2025 NBA Contract Guarantees To Watch

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertJanuary 05, 2025
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January 7 isn’t a well-known date on the NBA calendar, but it should be. Many know that on January 10, all NBA contracts become fully guaranteed. What isn’t as well-known is that in order for a team to not have a fully guaranteed deal land on their books for the rest of the season, they have to make a decision by January 7.

Teams must waive players on partial/non-guaranteed deals by January 7 in order for them to clear waivers before January 10. (The waiver period is 48 hours). Thus, while January 10 is the technical date that all contracts become fully guaranteed, January 7 is the functional deadline.

There are 23 players in limbo before the January 7 deadline. Here are the decisions NBA teams must make. (All salary amounts reflect the player’s fully guaranteed cap hit.)

Atlanta Hawks

No guarantee decisions

Boston Celtics

No guarantee decisions

Brooklyn Nets

Keon Johnson - $2,162,606

Johnson is going to stick in Brooklyn. He’s become a starter and he’s young enough to be part of whatever the Nets are building next. Johnson is the kind of diamond-in-the-rough that Sean Marks had success with during his first rebuild.

Jalen Wilson - $1,891,857

Wilson is also going be with the Nets beyond the guarantee deadline. He’s another rotation guy, and sometimes-starter for Jordi Fernandez. Wilson isn’t going anywhere.

Charlotte Hornets

Taj Gibson - $2,087,519

If the Hornets feel they need an open roster spot, they could cut Gibson loose. Charlotte is also more than $10 million under the tax. That means the Hornets could always waive Gibson down the line if they need a roster spot without creating a tax issue. Bet on the veteran locker room leader sticking around in Charlotte.

Chicago Bulls

Talen Horton-Tucker - $2,087,519

Horton-Tucker is a regular in Billy Donovan’s rotation. The Bulls are also expected to be active at the trade deadline. So, despite an overstuffed backcourt rotation, Horton-Tucker will stay in Chicago.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Sam Merrill - $2,164,993

Merrill may not stick as a rotation player as the Cavs get healthy, but he’s not going anywhere either. Cleveland has had injury issues on the wing, so Merrill stays as a quality depth player for a title contender.

Craig Porter Jr. - $1,891,857

Porter is already $1 million guaranteed, so that alone probably keeps him on the Cleveland roster. But he’s also become a solid third point guard, and the Cavaliers have him for two more full seasons beyond this one. Porter isn’t going anywhere.

Tristan Thompson - $2,087,519

Thompson is a respected locker room voice. He’s also proven to be a decent depth player, when other bigs are out. Thompson will see his deal guaranteed.

Dallas Mavericks

Markieff Morris - $2,087,519

The Mavericks have been active in trade talks, but most trade configurations see Dallas giving up more players than they bring back. Morris is locker room leader for Jason Kidd, so he’s likely to stick around Dallas for the season.

Denver Nuggets

No guarantee decisions

Detroit Pistons

No guarantee decisions

Golden State Warriors

Gui Santos - $1,891,857

The Warriors are so tight around their first apron hard cap, that they have to keep Santos. Replacing him with a non-drafted player would cause Golden State to see a higher than desirable tax hit, which causes further hard cap issues. Santos will stay beyond the guarantee deadline.

Lindy Waters III - $2,196,970

Waters is a rotation regular for Steve Kerr. He’s not going anywhere. As stated above, it would be hard for the Warriors to find any kind of replacement if they did cut Waters loose.

Houston Rockets

No guarantee decisions

Indiana Pacers

James Johnson - $2,087,519

Last season, Indiana cut Johnson loose, then brought him back after making other roster moves. Something similar could occur this season. One other thing to keep in mind: The Pacers are around $800,000 below the luxury tax. They won’t be paying the tax, so Johnson could be waived and re-signed later to create more space under the tax.

James Wiseman - $2,237,691

Wiseman is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. This one is probably about needing a roster spot. If the Pacers need one, Wiseman might be cut loose. Otherwise, he’ll keep working on coming back to be a part of Indiana’s rotation next season.

LA Clippers

No guarantee decisions

Los Angeles Lakers

No guarantee decisions

Memphis Grizzlies

No guarantee decisions

Miami Heat

No guarantee decisions

Milwaukee Bucks

Andre Jackson Jr. - $1,891,857

Jackson is a starter for the Bucks and the team’s best perimeter defender. He’s also got two more seasons on his deal beyond this one. He’s on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league in terms of cost vs production. Jackson isn’t going anywhere. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

No guarantee decisions

New Orleans Pelicans

Zion Williamson - $36,725,670

Williamson’s deal is half-guaranteed for almost $18.4 million. That alone means he’s not getting waived. But the talent is still there. The Pelicans aren’t ready to make this move now. After next season, if Williamson keeps missing time with injuries, we could be looking at a different story. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

New York Knicks

Ariel Hukporti - $1,064,049

After all the machinations to get to the minimum roster requirements following the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, the Knicks signed Hukporti to a standard deal. Tight margins under their first apron hard cap, combined with Hukporti’s upside, means he’s not going anywhere.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Branden Carlson - $990,895

Carlson is on the roster bubble in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will likely prioritize the flexibility of having an open roster spot over keeping Carlson. Keep an eye on Oklahoma City bringing him back into the fold down the line, if the opportunity arises.

Jaylin Williams - $2,019,699

Williams is healthy now and providing frontcourt depth for the Thunder. He’s not going anywhere. The real story to watch here is if Oklahoma City declines their 2025-26 team option to make Williams a restricted free agent this summer. That would allow the Thunder to control Williams’ free agency, as they’d like to retain him long-term.

Orlando Magic

No guarantee decisions

Philadelphia 76ers

Ricky Council IV - $1,891,857

Council gives Nick Nurse wing depth on a team-friendly deal. Given Philadelphia is already over the tax, they need players like Council to provide minutes on minimum-type deals. Council will see his deal guaranteed.

Phoenix Suns

No guarantee decisions

Portland Trail Blazers

Dalano Banton - $2,196,970

Banton has been a rotation regular for Chauncey Billups since arriving at last season’s trade deadline. He’ll have his deal guaranteed for the rest of the season. This summer, we’ll get a sense of how much Portland values Banton’s ability to provide perimeter scoring.

Sacramento Kings

Jae Crowder - $1,655,619

Crowder was added earlier this season to give the Kings additional forward depth. He hasn’t played very much however, and Sacramento interim head coach Doug Christie doesn’t seem to have room for Crowder in his rotation. There’s a 50-50 chance Crowder is waived for roster flexibility for the Kings approaching the trade deadline.

Doug McDermott - $2,087,519

McDermott has been in and out of the Kings rotation. He can still shoot, but doesn’t offer a whole lot else. Much like Crowder, Sacramento could waive McDermott for flexibility with their roster and to create a bit more wiggle room under the luxury tax line.

Orlando Robinson - $2,087,519

Robinson is in the same spot as Crowder and McDermott. He doesn’t have a regular role, and the Kings may want roster flexibility and more space under the tax line. The best guess here is that one of these three veterans is cut loose before the guarantee deadline.

San Antonio Spurs

No guarantee decisions

Toronto Raptors

Bruno Fernando - $2,087,519

Fernando hasn’t been a rotation player for the rebuilding Raptors. Now that their frontcourt is healthy, Toronto is likely to move on before Fernando’s deal guarantees. That will allow the Raptors to cycle through some players to see if someone proves to be a long-term fit for the roster.

Utah Jazz

No guarantee decisions

Washington Wizards

No guarantee decisions

 


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