In a surprising turn of events, three NBA veterans who signed Exhibit 9 contracts have successfully made their respective teams' regular season rosters. Typically, Exhibit 9 contracts are given to players who are expected to be with the team only during training camp or the preseason. However, these three players have defied the odds and secured spots for the upcoming season.

Exhibit 9 contracts provide teams with protection in case a player suffers an injury before the season starts. If such a scenario occurs, the club would not be obligated to pay the player their full salary until they have recovered sufficiently to play. Instead, the team would only need to pay a maximum lump sum of $15,000 when waiving the player.

The three players who have successfully made their respective teams' opening night rosters are yet to have their contracts fully guaranteed. They are now on one-year, minimum-salary contracts, which will remain non-guaranteed until January 10. To secure their full-season salaries, these players must remain under contract beyond January 7. Any player released on January 8 or 9 would not clear waivers before the league-wide salary guarantee date.

In addition to these three players, there are 31 individuals on standard contracts whose salaries for the 2023/24 season are not fully guaranteed. Several players have already received partial guarantees by remaining on rosters during the preseason, while others have trigger dates in November or December that will increase their guarantees. However, none of these 31 players will lock in their full salary until January 10.

Providing further insights into the NBA's opening night rosters for the 2023/24 season, ESPN's Bobby Marks has shared some interesting information. The San Antonio Spurs possess the league's youngest roster, while the Los Angeles Clippers boast the oldest. Overall, players are earning a combined total salary of $4.8 billion for this season. The Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, and Phoenix Suns are the teams contributing the most to this significant figure, as they currently find themselves above the luxury tax line.

In terms of roster counts, there are still 12 open spots on standard 15-man rosters across the league. These vacancies belong to the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors (two spots), Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings.

Finally, it is worth noting that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns are the only teams that have not fully utilized all three of their two-way slots. As per the latest data, they each have a pair of two-way players, indicating that 88 out of the 90 available two-way contract spots around the league have been occupied.

In an unexpected turn of events, three NBA players on Exhibit 9 contracts have secured their places on the opening night rosters. As the 2023/24 season commences, all eyes will be on these players as they strive to solidify their positions and prove their worth in the league.