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The Toronto Raptors roster will remain unchanged for now.
Thursday is the day that two Raptors — rookie Jamario Moon and veteran Darrick Martin — will have the remainder of their contracts guaranteed if they are with the club.
According to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo, that is pretty much a given at this stage.
Keeping Moon, who has been an unexpected surprise in his first NBA season as a 27-year-old, was "pretty much a no-brainer" Colangelo said.
Toronto Raptors forward Jamario Moon, left, goes to the hoop against Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy during first half NBA basketball action in Portland on Dec. 19. (Don Ryan/AP)
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Moon has been a starter since early November and despite some uneven play has provided the Raptors a dose of athleticism they were missing at the small forward position.
Keeping Martin wasn't as obvious a move on the surface. The 13-year veteran has appeared in only 10 games this season — even though starting point guard T.J. Ford has been unavailable for 17 games due to injury.
But the small print of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement worked in Martin's favour.
According to league rules, as a veteran with 10 years of service, Martin's minimum contract pays out $1.2-million for the season.
But the Raptors are responsible for only $770,000 of the total, with the balance being paid out of a league-wide pool set up so that veterans remain as attractive to prospective employers as younger — and theoretically cheaper — players.
By the same token Martin's salary takes up only $770,000 of the Raptors salary cap number.
Because Martin's contract was guaranteed for 66-per-cent on Dec. 15th — or about $800,000 -- waiving him now wouldn't save the Raptors any money or have any salary cap benefit.
Instead all it would do would take money out of Martin's pocket, which the Raptors have no interest in doing given the popular veteran has been a good soldier during his time in Toronto.
As well by keeping Martin on the roster his expiring contract becomes a potentially attractive piece of the puzzle if the Raptors are trying to pull together some kind of transaction to shore up their point guard position.
