The NBA’s annual salary guarantee date is officially January 10, but the real decision point for teams holding non-guaranteed contracts arrives three days earlier. By 4:00 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, January 7, clubs must place any non-guaranteed player on waivers if they want to avoid guaranteeing that player’s full 2025-26 salary.
Because the waiver period lasts 48 hours, anyone cut by Wednesday’s deadline will clear waivers on Friday, January 9, one day before the league-wide guarantee kicks in. A player who remains on waivers as of January 10 is entitled to his entire season salary.
Two teams have already acted this week. The Indiana Pacers waived center Tony Bradley on Monday, and the Toronto Raptors released big man Mo Bamba on Tuesday. Additional moves are possible before Wednesday’s cutoff, although many players on non-guaranteed deals appear secure. For example, Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate has recently held a starting role, while Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams hit a game-winning three-pointer Tuesday against Sacramento.
Impact on Two-Way Contracts
The same guarantee deadline applies to players on two-way contracts. If a two-way player is still on a roster past Wednesday, his full two-way salary becomes guaranteed—$636,435 for those signed since opening night, or a prorated amount for mid-season additions. While several teams have already trimmed two-way spots—most recently the Chicago Bulls, who waived guard Trentyn Flowers on Tuesday—clubs have less cap-related urgency with these deals because two-way salaries do not count against the salary cap.
Non-Guaranteed Contracts by Team
All players listed below are earning minimum salaries unless noted otherwise.
Atlanta Hawks
Vit Krejci (partial: $1,500,000)
N’Faly Dante
Mouhamed Gueye
Keaton Wallace
Boston Celtics
Jordan Walsh (partial: $1,110,839)
Brooklyn Nets
Tyrese Martin
Jalen Wilson
Charlotte Hornets
Moussa Diabate
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dean Wade — $6,623,456 (partial: $4,623,458)
Thomas Bryant
Craig Porter Jr.
Dallas Mavericks
Brandon Williams
Detroit Pistons
Javonte Green
Isaac Jones
Golden State Warriors
Trayce Jackson-Davis
Gui Santos
Indiana Pacers
Micah Potter
Miami Heat
Terry Rozier — $26,643,031 (partial: $24,924,126)
Milwaukee Bucks
Amir Coffey
Minnesota Timberwolves
Bones Hyland
New York Knicks
Mohamed Diawara
Ariel Hukporti
Landry Shamet
Phoenix Suns
Jordan Goodwin
Sacramento Kings
Precious Achiuwa
Keon Ellis
Russell Westbrook
San Antonio Spurs
Bismack Biyombo
Lindy Waters
Washington Wizards
Justin Champagnie
Teams have until mid-afternoon Wednesday to finalize any additional cuts. Players not waived by the deadline will see their 2025-26 salaries become fully guaranteed.
Source: Hoops Rumors
