A short-term agreement in professional basketball allows teams to sign players for a maximum of ten days. These contracts provide teams with roster flexibility, particularly when facing injuries or other unforeseen circumstances. The salary associated with these agreements is determined by a collectively bargained scale based on the player’s years of service in the league. For example, a player with zero years of NBA experience will receive a different rate than a player with one or more years.
The implementation of these agreements serves several crucial functions. It allows teams to evaluate players in a real-game setting without committing to a longer-term contract. This can be beneficial for both the team, which gets to assess the player’s skills and fit within the existing roster, and the player, who gets an opportunity to showcase their abilities and potentially earn a more secure position. Historically, these contracts have been a pathway for players to prove themselves and extend their careers in the NBA.
