March 1 waiver deadline looms for NBA playoff eligibility

The NBA calendar matters this time of year.

As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors pointed out, March 1 is the line in the sand for playoff eligibility. If a player is waived after 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, he cannot suit up in the postseason for a new team.

There is one key wrinkle.

Players currently on 10-day contracts — or those who sign one after March 1 — remain playoff-eligible because they are not being waived. They simply become free agents when the deal expires.

That includes names such as Rayan Rupert in Memphis, Killian Hayes in Sacramento and Mo Bamba in Utah, whose 10-day contracts run beyond the deadline.

And to clear up a common misconception: a player does not have to sign with a new team by March 1. He simply must be waived by then. Eric Gordon, for example, was waived earlier this month and can join a playoff team anytime before the end of the regular season.

The buyout market hasn’t exactly exploded this year, but Jevon Carter, Cam Thomas, Jeremy Sochan and Haywood Highsmith have already landed elsewhere. Kyle Anderson is next once he clears waivers. Also, Khris Middleton remains a name to watch.

After Sunday, though, the door closes.