Cavs, Celtics, Warriors Among Teams That Could Still Make Roster Tweak

October 20, 2024

The NBA regular season tips off this week, but a few teams could still make some tweaks to the roster after a big day of cuts on Saturday.

In fact, multiple teams are carrying 14 players on standard contracts, leaving a roster spot open for a possible tweak or two, as relayed by Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors. Eleven of those teams — including the reigning champion Celtics, Cavaliers, and Warriors — are in this exact situation.

Now, some of these teams are navigating luxury tax waters, which means keeping that 15th spot open gives them a little financial breathing room. The Celtics and 76ers, for instance, are already well into the tax, so staying under any further penalties is a priority.

That flexibility might be key later in the season when buyouts become a factor or injuries hit.

But not every team is worried about the tax. Take the Rockets. They’re well below the tax line and have more room to maneuver than most. If they wanted to add a piece before Monday’s roster deadline, they could do so without sweating the financials.

For teams like Houston, the focus might be more on finding the right fit for their young core … as opposed to, you know, penny-pinching.

With the Monday deadline for moves looming, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a few teams shuffle things before locking in their final rosters.

Whether it’s adding depth or tweaking a two-way contract, it sometimes can be the small moves that can make a difference once the season gets underway.