Most NBA Clubs Expected to Finalize Roster Cuts by Saturday
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The NBA’s annual roster crunch is underway, and league insiders anticipate that most teams will complete their final cuts on Saturday, three days before the regular season tips off.
Under league rules, franchises have until Monday night to submit their 15-man regular-season rosters. However, front offices generally prefer to act sooner because of waiver regulations and payroll considerations.
Players released on Saturday clear waivers by Monday, allowing them to become free agents before opening night on Tuesday. Waiving someone on Sunday or Monday would keep the player on the team’s books for one or two days of regular-season salary—even on a non-guaranteed contract—costing clubs between $15,000 and $42,000 for a minimum-salary deal.
While those figures are modest, they matter to organizations operating near the luxury-tax threshold or a hard cap. Avoiding even a small additional charge can help teams stay under financial lines that trigger penalties.
There are exceptions. Teams releasing or trading players with full or partial guarantees already owe the money, so timing is less critical. The Washington Wizards illustrate the point: they hold 15 guaranteed contracts plus Justin Champagnie’s non-guaranteed deal. If Champagnie survives, Washington will need to waive a guaranteed player, making a one-day delay financially irrelevant.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in a similar position. With 15 guaranteed contracts, two players on two-way deals, and four on Exhibit 10 agreements, the Thunder can wait until Monday to decide their final two-way slot after paring down the rest of camp this weekend.
By Monday night, all 30 teams must be in compliance, and dozens of recently waived players are expected to filter into G League rosters or search for new NBA opportunities.
Source: Hoops Wire
