Monday the San Antonio Spurs introduced the workforce had waived level guard Cameron Payne.
Again on July 17, the Spurs had acquired Payne, a 2025 second spherical choose (through New Orleans), and money issues from the Phoenix Suns in alternate for a protected second spherical choose in 2024.
The following 48 hours shall be fascinating to observe within the occasion a workforce claims Payne off waivers. Groups with cap area (Indiana Pacers), disabled participant exceptions (Chicago Bulls), and groups with commerce participant exceptions (a number of groups) massive sufficient to soak up Payne’s contract can declare Payne off waivers. Ought to this occur, Payne’s $6.5 million cap hit will not be on the Spurs’ books, and as an alternative on the claiming groups cap sheet.
The Spurs are ready the place they’ve too many gamers on assured contracts on the roster. Whereas groups can carry as much as 21 gamers on the roster within the offseason, selections must be made earlier than opening evening, when essentially the most gamers a workforce can have on the roster are 15 assured contract gamers and three two-way gamers.
With Payne waived, the Spurs now have 17 gamers on assured offers and two gamers on two-way contracts. This implies San Antonio will nonetheless need to waive or commerce two gamers on assured contracts earlier than the primary recreation of the season.
When wanting on the Spurs’ cap sheet, the almost definitely gamers to be traded or waived are Khem Birch, Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock, and/or Devonte’ Graham.
Whereas it’s unknown who the beginning 5 shall be, Tre Jones, Graham, and Blake Wesley stay the three level guards on the roster with Payne now gone.
The Spurs can nonetheless add another participant on a two-way contract, however so far as full roster spots go, they’ll must make some extra roster strikes throughout the subsequent month and a half.
Coaching camp is predicted to start within the first week of October after which the primary preseason recreation approaches October 9 in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis. After 5 preseason video games, the teaching workers and entrance workplace must determine who shall be on the opening evening roster earlier than tip-off of the common season October 25 in opposition to Dallas.
