As the dust settles from the NBA trade deadline, a few teams around the league are now staring down the calendar - and the rulebook. The league mandates that teams carry at least 14 players on standard contracts for the bulk of the regular season, only allowing brief dips below that number: 14 days at a time, 28 days total.
Several teams took advantage of that flexibility to navigate the financial and roster gymnastics of trade season, but now, the clock is ticking. Let’s break down where things stand for three teams - the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Celtics - who are on the verge of needing to make some roster decisions.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A Familiar Face Returns
Minnesota dropped to 13 players on standard contracts back on February 3, just ahead of the trade deadline, when they sent veteran guard Mike Conley to Chicago in a three-team deal that also involved the Pistons. That move triggered a countdown: 14 days to get back to the league minimum. That window closes today.
So, who’s the 14th man? Well, it’s shaping up to be a reunion.
After a quick stop in Charlotte - where he was waived - Conley is eligible to return to Minnesota, and that’s been the plan all along. Word surfaced as early as February 6 that Conley intended to re-sign with the Wolves once he cleared waivers. With the All-Star break looming and Minnesota already in luxury tax territory, the team used the allowed two-week grace period to their advantage - giving Conley a breather and giving themselves some cap breathing room.
Expect the Wolves to make it official on Tuesday. It’s a savvy bit of timing that brings back a veteran presence who already knows the system and locker room dynamics. No need to reinvent the wheel when the fit is already proven.
Denver Nuggets: Spencer Jones Waiting in the Wings
Denver also trimmed down to 13 players on February 5, the day of the trade deadline, when they shipped Hunter Tyson to Brooklyn - a move that helped them duck under the luxury tax threshold. That gives them until Thursday (Feb. 19) to bring a 14th player aboard.
Enter Spencer Jones.
The second-year forward has already maxed out his 50-game limit on his two-way contract, and while a concussion in that 50th game likely delayed his promotion, the writing’s on the wall. If he’s healthy, Jones is the obvious choice to be elevated to the standard roster.
Jones has started 34 games and averaged nearly 24 minutes per night - not exactly the profile of a player you want sitting on the sidelines due to contract limitations. If he’s cleared medically, expect Denver to lock him in before the Thursday deadline. If not, a 10-day contract for a veteran could be a short-term solution, but Jones is clearly part of the long-term plan.
Boston Celtics: Two Spots, Tight Budget
Boston’s trade deadline was busy - and left them shorthanded. They sent out four players (Anfernee Simons, Xavier Tillman Sr., Chris Boucher, and Josh Minott) and brought back just one in Nikola Vucevic.
They did promote Amari Williams from a two-way deal to a standard contract on February 5, but that still leaves them with just 12 players on standard contracts. Like Denver, they’ve got until Thursday to get back to 14.
The Celtics are walking a financial tightrope. Staying under the luxury tax line is a priority, and that means every roster move has to be calculated.
The most likely path? Promoting from within.
Two-way players Max Shulga and John Tonje are prime candidates for standard deals. Because they’re rookies, they’d count at the minimum salary level for tax purposes - a key detail under the league’s “tax variance” rule. That makes them far more cap-friendly than signing a rookie free agent off the street.
Boston could go a few ways here. One option: convert one of the two-way players now and sign a veteran to a 10-day deal, giving them flexibility to drop back to 12 players again once those contracts expire. It’s a bit of cap maneuvering that keeps them compliant with league rules while maintaining financial discipline.
The Bottom Line
This time of year, it’s not just about the stars or the stat sheets - it’s also about roster math. With the All-Star break here and the playoff push looming, teams like Minnesota, Denver, and Boston are making moves that might not grab headlines but could have real implications down the stretch.
Whether it’s bringing back a trusted veteran, promoting a breakout two-way player, or threading the needle on luxury tax rules, these are the kinds of behind-the-scenes decisions that shape a season.