals, leaving one open spot.
Sacramento Kings
While there is still time, the Kings have failed to accomplish their goals of slashing payroll. The Kings waived DeMar DeRozan, who had a $10 million guarantee ($25 million total), but Domantas Sabonis ($45.4 million) and Zach LaVine ($48.9 million) are still on the roster. They have two open roster spots and are $1.3 million into the luxury tax. All three of their minor league spots are accounted for.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs made some surprising moves this offseason by not only signing Tobias Harris, but re-signing Harrison Barnes. The Spurs also added depth to their frontcourt with the selection of Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed in the 2026 draft. All three of the two-way spots are filled.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto has two open roster spots, although they are likely waiting until Kawhi Leonard’s trade is finally finalized. The Raptors are $332,570 below the tax line. They have one two-way roster spot left, with Jaden Bradley and Chucky Hepburn filling the others.
Washington Wizards
Washington has 14 players on standard contracts with nearly $11 million of luxury cap space. The Wizards also have all three of their two-way spots filled.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
