The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →NBA training camp cuts are roster decisions: a team can invite up to 20 players to camp, but for opening night it must fit within the 15-player standard-contract limit. A waived player may be claimed by another NBA team; if no NBA team takes him, he may have a route to the G League, but that outcome is not automatic. Two-way contracts are a separate roster category, and a waiver alone does not establish what salary a player will receive.
How a training camp roster becomes an opening-night roster
NBA teams can invite up to 20 players to training camp, then reduce the roster to 15 standard-contract players for opening night, according to the NBA G League’s roster explainer. The reduction typically happens during the September-to-October lead-up to the season. A player may therefore take part in camp or preseason and still be waived before opening night.
This is roster arithmetic, not proof that a player failed on the court. A team has a fixed number of standard-contract places and may need to preserve a place for another transaction.
How two-way contracts fit into the roster
For the 2025–26 season, NBA teams may carry up to three two-way players in addition to the 15-player standard-contract maximum. The G League’s 2025–26 two-way overview says a two-way player can be active for up to 50 NBA games and receives one salary for time spent across the NBA and G League. Two-way deals may cover one or two seasons, subject to service eligibility.
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Two-way places do not increase the standard-contract limit: the categories are distinct. Eligibility has NBA-service restrictions; consult the current season’s official rules for the precise test, rather than relying on a simplified years-of-service summary.
What it means when a player is waived
“Cut” is the informal term; “waived” is the transaction language for a team releasing a player under league rules. The NBA’s waiver explainer confirms that another NBA team may claim a waived player. A claim can affect which team the player joins and the contract obligations involved, so “waived” and “cleared waivers” do not mean the same thing.
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The cited NBA explainer does not provide a complete current claim-priority order or a player-specific deadline. Avoid assuming a universal waiting period before a player can sign elsewhere; the applicable process can depend on the transaction and relevant rules.
Can a waived player go to the G League?
Yes, in some cases. An NBA team may designate up to four waived camp players as affiliate players. If a designated player chooses to sign a G League contract, he is allocated to that team’s NBA G League affiliate. The designation is not an NBA roster spot and does not require the player to sign with that affiliate.
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The G League says an affiliate player remains an NBA free agent, so the player can still be available to NBA teams. The G League explainer describes the designation and roster route; its affiliate-player overview explains the player’s status.
Why a team might waive a camp player
A waiver can reflect the 15-player limit, a contract’s structure, or a team’s desire to leave room for a different transaction. It should not automatically be read as a verdict that a player cannot contribute. In a 2017 NBA.com report, David Aldridge described roster flexibility as one reason teams waived players and cited an estimate that about 10 percent of the typical yearly NBA workforce then had fully non-guaranteed contracts. That is historical context, not a current percentage or a rule applying to every player.
What happens to a player’s salary after a waiver?
A waiver does not, by itself, answer whether the player will receive salary after release. The outcome depends on the player’s contract guarantees, remaining salary terms, the waiver process, and any later transaction. Those details are player- and date-specific; check the contract and applicable collective bargaining agreement before drawing a conclusion. Do not assume either that a waived player loses all remaining pay or that the former team must pay the full amount.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read a specific player’s next move
For a particular transaction, separate the questions that headlines often compress into the word “cut”:
Quick Recap
- What contract did he have? Determine whether it was a standard or two-way deal.
- Was he claimed? Another NBA team may claim a waived player, changing his next team and potentially the contract obligations.
- Was he designated as an affiliate player? If so, he can choose whether to sign a G League contract with the affiliate while remaining an NBA free agent.
- What salary is still owed? This requires checking the individual contract and applicable CBA provisions; the waiver announcement alone is not enough.
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