Inside the March 1 playoff-eligibility waiver deadline

The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a former 20-year executive with the Nets, examines each team’s roster and salary-cap situation as the March 1 playoff-eligibility waiver deadline approaches.

With the Deron Williams addition, Cleveland once again showed why the trade deadline isn’t the only time a team can improve its roster for the stretch run.

Cleveland, limited with trade assets at the deadline, acquired an impact player to bolster depth with the only cost being financial (additional luxury taxes).

March 1 is the last day a player can be waived and still be eligible to play in the postseason, so playoff teams like Cleveland and Houston will be monitoring the waiver wire.

A player can sign with a team after March 1 and still be eligible for the playoffs as long as he was waived by that date.

Players signed to a 10-day contract such as the Hornets’ Briante Weber, are playoff-eligible even if the contract expires after March 1 and Charlotte elects not to sign him to a second 10-day deal.

Weber would retain playoff eligibility because he would not go through the waiver process.

Even if a team is over the salary cap, or in the case of Cleveland, is a luxury-tax team, the prorated minimum exception is available. In the case of the Williams, signing with the minimum exception was the only tool Cleveland had available.

Teams can also sign a player to a salary greater than the minimum exception if the room mid-level, bi-annual, tax mid-level or full mid-level is available. Starting Jan. 10 each exception begins to prorate.

The prorated room mid-level exception does not allow a team to claim a player.

Teams that have a trade exception cannot sign a player to a contract but can claim a player off waivers.

The trade exception could help teams that remain below the minimum team salary-cap floor.

Teams also can use cap space to either claim or sign a player to a salary greater than the prorated exceptions that are available.

A look at the roster and cap situation for each team:

ATLANTA
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $0
Prorated exception: $280,000
Trade exceptions: $3.3 million and $2.1 million

BOSTON
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: $1.1 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

Insider info
The Celtics, with 15 guaranteed contracts, would need to waive a player if they wish to add someone for the playoff stretch run.

BROOKLYN
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $10.7 million
Room below the cap floor: $1.29 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million

Insider info
With 15 guaranteed contracts, Brooklyn is likely to fall $1.29 million below the salary-cap floor.

Brooklyn can get closer to the floor if a minimum player ($980,431) is claimed.

CHARLOTTE
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $1.6 million

CHICAGO
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: $1.6 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $5.4 million

CLEVELAND
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Over the tax: $13.7 million
Prorated exception: None
Trade exceptions: $4.8 million, $2.2 million and $1.3 million

Insider info
The Cavaliers will likely have to waive a player if they wish to add a March 1 buyout candidate.

With the additions of Deron Williams and Derrick Williams likely to be signed for the rest of the season, Cleveland would have 15 guaranteed contracts.

Like the Deron Williams signing, any additional player movement would cost Cleveland $2.50 for every $1 spent.

DALLAS
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exceptions: $6.6 million and $1.5 million

DENVER
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: $11.5 million
Room below the cap floor: $2.05 million

Insider info
Claiming a player earning $2.1 million would see the Nuggets reach the floor and save $1.5 million.

However, reaching the floor would come at the expense of a player on a guaranteed contract.

DETROIT
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

GOLDEN STATE
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: None

Insider info
The Warriors are no stranger to adding a player released at the waiver deadline.

Unlike last year, when Golden State waived Jason Thompson to create a roster spot to sign Anderson Varejao, the Warriors have an open roster.

HOUSTON
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $3.25 million
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: $3.3 million

Insider info
The $3.25 million of cap space Houston created at the deadline is quite an asset.

While the Lou Williams addition garnered attention, the cost-saving trade of K.J. McDaniels to Brooklyn was the key to freeing cap space.

INDIANA
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: $4.1 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

L.A. CLIPPERS
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Luxury tax: $1.45 million
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: $1.2 million

Insider info
The Clippers, currently a repeater-tax team, do not have a roster spot to add a player.

If Los Angeles does waive someone and signs a player who was bought out, the cost would be $2.75 for every $1 spent.

L.A. LAKERS
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $316,132 over
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

MEMPHIS
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: None

MIAMI
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: None

MILWAUKEE
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $1.7 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exceptions: $5 million, $1.7 million and $1.5 million

MINNESOTA
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $12.7 million
Room below the cap floor: $3.2 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million

NEW ORLEANS
Guaranteed contracts: 13
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $584,000
Trade exception: None

NEW YORK
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: None

OKLAHOMA CITY
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $3.1 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $4.9 million

ORLANDO
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $2.2 million

PHILADELPHIA
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $8.5 million
Room below the cap floor: $698,162 over
Prorated exception: $2.05 million

Insider info
Newly acquired Andrew Bogut agreed to a buyout Monday.

However, Philadelphia is currently $698,162 above the minimum salary floor and any reduction to Bogut’s salary could push the 76ers back below the floor.

PHOENIX
Guaranteed contracts: 14
Cap space: $9.5 million
Room below the cap floor: $194,606 over
Prorated exception: $2.05 million

Insider info
The signing of Ronnie Price pushed the Suns over the minimum floor.

Had the Suns saved money on the buyouts of Jared Sullinger and Mike Scott, Phoenix probably would not have reached the cap floor.

Both players earned their full salaries when they were waived.

PORTLAND
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Luxury tax: $433,802 under
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

SACRAMENTO
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $2.9 million

SAN ANTONIO
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: None
Trade exception: None

Insider info
San Antonio is no stranger to adding players waived before March, signing Andre Miller and Kevin Martin last year.

However, the Spurs would need to waive a player and have only the prorated minimum exception to use.

TORONTO
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $1.6 million
Trade exception: None

UTAH
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: $13.6 million
Room below the cap floor: $4.2 million
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: None

WASHINGTON
Guaranteed contracts: 15
Cap space: None
Prorated exception: $2.05 million
Trade exception: $2.3 million

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