Late August is nearer to the start of next season’s training camps than it is from the start of the summer free agency period. NBA rosters, then, are almost all filled. Basketball is back, nearly.
That said, there is always something to do. And this year, there is a bit more flexibility than usual.
The most recent NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement expanded the size of NBA rosters, both before and during the season. By adding a third spot for two-way contracts, regular season rosters can now effectively run 18 players deep, with 15 on the regular playing roster supplemented by the three youngsters. And additionally, the maximum roster size during the offseason also increased by one, from 20 to 21.
Therefore, front offices looking to pack in every last player asset they can – as well as us fans who like to speculate on such things for fun – get one more toy to play with. Be it another young player with potential, a veteran to add a steady hand, or one of the few rotation-caliber players still available, there are still some moves to be made, even as September approaches.
There follows a look at which NBA teams still have the space to make a roster move, and who they may make them on.