The 2025 NBA Trade Deadline isn't for another month (Thursday, February 6), but there is another notable deadline that is quickly approaching.
For those who didn't know, on Friday, January 10, all contracts become fully guaranteed for the 2024-25 season. So, if a team wants to waive a player on a non-guaranteed/partially guaranteed contract without taking a cap hit, they need to do it before then.
However, a player needs 48 hours to clear waivers once a team has waived them. What that means is that while the deadline is technically January 10, teams need to make their decision and initiate the transaction on Tuesday, January 7, in order to have enough time for them to clear waivers. If you want to learn more about this, be sure to check out this brilliant article from Keith Smith.
Anyway, given that this website is dedicated to the Sacramento Kings, let's look at the three players on their roster that are on non-guaranteed/partially guaranteed that we should be paying attention to in the coming days.
Jae Crowder - $1,655,619
Jae Crowder was brought in after the start of the regular season to try and address a major flaw in the Kings' roster construction (their lack of three-and-D wings/forwards). Crowder started out strong, but since then, he has failed to leave much of a mark – logging DNP-CDs in 11 of the team's last 12 games.
Now, Crowder may be on the chopping block as the Kings look to give themselves some much-needed flexibility heading into the trade deadline.
Doug McDermott - $2,087,519
Doug McDermott was signed right before the start of the season. The idea was (probably) that he'd provide a decent appropriation of Kevin Huerter if the team decided to part ways with Red Velvet via trade at some point in the season.
McDermott, as usual, has been a great shooter this season (39.3% from three), but (also per usual) his defense (25th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes) makes it difficult to play him against high level opponents. As a result, the Kings may look to shed him before Tuesday.
Orlando Robinson - $2,087,519
Orlando Robinson was an offseason signing intended to make up for the departure of JaVale McGee. Unfortunately, the Kings have been going with more of a small ball look when Domantas Sabonis is not in the game – leading to Robinson only appearing in eight of 35 games thus far (he also dealt with some injuries to start the season).
The Kings may think that they have enough bigs on the roster between Sabonis and Alex Len and waive Robinson before his contract becomes fully guaranteed.