The NBA Development League allows teams to retain the rights of players who have been called up to the NBA, of players who are not on the active roster due to injury, and of players who decide to play abroad. If a player returns to the D-League, the team with their rights has the option to place them on the active roster or to release the player. Since D-League teams only have 10 players on their active roster, replacements for injuries or call-ups are often signed to have enough players for competition.

Below is a list of players whose rights are held by the D-Fenders, but are not on their active roster:

Injured:
Trent Strickland
Brandon Costner

Call-up:
Courtney Fortson (Houston Rockets)
Gerald Green (New Jersey Nets)
Ish Smith (Orlando Magic)
Jamaal Tinsley (Utah)