NBA training camps are here!
Monday marks the arrival of media day for most of the league's 30 teams, with on-court practice beginning Tuesday -- exactly three weeks before the Golden State Warriors will raise their 2021-22 NBA championship banner.
Before then, however, there are still roster decisions to be made around the league and potential contract extensions to be handed out.
To get you ready for the 2022-23 season, we have a complete 30-team roster breakdown along with the top storylines, decisions and questions to watch over the next few weeks.
We also included an explanation of how Exhibit 10 and two-way contracts will work in 2022-23.
Note: Any players on a non-guaranteed contract will begin to incur a per-day cap hit if not waived by 5 p.m. ET. on Oct. 15.
Depth chart key: 2 (Two-way) | N (Non-guaranteed) | E (Exhibit 10) | I (Injured) | P (Partial)
Atlanta Hawks
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Rookie extension talks with De'Andre Hunter
Will extension talks for Hunter mirror those of John Collins or Kevin Huerter?
Collins became a restricted free agent in 2021 after talks stalled the previous offseason. He then signed a five-year, $125 million contract to remain in Atlanta. Huerter and the Hawks, however, reached a compromise that resulted in the guard signing a four-year, $64 million extension before the start of the 2021-22 season.
Hunter played his best basketball in the five-game loss to Miami in the first round of the playoffs. The forward averaged 21.2 points, shot 55.7% from the field and 46.2% from 3. He scored a career-high 35 points in the Game 5 loss.
However, the Hawks' concern is the lack of durability the forward has shown in his first three seasons. Hunter has missed 94 games, including 62 with a right knee injury.
Atlanta will also need to keep an eye on its financial outlook for 2023-24.
Including the $18 million player option for Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Hawks have $138 million in committed salary, $23 million below the tax threshold.
A Hunter extension that starts at $16.7 million (four years, $75 million) would give the Hawks flexibility to stay below the $161 million threshold after their roster is filled out in free agency.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of Hunter and Dejounte Murray.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Jalen Johnson and fourth-year team option for Onyeka Okongwu.
Boston Celtics
Guaranteed contracts: 10
Non-guaranteed/partial: 4
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Head coach, frontcourt and Jaylen Brown
Adversity hit the Celtics in two big ways just before training camp started.
First, starting center Robert Williams III underwent left knee surgery and is expected to miss eight to 12 weeks. It is the same knee that limited his availability during the regular season and playoffs.
Williams' absence coupled with the offseason injury to Danilo Gallinari leaves the Celtics' frontcourt thin. Luke Kornet and Grant Williams are the lone bigs off the bench. Boston could shift Jayson Tatum to power forward and Al Horford to the center position if needed.
Boston did sign Jake Layman, Luka Samanic, Justin Jackson and Noah Vonleh to non-guaranteed contracts and it has Mfiondu Kabengele on a two-way contract.
If the loss of Williams was not enough, coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season because of violations of organizational guidelines.
Udoka finished fourth in Coach of the Year and played a big role in the Celtics' in-season turnaround that resulted in reaching the NBA Finals. After dropping one game below .500 in late January, the Celtics had a league-best 28-7 record, and they found a defensive identity.
The Celtics' sideline in the interim will be manned by Joe Mazzulla. Hired by Danny Ainge in 2016 to work for the Maine Red Claws, the 34-year old spent two years as the head coach at Division II Fairmont State before returning to the Celtics in 2019.
Brown is at the center of attention not because the Celtics are favorites in the Eastern Conference but because his name was linked to a potential Kevin Durant trade this offseason.
"Jaylen's been through this from the standpoint of listening and the noise has been around him for a long time, big names over the years," Celtics general manager Brad Stevens told WEEI earlier this offseason. "I think one of the things you have to be able to do is ignore the noise and know what's important."
Brown is eligible to sign a three-year, $119.5 million extension before Oct. 17 but he could earn an additional $123 million by waiting to become a free agent in 2024. That number could go even higher if he makes an All-NBA team in either of the next two seasons.
October dates:
Oct. 15: Last day to waive Layman, Jackson, Vonleh and Denzel Valentine before salary is applied to the cap.
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of Brown and Grant Williams.
Oct. 18: The contract of Kornet becomes 50% guaranteed.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team option for Payton Pritchard.
Brooklyn Nets
Guaranteed contracts: 12
Non-guaranteed/partial: 3
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Ben Simmons, Joe Harris, T.J. Warren and Edmond Sumner
Kevin Durant's trade demand -- and subsequent recommitment to Brooklyn -- and the future of Kyrie Irving will be the central focus on media day.
On the court, however, the health of Simmons, Harris, Warren and Sumner will play a major role in the Nets' success this season. Among that quartet, only Harris saw action last season, and he played just 14 games before missing the remainder of the season with a left ankle injury that required multiple surgeries. Harris has a career 43.9% 3-point shooting percentage and gives Brooklyn a threat on the perimeter.
Simmons, who did not suit up for the Nets after being acquired from the 76ers at the trade deadline, is a two-time All-NBA defensive first teamer. From the 2017-18 to 2020-21 seasons, Simmons held opposing players to 42.2% shooting as the closest defender, ranking third among 147 players to defend 2,000 shots, according to ESPN Stats & Information. During that span, only two players defended both guards and forwards at least 7,500 times in the half court: Simmons and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton.
A healthy Simmons and Harris upgrades a defensive unit that ranked in the bottom 10 in efficiency each of the past two seasons.
Warren played a career-high 67 games and averaged 19.8 points in the 2019-20 season. However, he has been out since Dec. 29, 2020, recovering from stress fractures in his left foot and has missed a total of 269 games since 2014.
Sumner tore his left Achilles last September and missed the entire 2021-22 season. The guard started 24 games in 2020-21 for the Indiana Pacers, averaging 10 points and shooting 53.2% from the field.
October dates:
Oct. 15: Last day to waive the contracts of Markieff Morris and Yuta Watanabe before a per-day salary is applied.
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of Simmons and Harris.
Oct. 18: Sumner's guarantee is raised from $250K to $500K. Morris' guarantee is raised from $0 to $500K.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team options for Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe.
Charlotte Hornets
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Steve Clifford
In his second stint as Charlotte's coach, Clifford will be tasked with improving a 43-win team that lost a 20-point scorer in Miles Bridges and made no major offseason additions outside of drafting center Mark Williams.
Bridges was indicted on three felony domestic violence charges and his future not only in Charlotte but in the NBA is in doubt.
How this roster improves depends on two factors: an identity on the defensive end and the health of Gordon Hayward.
The Hornets ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency and gave up 132 points to Atlanta in the play-in tournament.
Hayward averaged 19.6 and 15.9 points in his first two years in Charlotte but has missed 59 games as a result of various injuries and has not finished back-to-back seasons.
October dates:
Oct. 1: The last day for Bridges to sign the $7.9M qualifying offer, unless it is extended.
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of P.J. Washington and Hayward.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for James Bouknight and fourth-year team option for LaMelo Ball.
Chicago Bulls
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The health of Lonzo Ball
The Bulls were 27-13 last season before going into a tailspin when the guard injured his left knee in mid-January.
Chicago went 19-23 in his absence and lost in five games to Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs.
Now, nine months after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus, Ball's return is critical for Chicago and could determine whether the Bulls are competing for a top-six seed or one of the four play-in spots.
Ramona Shelburne and Jamal Collier reported earlier this month that Ball was expected to miss training camp and was doubtful to start the season. The injury-return timeline was pushed further back after the Bulls announced that Ball would undergo an arthroscopic debridement on that same knee and be reevaluated in four to six weeks.
Because Ball has been a liability when it comes to his availability (playing in only 52, 47, 63, 55 and 35 games his first five seasons), Chicago signed veteran guard Goran Dragic as an insurance policy.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contract of Coby White.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team option for Patrick Williams.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Starting small forward
The preseason attention will be on the new backcourt pairing of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. With four of the five starting positions set, however, the focus should actually be on the open competition at starting small forward.
Coach JB Bickerstaff has multiple options, including Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert.
Okoro moved into the starting lineup in early November after guard Collin Sexton was lost for the season. He started 61 games, averaging 9 points.
LeVert started the final nine regular-season games and both play-in games alongside Okoro. He has 180 career starts.
Another option is to put 6-foot-9 forward Dean Wade alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, though Wade has primarily played at power forward in his three-year career. Wade started 28 games last season, including 12 with Mobley and Allen.
October dates:
Oct. 15: Last day to waive Wade and Lamar Stevens before a per-day salary is applied.
Oct. 17: Last day to sign Dylan Windler and Cedi Osman to contract extensions.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Mobley and the fourth-year team option for Okoro.
Dallas Mavericks
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 5
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: The void left by Jalen Brunson
Brunson averaged 16 points last season for the Mavericks before signing with the New York Knicks this summer, and that scoring will certainly be missed. Still, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd is confident that Dallas has enough to compete in the Western Conference.
"When you talk about Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway coming back, everybody's asked this question, and we believe the points will be there," Kidd told the media in the offseason. "And we believe we're gonna be a bigger team. Nothing against JB's height, but with Spencer Dinwiddie starting, our starting five is going to be big, with JaVale [McGee] starting at the center and then we're going to have a lot more offense coming off the bench."
In the 23 games (seven starts) he played in Dallas after being acquired in a trade from the Washington Wizards, Dinwiddie averaged 15.8 points. Hardaway was averaging 14.2 points before he missed the final three months of the regular season. He did not play in the Mavericks' run to the Western Conference finals.
One area of concern that should worry Kidd is Luka Doncic's workload. Doncic ranked No. 1 in usage last season and had a shortened offseason because of his commitment to the Slovenian national team.
October dates:
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team option for Josh Green.
Denver Nuggets
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The health of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone is aware that Denver's championship window will not stay open forever, even with back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic under contract for the next six seasons.
"We have to capitalize while we have a special player in Nikola and do everything that we can as an organization -- and I know we will -- to put the best players around him to give ourselves the best chance to win the world championship," Malone said.
Getting Murray and Porter back should go a long way to helping Denver succeed.
Before Murray injured his knee on April 12, 2021, the Nuggets had an offensive efficiency of 123.9 with Murray, Jokic and Porter on the court, the highest among 154 trios to play 600 minutes per ESPN Stats & Information research.
Denver had also won 17 of its last 21 games before Murray's injury and was a season-high 15 games over .500.
Malone described his outlook for next season as "tempered excitement.".
"As the season goes along they're going to get more and more comfortable. They're going to get their rhythm back, their confidence back and then they're going to get back to their old selves."
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contract of Jamal Murray.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Bones Hyland and fourth-year team option for Zeke Nnaji.
Detroit Pistons
Guaranteed contracts: 16
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The frontcourt of Saddiq Bey and Marvin Bagley III
With veteran Jerami Grant now in Portland, the Pistons frontcourt is manned by a pair of 23-year-olds.
Bey played all 82 games, averaging a career-high 16.1 points. However, he shot a less-than-efficient 39.6% from the field and 34.6% from 3. But according to Second Spectrum, Bey made 158 catch-and-shoot 3 pointers last season, fourth-most in the NBA. He also ranked in the top half of the league in efficiency on isolation plays after the All-Star break. He had ranked in the bottom five in the NBA prior to early February.
After being acquired in a trade from Sacramento in February, Bagley averaged 14.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in 27.2 minutes. In eight games as a starter, he averaged 15.8 points and shot a career high 59.8% from the field, leading him to re-sign in Detroit on a three-year, $37.5 million deal this summer.
The two-for-one trade to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic helped clean up the Pistons' roster. Now with 16 guaranteed contracts, the lone roster decision is to waive guard Kemba Walker.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Detroit will need to waive Walker.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Cade Cunningham and fourth-year team options of Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes.
Golden State Warriors
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The extensions and the bench
The defending champions face a balancing act of keeping their championship window open for the foreseeable future while keeping an eye on finances.
After spending $350 million in salary and luxury tax last season, and a projected $350 million this year, Golden State could be headed toward a record $400 million next year if an extension is reached with Jordan Poole, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. Klay Thompson is extension eligible but has two years left on his contract.
"We want all of those guys," Warriors general manager Bob Myers said at a news conference Thursday. "Can we get all of them? I don't know. It depends on what the money ends up being. What the ask is, what we can end up doing. We're not at a point to make those decisions yet.
"Some of these decisions may be made in the next two weeks, some might be made in the next seven, eight months."
Poole is a priority, with an Oct. 17 deadline to extend him. If a new deal is not reached, the guard will then become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Green can be extended past the Oct. 17 deadline if his $27.6 million player option for next season is declined. If the option is declined, the first year of the extension cannot be less than $27.6 million.
Wiggins has until June 30 to sign a new contract.
On the court, the focus now turns to the recent lottery picks: Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman.
With veterans Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Gary Payton II gone, expect an increased role for the three young players.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of Poole and Thompson.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team options for Moody and Kuminga and the fourth-year team option for Wiseman.
Houston Rockets
Guaranteed contracts: 18
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Kevin Porter Jr. and the final roster spots
The Rockets' front office is faced with an important decision: Has it seen enough from Porter on the basketball court and from a maturity level to reward him with a new contract?
Because Porter was the last pick in the first round in 2019, he has a modest $11.5 million free agent hold in 2023. That number would be the starting point for negotiations on a contract extension should the Rockets be willing to offer one before the Oct. 17 deadline.
A four-year, $51.5 million extension with a team option in the last season benefits both sides. It would guarantee Porter a minimum of $37 million. It would also give the Rockets the guard on a salary comparable to the midlevel exception while allowing them an out after the third season.
The Rockets face a significant roster crunch after the deal that sent Christian Wood to Dallas and brought four players back in return. Houston currently has 18 players on guaranteed contracts and will need to waive or trade three by Oct. 17. The likely candidates could be some combination of Trey Burke, David Nwaba, Daishen Nix and Marquese Chriss. Former second-round pick KJ Martin is buried on the depth chart and has trade value if Houston entertains moving him.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to trim the roster to 15 players; last day to extend the contract of Eric Gordon.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team options of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher.
Indiana Pacers
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 3
Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Cap space and Myles Turner
The Pacers still have $29.6 million in cap space and an open roster spot, making them an attractive option for teams looking to move off contracts as the Oct. 17 cut date approaches.
Because of salary-cap floor rules, Indiana will have to add $15.4 million in salary to hit the floor or distribute the shortfall to the other players on the roster.
At some point, Indiana will face a decision on how Turner fits into its future plans.
"Our job is to listen," general manager Chad Buchanan told the Kevin & Query show. "We value him greatly and other teams around the league do, too. He really fits with some of our young guards. He's an outstanding fit on the court for us. He's set up to have a great season and that puts him in a great spot next summer."
Before suffering a season-ending left foot injury in mid-January, Turner was averaging 2.8 blocks, the most in the NBA last season. He also contested 5.7 shots per game in the restricted area, the fourth-most in the NBA. He shot a career-best 75% in the restricted area while averaging 4.4 three-point attempts, the most among centers.
Turner will make $18 million in the final year of his contract and is both renegotiation eligible (the Pacers can use cap space to increase his current salary) and extension eligible for an additional four seasons.
The trades of Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert and Malcolm Brogdon have signaled that Indiana is focused on building the roster with younger players and accumulating draft picks.
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contracts of Buddy Hield and Goga Bitadze.
Oct. 31: Deadline to exercise the third-year team options for Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson and fourth-year team options for Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith.
LA Clippers
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 5
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Starting point guard
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue will have to choose between last year's starter Reggie Jackson or former All-Star John Wall.
Jackson, 32, started 75 games last season, averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 assists in 31.2 minutes. Wall averaged 20.5 points in 40 games with Houston in 2020-21 but was held out by his former team last season. He has played a total of 113 games since 2017-18.
"For me, I'm just happy to play basketball again," Wall said in July. "I'm a competitor. I know a lot of people ask me, 'Are you mad if you start or not start?' I don't care. I'm a competitor, and I just want an opportunity to go out there and compete for a spot, and if I get it, I get it. And if I don't, we know how talented Reggie Jackson is and what he's done for this team and helping these guys out, especially when Kawhi and PG were out. Even when they were [healthy], he's a great piece. Whoever gets the spot is great."
October dates:
Oct. 17: Last day to extend the contract of Marcus Morris Sr.
Los Angeles Lakers
Guaranteed contracts: 12
Non-guaranteed/partial: 2
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Darvin Ham and future cap flexibility
The Lakers rookie coach enters training camp with two sets of priorities.
The first is getting a roster that features 11 players on expiring contracts to accept their role and buy-in for the betterment of the team.
That process started in early September with the integration of former rivals Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook.
"Super excited," Beverley interrupted when asked about his relationship and fit with Westbrook. "... I was asked this question two, three years ago, [about] someone I always wanted to play with and [Westbrook] was the first name. I have [known] Bron since I was a baby, a rookie in this league, so obviously I want to play with him.
"But a player with that competitive spirit, that fire, that will, that dog, that nastiness, that grit, to have a running mate like that, I have never had that. So I am super excited to see where it goes. Obviously like any relationship or any marriage, things, we are going to have tough conversations. That is what comes with winning, but I am excited about those conversations, I am excited about the practices. I am just excited to be able to compete with someone like that."
The second priority for Ham is reshaping and developing a young bench that has eight new players and lacks an identity.
At some point this season, the Lakers might have to decide if improving this year's roster is worth sacrificing future cap flexibility and draft picks. For example, would trading Westbrook and future first-round picks to the Utah Jazz for Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gay change the trajectory of the roster? And if so, is the $20 million in lost flexibility next offseason too great a cost?
October dates:
Oct. 15: The Lakers will be charged a per-day salary on the contract of Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel if both are on the roster past 5 p.m. ET.
Memphis Grizzlies
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 0
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The bench and the final roster spot
If there is a weakness to this Memphis team, it is the inexperience of its bench.
Without Brandon Clarke (who will likely move into the starting lineup in place of the injured Jaren Jackson Jr.) and De'Anthony Melton (traded to Philadelphia for injured Danny Green), Memphis has eight players off the bench with three years or less of experience. The lone veteran is guard Tyus Jones.
Memphis is far below the luxury tax and has eight second-round picks to explore trading Green's $10 million expiring contract ($6.9 million is guaranteed). A deal that sends Green and picks to the Utah Jazz for Jordan Clarkson makes the most sense.
The Grizzlies also have a decision to make with their final roster spot.
They currently have 16 guaranteed contracts and will need to waive or trade a player by Oct. 17.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend Clarke's contract.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Ziaire Williams and fourth-year team options for Desmond Bane and Santi Aldama.
Miami Heat
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The rookie extension for Tyler Herro
Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley was blunt after the season when assessing Tyler Herro.
"The next step for him -- and I think we're seeing this in the league -- if you want to win a championship and you want to be a starter, you really have to become a two-way player today," Riley said.
"But as far as being a starter, come to training camp and win it. Sometimes it's that easy, and sometimes the fit was better for us coming in, balancing the energy of scoring and having somebody who can really control the ball. If he wants to be a starter, we'll see in October. That's something that you earn. There's no doubt he has the qualities to be that."
Herro is coming off a Sixth Man of the Year season, averaging 9.8 minutes in the fourth quarter, the most by any player on the roster.
He is eligible to sign an extension for an additional four years (he can sign for five, but it would have to be a max contract), and the Heat have a decision: to reward him with starter-type money or wait until the 2023 offseason, when he is a restricted free agent.
Starter-level money ranges from the four-year, $107 million extension (there was an additional $13 million in unlikely bonuses) that RJ Barrett signed in the offseason to the four-year, $72-75 million contracts of Tim Hardaway Jr., Evan Fournier and Eric Gordon.
A four-year, $95 million extension with a starting salary of $21.2 million places Herro in the top six among all shooting guards and puts Miami right at the $161 million tax threshold.
An extension likely takes Herro off the table in a potential trade because of the poison-pill restriction, but waiting until next summer could cost the Heat more, considering that close to half the teams in the league are projected to have significant spending power.
If a deal on an extension is not reached, the Heat would face a 2023 offseason with both Herro and Max Strus, their top two shooting guards, becoming free agents. Miami has only eight players under contract beyond this season but is already over the cap with $141 million in committed salary.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Herro.
Oct. 19: Haywood Highsmith's guaranteed amount rises from $50K to $400K.
Milwaukee Bucks
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The bench
The Bucks' bench will be under the microscope in the early part of the season. Milwaukee re-signed Bobby Portis, Jevon Carter, Serge Ibaka, Wesley Matthews, drafted MarJon Beauchamp and added free agent Joe Ingles, who will miss the early part of the season with a torn right ACL.
To make matters worse, All-Star Khris Middleton had surgery in July to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. If Middleton is not available, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer will be staring at the same bench that was an Achilles' heel in the second-round loss to Boston. Middleton missed that series with a left knee injury.
In that series, the Bucks had only two NBA-ready players they could rely on off the bench: Portis and Pat Connaughton. George Hill averaged 16.3 minutes but shot 20% from the field, averaging 1.3 points per game. Carter averaged 7.8 minutes, Matthews shot 33.3% from the field and Ibaka was out with an illness.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Guaranteed contracts: 12
Non-guaranteed/partial: 3
Exhibit 10 contracts: 3
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: D'Angelo Russell and Jaden McDaniels
The focus in training camp should not be on the new big three of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert but the other two starters, Russell and McDaniels.
Russell is extension eligible and entering the last year of his contract. Per ESPN Stats & Information research, he was one of three players to average 7.0 assists and 2.5 or fewer turnovers last year, along with Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Paul. In the Game 6 loss to Memphis, however, Russell was benched down the stretch in favor of backup Jordan McLaughlin.
McDaniels scored a career-high 24 points in the Game 6 loss and is now the likely starter at small forward. The 21-year-old has started 58 games in two seasons, including 31 last season. The Timberwolves have an insurance policy with veteran Kyle Anderson if McDaniels struggles. Anderson signed a two-year contract in the offseason and has started 248 games in his career.
October dates:
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team options for Edwards and McDaniels.
New Orleans Pelicans
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Zion Williamson and Larry Nance Jr.
Williamson's health is the most important storyline for the Pelicans and could change the trajectory of the Western Conference.
If Williamson can stay healthy, New Orleans is a top-six team in the West. If not, the Pelicans once again will be competing for one of the final play-in spots.
On the court, Williamson is a franchise player who can dominate a game. Before the foot injury that sidelined him for the entire 2021-22 season, Williamson averaged 25.7 points on 60.4% shooting in his first two seasons. He is the only player in NBA history to average 25 points and 60% shooting over any two-season span.
The concern is that Williamson has not played a regular-season game since May 4, 2021, and has appeared in only 85 games in his first three seasons.
Also keep an eye on a possible extension for Nance.
Nance is on an expiring contract and can extend for four seasons and up to $58 million. Because he is in the last year of his contract, he is eligible to extend up until June 30.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contracts of McCollum and Jaxson Hayes.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the fourth-year team option for Kira Lewis Jr.
New York Knicks
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 2
Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Julius Randle and Obi Toppin
Which version of Randle will the Knicks get this season?
The player who shot 41% from 3-point range and 42.2% on jump shots in 2020-21? Randle earned All-Star and All-NBA honors and helped lead the Knicks to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference that season.
Then there was the player who shot 32.6% on jumpers in 2021-22. That minus-9.6% drop was the fifth largest among players to attempt 200 jump shots in each season. He also shot 31% on 3-pointers, down 10% from the prior season.
Since the 2015-16 season he has shot above 37% on jumpers just once, that lone outlier season in 2020-21.
Now the Knicks have to question if Toppin has made Randle expendable. If not, is there a path for the two players to be on the court together?
In the 10 games he started in 2021-22, Toppin averaged 20.3 points and 7 rebounds, shot 57.1% overall and 43.6% from 3-point range. He was 19-for-40 from 3 in the last five games of the season.
Per Cleaning the Glass, both players shared the court for only 209 possessions, and the Knicks were plus-0.4 points per 100 possessions in those possessions.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Cam Reddish.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Quentin Grimes and the fourth-year team options for Toppin and Immanuel Quickley.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Guaranteed contracts: 17
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 0
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The final roster cuts
With 17 guaranteed contracts and Vit Krejci on a partial guarantee, Oklahoma City will have to trim its roster by three players before the start of the regular season.
Five possible candidates to be cut or traded are:
Krejci, who is guaranteed $781K of his $1.56 million contract. The 6-8 point guard is only 21 years old and averaged 6.2 points in 30 games last season.
Ty Jerome is in the last year of his rookie-scale contract. The point guard averaged 7.1 points in 48 games in 2021-22. He has a $4.2 million cap hit.
Theo Maledon finished the 2021-22 season scoring in double figures in six of the last seven games he played. He scored a season-high 28 points in a loss to Detroit. The guard has a $1.9 million cap hit and there is a team option for next year.
Former first-round pick Aleksej Pokusevski enters the third year of his four-year rookie scale contract. He started 12 games last year, averaging 10.6 points and 7.6 rebounds. He has a $3.2 million cap this season and a $5 million team option next year.
Veteran Derrick Favors played in the fewest games (39) in his career last year, averaging 5.2 points. He is on an expiring $10.2 million contract.
One question Oklahoma City will have to answer is how the injury timeline of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander affects the final roster decisions. Gilgeous-Alexander suffered a Grade 2 left MCL sprain before training camp and is expected to at the minimum miss the entire preseason.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to reduce the roster to 15 players; last day to extend the contracts of Jerome and Darius Bazley.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team options for Josh Giddey and Tre Mann and the fourth-year team option for Pokusevski.
Orlando Magic
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 2
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Jalen Suggs
When you look at the players selected in the top five of the 2021 NBA draft, Suggs stands out as the forgotten man. The four players selected ahead of him -- Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes -- all made first-team All-Rookie, as did the player Orlando selected three picks later, Franz Wagner.
Suggs averaged 27.1 minutes and struggled with injuries and his play on the court. He played in only 48 games and missed the last 11 games of the season with a right ankle injury. He had surgery to address the injury and missed Las Vegas Summer League.
Out of the 206 players who attempted 200-plus jumpers last season, Suggs ranked last in field goal percentage and 124th in field goal percentage on layups and dunks.
October dates:
Oct. 15: The Magic will incur a per-day cap hit if the contract of Devin Cannady is not waived.
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Markelle Fultz.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team options for Suggs and Wagner and the fourth-year team options for Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke and R.J. Hampton.
Philadelphia 76ers
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 4
Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The rookie extension of Matisse Thybulle and final roster cuts
The 76ers traded away two first-round picks to Brooklyn to acquire James Harden and another to Oklahoma City to shed the Al Horford contract.
That means Philadelphia is limited to using pick swaps and Thybulle in future trades (they also have Tyrese Maxey but the guard is close to untouchable).
Thybulle held opponents to 38.6% shooting as the closest defender last season, the second-lowest field goal percentage allowed, behind Celtics center Robert Williams III, per ESPN Stats & Information research. Thybulle's 23 blocked 3-pointers were the most in the NBA.
The downside to Thybulle's elite defense is a nonexistent offensive game. Thybulle averaged 5 points, shooting 31.2% from deep with the third-worst field goal percentage (28.5%) among all players on wide-open 3-pointers. After starting 50 games in the regular season and averaging 25.5 minutes, Thybulle saw his role in the playoffs decline. In the second-round loss to Miami, he averaged 15.6 minutes and came off the bench in all six games.
Thybulle is extension eligible up until Oct. 17, and an extension would remove one of the few trade pieces that Philadelphia has available.
President of basketball operations Daryl Morey is not known for handing out rookie extensions. The lone player whom Morey has signed to an extension is Harden in 2012.
The 76ers also have a decision to make on their final roster cuts. With the signing of Montrezl Harrell, Philadelphia has 13 guaranteed contracts and four players -- Trevelin Queen, Isaiah Joe, Paul Reed and Charles Bassey -- on partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals.
The likelihood is that Reed will grab roster spot No. 14, leaving Philadelphia to decide among Queen, Joe and Bassey.
October dates:
Oct. 15: The 76ers will incur a per-day cap hit if the contract of Paul Reed is not waived.
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contracts of Tobias Harris and Thybulle.
Oct. 18: The contract for Isaiah Joe becomes guaranteed.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Jaden Springer and the fourth-year team option for Maxey.
Phoenix Suns
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 3
Exhibit 10 contracts: 0
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The rookie extension of Cameron Johnson and the future of Jae Crowder
Johnson is the fourth Suns player in two offseasons who is eligible for a rookie extension.
Phoenix signed Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet to new contracts last year but didn't come to terms with Deandre Ayton. The former No. 1 overall pick ended up signing an offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers over the summer, which the Suns quickly matched.
Johnson is coming off a career season, in which he averaged 26.2 minutes, 12.5 points and shot 42.5% from deep, fourth-best in the NBA.
With Jae Crowder not part of the future (both sides agreed that the forward would not attend training camp), Johnson is a priority. But is Phoenix willing to pay starter money for a player who finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting?
"We're having discussions. Cam is a big part of what we do," general manager James Jones told The Arizona Republic. "Really excited for the progress he's shown over the last few years, especially last year. He's primed to take some steps forward."
In 16 games as a starter, Johnson averaged 16.3 points and shot 49% from the field and 42% on 3-pointers. He averaged 17.3 points, shot 50% from the field and 44% on 3-pointers in games he played at least 30 minutes.
Including the partially guaranteed contracts of Chris Paul and Cameron Payne, Phoenix has $138 million in salary next season, $24 million below the luxury tax.
To complicate the Johnson extension talks and all decisions regarding basketball operations, owner Robert Sarver announced he has begun the process of selling the team. Sarver is currently serving a one-year suspension and is not allowed to have any contact with members or the basketball or business operations department.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend Johnson's contract.
Portland Trail Blazers
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 1
Exhibit 10 contracts: 5
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: Nassir Little
The Trail Blazers went on a spending spree this offseason, committing long-term to Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Payton II. Jerami Grant, who was acquired in a trade from Detroit, is eligible to sign a four-year, $113 million extension starting on Jan. 7.
Now Portland faces a decision on whether to extend forward Little or wait until next offseason when he will become a restricted free agent.
After ducking below the luxury tax this year ($67K below), Portland will enter the tax next season if Little and Grant are extended.
Little started a career-high 23 games, averaging 11 points and 5.8 rebounds. In the two games before he was injured, the forward shot 15-of-22 from the field, 6-of-9 from 3 and averaged 19.5 points.
In the 690 possessions that Simons and Little played together last season, Portland was plus-10.7 points per 100 possessions according to Cleaning the Glass.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Little.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Keon Johnson.
Sacramento Kings
Guaranteed contracts: 12
Non-guaranteed/partial: 6
Exhibit 10 contracts: 0
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Domantas Sabonis and Richaun Holmes
The two centers, Sabonis and Holmes, are the focus but for different reasons.
Sabonis has two years left on his contract ($18.5 and $19.4 million) and is extension eligible up until Oct. 17. A new contract would be for three additional seasons and up to $75.4 million in new money. However, the first year of the extension is $23.3 million, roughly $15 million below the maximum per year salary Sabonis can sign for as a free agent in 2024.
A more realistic option is for Sabonis to hold off on an extension and wait until next offseason when the Kings are projected to have cap space. He is eligible to have his expiring $19.4 million contract renegotiated with room and then extended.
Holmes is under contract for the next three seasons ($11.2, $12.0 and $12.9 million), but there are concerns about how he fits with Sabonis and whether he can adapt to coming off the bench.
He went from averaging 25.7 minutes as a starter to a part-time role player (15.4 minutes) after the trade deadline.
October dates:
Oct. 15: The Kings will incur a per-day cap hit if the contracts of Quinn Cook and Kent Bazemore are not waived.
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Sabonis.
Oct. 18: The contract of Matthew Dellavedova increases from $0 to $250K in protection. The contract of Chima Moneke increases from $250K to $750K.
Oct. 19: The contract of KZ Okpala increases from $250K to $500K in protection.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Keon Johnson.
San Antonio Spurs
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Non-guaranteed/partial: 3
Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Starting point guard
The Spurs traded 25-year-old Dejounte Murray and are now left with an open competition at starting point guard.
The decision comes down to Tre Jones or Joshua Primo.
Jones started 11 games last season in the games Murray missed, averaging 13.5 points, 7.6 assists and only 1.1 turnover. His $1.8 million contract becomes guaranteed on the first day of the regular season, and he is eligible to sign an extension for an additional four years and up to $58 million. If he does not sign an extension, he will become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Primo is more of a scoring guard and has more long-term upside than Jones, but he is only 19 years old and still learning the position.
Primo started the last 10 games of the regular season at shooting guard, averaging 8.1 points while shooting a less-than-efficient 38.7% from the field and 33.3% from 3. He averaged 2.4 assists and 1.9 turnover in those games.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Romeo Langford.
Oct. 18: The contract of Tre Jones and Keita Bates-Diop become guaranteed.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Primo and fourth-year team option for Devin Vassell.
Toronto Raptors
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Non-guaranteed/partial: 4
Exhibit 10 contracts: 1
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: Backcourt bench depth, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam
The Raptors addressed their frontcourt depth, signing Otto Porter Jr. and bringing back Thaddeus Young and Chris Boucher.
Even with those three, the Raptors' roster has a glaring weakness in the form of its backcourt depth.
Outside of starters VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr., Toronto has Malachi Flynn, Dalano Banton and Jeff Dowtin as their lone reserves. In comparison, there are 10 frontcourt players under contract.
The lack of depth could have an effect on VanVleet. In the past three seasons, he has averaged 36.8 minutes per game (second overall to James Harden) and has missed a total of 55 games due to various injuries.
VanVleet has a $22.8 million player option and is eligible to sign a four-year, $114 million extension during the season. He could also agree to a three-year $88.7 million contract prior to Oct. 17 if he opts in to his salary for next season.
Siakam earned All-NBA honors last season but is ineligible to sign a supermax extension because he is one year short of the years of service criteria. Starting on Oct. 1 and up until Oct. 17, he is eligible to sign a three-year, $128.9 million extension.
However, if Siakam makes an All-NBA team again this season, he would be eligible to sign a four-year, $224 million supermax extension next summer.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Pascal Siakam. The contract of Josh Jackson becomes guaranteed.
Oct. 18: The contracts for D.J. Wilson, Banton and Justin Champagnie become guaranteed.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Scottie Barnes and fourth-year team options for Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa.
Utah Jazz
Guaranteed contracts: 18
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 0
Two-way contracts: 2
What to watch: The veterans and final roster cuts
The Jazz completed the first phase of their rebuild by sending Rudy Gobert to Minnesota and Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, getting a haul of draft picks in return.
The next step is to identify which of their remaining veterans have trade value, a process that began when they dealt Patrick Beverley (acquired from the Wolves in the Gobert deal) to the Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. Utah then traded Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pistons for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee.
The Jazz still have some significant veterans on the roster:
Mike Conley: The guard has two years and $47 million left on his contract with the second year being partially guaranteed for $14.3 million. Conley played 72 games last season, his most since 2013-14. However, Conley was a non-factor in the first-round loss to Dallas, averaging 9.1 points on only 33.3% from the floor and 20% from three.
Jordan Clarkson: The former Sixth Man of the Year has two years and $27.6 million left on his contract, with the second year being a player option. Clarkson is one of the more durable players in the league, missing a total of 12 games since the 2014-15 season. Despite shooting a career-low during the regular season, Clarkson shot 54.8% from the field and 37.5% in the first round.
Malik Beasley: The newly acquired guard has two years and $32 million left on his contract with the second year a team option. Beasely saw a drop in his production last year, going from averaging 19.6 points in 2020-21 to 12 points. He shot a career worst 39.1% from the field in 25 minutes per night.
Rudy Gay: There is no denying that Gay was one of the bigger dissapointments last year. The forward averaged a career low 18.9 minutes and did not appear in any of Utah's six playoff games. He has two years and $12.6 million left on his contract. The second year is a player option.
Because of the recent trades with the Lakers and Pistons, Utah now has 18 guaranteed contracts and will need to waive three players or make another trade by Oct. 17.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Oct. 31: The deadline to exercise the third-year team option for Leandro Bolmaro and the fourth-year team option for Udoka Azubuike.
Washington Wizards
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Non-guaranteed/partial: 0
Exhibit 10 contracts: 4
Two-way contracts: 1
What to watch: The play at point guard
The Wizards acquired Monte Morris in a trade from Denver and signed free agent Delon Wright, bringing stability to a point guard position that was below average.
Washington's point guards averaged 10.9 points, the fewest in the NBA last season per ESPN Stats & Information. The Wizards' starting point guards ranked 27th in field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage last season.
In the absence of injured starter Jamal Murray, Morris last season started 75 games for the Nuggets in 2021-22, averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists, shooting 48.3% from the field and 39% from 3.
Wright is not going to put up big numbers offensively, but his versatility on the defensive end should help a Wizards team that ranked No. 25 in defensive efficiency. He saw his minutes increase from 18.9 minutes in the regular season to 27.4 in the playoffs.
October dates:
Oct. 17: The last day to extend the contract of Rui Hachimura.
Exhibit 10s and Two-Ways
The Exhibit 10 contract was introduced in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement. A player who signs an Exhibit 10 is eligible to receive up to a $50,000 bonus (on top of his G League salary) if he signs a contract with the team's affiliate upon being waived from the parent club. To receive the bonus, a player must remain with his G League team for at least 60 days.
There are 69 players signed to an Exhibit 10 this season. In comparison, 128 players signed an Exhibit 10 in 2021-22, 51 in 2020-21, 83 in 2019-20 and 128 in 2018-19.
Two-way contracts are considered an extension of the regular roster. Each team can have two players on two-way contracts without counting against the 15-man roster limit. Only players with three years of service or less can sign a two-way contract.
A two-way player will be paid a flat salary of $508,891 for the 2022-2023 season. The salary does not count toward the salary cap and luxury tax.
There is no service day limit for 2022-23.
No player on a two-way contract may be on the active list for more than 50 games during the regular season.
There is no deadline during the regular season for a team to sign a two-way player.
Two-way players are not eligible for the playoffs.