As the dust settles from last week’s NBA trade deadline, teams across the league are reshuffling their rosters - some more urgently than others. While a handful of front offices have already dipped into the free agent pool to plug holes, several clubs are still operating with open spots, either on standard contracts or two-way deals. With the All-Star break just around the corner, the clock is ticking for teams with multiple vacancies, especially those flirting with the league’s roster minimum rules.
Let’s break down where each of the NBA’s 30 teams stands as of Tuesday morning - who’s sitting tight, who needs to make a move, and which situations are worth keeping an eye on as we head into the second half of the season.
Teams with Multiple Open Roster Spots
Boston Celtics
The Celtics made a splash at the deadline, shipping out four players - Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, Xavier Tillman Sr., and Josh Minott - while only bringing back one in Nikola Vucevic.
They did promote Amari Williams from a two-way deal to help fill the gap, but that still leaves them with just 12 players on standard contracts. With tight financial margins under the tax line, Boston is expected to use the full two-week grace period before the February 19 deadline to add two more players and meet the 14-man minimum.
Denver Nuggets
Denver dropped to 13 players after moving Hunter Tyson.
The obvious candidate to fill that spot is two-way standout Spencer Jones, who’s hit his 50-game limit - a threshold that typically triggers a promotion. The catch?
Jones is currently in concussion protocol, which may buy the Nuggets some extra time. Like Boston, they’ve got until February 19 to get back to 14.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota’s situation is a little more straightforward.
They traded away Mike Conley, dropping to 13 players, and have until February 17 to make a move. The twist?
Conley is expected to re-sign with the Wolves after being dealt twice at the deadline. So, while it looks like a gap on paper, this could just be a temporary bookkeeping quirk.
Golden State Warriors & Sacramento Kings
Both teams briefly dipped to 13 players but have since promoted two-way players - Pat Spencer for the Warriors and Dylan Cardwell for the Kings - to standard deals, bringing them back up to 14.
However, those promotions created new holes on the two-way side. So while there’s no immediate urgency, both teams technically have multiple roster openings if you count the two-way slots.
Teams with One Open Roster Spot
Standard Roster Spot Open (15-man)
- Brooklyn Nets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards*
Most of these teams are sitting comfortably with 14 players on standard contracts and a full set of two-way players. There’s no immediate pressure to make a move, though some could look to the buyout market or G League for reinforcements as the playoff push intensifies.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns could soon have more than one opening.
There’s an expectation that newly acquired guard Cole Anthony may be waived. If that happens, they’ll be down to 13 players and will have 14 days to add a replacement.
Washington Wizards*
This is one of the more fluid situations.
Washington currently has 13 full-season contracts and Keshon Gilbert on a 10-day deal that expires during the All-Star break. Add in the buyout buzz surrounding D’Angelo Russell - acquired in the Anthony Davis blockbuster - and the Wizards could be looking at three open spots soon.
If both Gilbert and Russell are off the roster, Washington would be required to fill at least two of those vacancies to stay in compliance.
Two-Way Contract Spot Open
- Detroit Pistons
- Los Angeles Clippers*
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Philadelphia 76ers*
These teams are currently maxed out on standard deals but have room to add a two-way player. That said, both the Clippers and Sixers are nearing a point where they’ll need to make decisions on their 10-day players.
Clippers*
Dalano Banton is on a 10-day deal that runs through next Monday. Once it expires, they’ll have a standard roster opening to address.
76ers*
Charles Bassey and Patrick Baldwin Jr. are both on 10-day contracts that expire Saturday. Philadelphia is also nearing the limit on how many games its two-way players can appear in, so they’ll need to manage their roster carefully to maintain flexibility post-All-Star break.
Teams with Full Rosters - No Open Spots
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies*
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
These teams are maxed out with 15 players on standard deals and three on two-way contracts. Any roster additions from here on out will require waiving someone - and in some cases, that’s already in the works.
Toronto Raptors
Chris Paul is widely expected to be waived, which would open up a spot. It’s just a matter of when.
Dallas Mavericks & Portland Trail Blazers
Both teams have two-way players who are strong candidates for promotion. Ryan Nembhard (Dallas) and Sidy Cissoko (Portland) have played well enough to warrant a look on a standard deal, but that would mean making room on the 15-man roster.
Memphis Grizzlies*
The Grizzlies are carrying Lawson Lovering on a 10-day contract. His deal runs through their February 20 game, after which a standard roster spot will open up.
Final Thoughts
Roster management in February is all about timing. Teams have to balance cap constraints, player development, and playoff aspirations - all while navigating the rules around minimum roster requirements and two-way contract limits. Some clubs are using the All-Star break as a natural buffer before making moves, while others are already laying the groundwork for second-half additions.
Expect more movement in the coming days, especially from teams with multiple vacancies or those nearing key deadlines. The buyout market is heating up, and with playoff positioning on the line, every roster spot counts.