How Much Are 10 Day NBA Contracts Worth? A Deep Dive into Short Term Deals
The quick answer: On average, 10 day contracts in the NBA pay $30,000 to $100,000+ depending on the player‘s experience level. But there‘s much more to understand about these short term deals that allow teams to take flyers on prospects. Let‘s take a deeper look at how 10 day contracts work and what motivates both teams and players to sign them.
Defining 10 Day NBA Deals
As a basketball fan, you‘re probably familiar with the idea of 10 day contracts. But what exactly are they?
- A 10 day contract lasts for 10 days or 10 games played, whichever comes later.
- They allow NBA teams to temporarily sign players, even going over the regular 15 man roster limit.
- 10 day deals are usually signed with G-League affiliates or free agents as tryouts.
- Teams can only sign a player to two 10 day deals per season before having to sign them for the rest of the year or waive them.
- The player gets paid a prorated portion of that season‘s minimum NBA salary based on years of experience.
Now that you‘ve got the basics, let‘s crunch the numbers and dive deeper on how 10 day deals really work.
Salary Breakdown: What 10 Day Players Actually Earn
When looking at NBA salaries, we usually talk about the massive supermax contracts of players like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. But 10 day deals offer an interesting look at the other end of the pay scale.
Just how much do players on 10 day contracts make during their short NBA stints? Here‘s a breakdown:
| Experience Level | Average 10 Day Salary |
|---|---|
| Rookies | $30,000 |
| 2 Years | $60,000 |
| 5 Years | $70,000 |
| 10+ Years | $100,000+ |
These numbers are prorated portions of the NBA‘s minimum salary scale based on years of experience. For example, the minimum salary for a rookie is around $925,000 per year. If they sign a 10 day deal they would earn 1/170th of that minimum, equaling approximately $30,000.
Let‘s look at some real examples:
- Mac McClung signed a 10 day deal with the Lakers in January 2022. As an undrafted rookie, his 10 day salary was about $31,100.
- Joe Johnson, a 17-year veteran, signed a 10 day with the Celtics in 2019. His deal paid $135,000 for the 10 days based on his experience level.
- Patrick McCaw joined the Raptors on a 10 day deal in 2018 after 2 NBA seasons. He earned $65,000 for his 10 days of work.
As you can see, salaries run the gamut from low five figures up to low six figures. Next let‘s examine who gets these deals and when.
Who Signs 10 Day Contracts and Why
There are a few key situations where 10 day deals tend to happen each NBA season:
- G-League call-ups – Undrafted rookies and prospects often start in the G-League (the NBA‘s minor league) and can get 10 day deals for tryouts.
- Roster fill-ins – Teams battling injuries may use 10 day deals to sign temporary replacement players.
- Tryouts for veterans – Occasionally veteran free agents will sign 10 days to extend their careers.
- International scouting – Some foreign players sign 10 days as a chance to transition into the NBA.
- Pre-playoff roster tweaking – Contending teams may use 10 days on role players to gear up for the playoffs.
Recent examples include the Lakers signing hometown player Mac McClung to bring energy during a losing season. The Raptors scooped up Patrick McCaw to provide wing depth during a playoff push. Joe Johnson signed with the Pistons for a late career tryout opportunity.
Now let‘s analyze why teams strategically utilize 10 day contracts.
The Strategy Behind 10 Day Deals
Why do teams take fliers on players for only 10 days? There are a few strategic reasons:
- Tryouts before major commitment – 10 days allows evaluation before signing a full season contract.
- Roster flexibility – Keeping a temporary 10 day spot open going into the trade deadline.
- Energy and morale – Bringing in new prospects can energize a team.
- Position needs – Filling holes due to injuries at certain positions.
- Playoff rotations – Testing different lineup combinations before the playoffs.
- Salary cap strategy – 10 days don‘t hurt a team‘s long term salary cap space.
- Minor league development – Gets prospects experience with the NBA club.
"10 day contracts are a strategic tool that allow front offices to get a quick look at a player without committing our full cap space," explained one Eastern Conference executive.
Teams seriously competing for championships are unlikely to rely on 10 day players in the postseason. But the regular season flexibility and low-risk opportunity 10 days provide make them quite valuable.
Notable 10 Day Contract Success Stories
Most 10 day deals don‘t lead anywhere. But a handful of players have surprisingly blossomed from 10 days into legitimate NBA contributors and even stars. Here are some of the best examples:
- Jeremy Lin – The Linsanity legend began when Lin signed a 10 day deal with the New York Knicks in 2012 after bouncing around the league. He exploded for 25 points against the Nets in his first 10 day stint. That breakout performance catapulted him into a mega contract and sensational rise to stardom.
- Hassan Whiteside – This dominant shot blocker signed a series of 10 day deals starting with the Grizzlies in 2015. He eventually landed with the Heat and became a full-time starter averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per game.
- David Nwaba – After grinding through D-League and international leagues, Nwaba earned a 10 day deal with the Lakers in 2017. He parlayed that into a two-year contract and has become a key role player.
"Those guys seized their 10 day opportunities and never looked back," one Western Conference scout noted about the success of Lin and Whiteside. "Their motor and work ethic forced teams to keep them."
Let‘s examine the stats on conversion rates of 10 day deals into rest of season NBA contracts:
| Year | 10 Day Deals Signed | Converted to Season Contracts |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 137 | 18 (13.1%) |
| 2020-21 | 83 | 16 (19.3%) |
| 2019-20 | 78 | 13 (16.7%) |
As you can see, only around 15% of 10 day deals end up lasting beyond two short stints. The odds are stacked against players trying to make the leap. But for those who do, major payouts await.
The Bottom Line
- For players, 10 day deals represent a chance to change their career trajectories with one big break. The pay is low at first, but the rewards of a guaranteed NBA contract are high.
- For teams, 10 days provide short term flexibility to scan the talent landscape for diamonds in the rough. And there are essentially no risks or downsides to taking fliers on these temporary contracts.
- Signing a 10 day contract is no guarantee of making the NBA. But as Jeremy Lin proved, sometimes all you need is one chance to show your talent. 10 days can be a life changing opportunity.
So while you‘d never get rich earning rookie minimum salary for 10 days of work, an NBA opportunity is priceless. That‘s why players jump at the chance when 10 day deals come calling.