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NBA training camp cuts are the roster moves teams make to get from a larger camp group to their regular-season roster. A waived player may be claimed by another NBA team, sign elsewhere after clearing waivers, or pursue a G League opportunity—but a cut alone does not determine his next team or what he is owed.
How many players can an NBA team keep?
NBA teams can invite up to 20 players to training camp, then reduce the group to 15 standard-contract players for opening night, according to the NBA G League’s explainer. The roster reduction takes place during the September-to-October preseason period. A player can therefore take part in camp or preseason and still be waived as the team approaches opening night.
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For the 2025-26 season, teams can also carry up to three two-way players in addition to the 15-player standard-contract maximum. The categories are separate: two-way slots do not increase the standard roster limit. The 2025-26 two-way overview says two-way players may be active for up to 50 NBA games and receive one salary for time across the NBA and G League. They may sign one- or two-season deals, subject to NBA-service eligibility restrictions; consult the current season’s official rules for the exact eligibility test.
What does it mean when a player is waived?
“Cut” is the informal term; “waived” is the transaction term for a team releasing a player under league rules. The NBA’s waiver-wire 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.
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Being waived is not the same as having cleared waivers. The official explainer confirms the possibility of a claim but does not set out a complete current claim-priority order or a player-specific deadline. Do not assume every player has the same waiting period before signing elsewhere.
What can happen after a camp cut?
Another NBA team claims the player
An NBA team may claim a player while he is on waivers. If a claim is made, the player’s next step is shaped by that transaction and the contract terms; “waived” alone does not mean he is immediately free to choose any destination.
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The player signs with a G League affiliate
NBA teams 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 force the player to sign with that affiliate. The G League says affiliate players remain NBA free agents, so NBA teams can still sign them. See the G League overview and its affiliate-player explanation.
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The player pursues another opportunity
A waiver does not establish the player’s eventual destination. He may have other options, but whether he can sign with a particular team and when depends on the waiver process and the details of his situation.
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Does a waived player keep getting paid?
There is no universal answer based only on the word “waived.” Whether a player is owed salary after release depends on his contract guarantees, remaining salary, the applicable waiver procedure, and relevant CBA provisions. The NBA’s waiver explainer describes the transaction but does not resolve the payment outcome for an individual player. Check the player’s contract and the applicable agreement before making a claim about what he will receive; the NBA-NBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement materials are the primary reference for league terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why do teams waive players?
Roster limits are one direct reason: a team that has more camp players than available standard-contract spots must make decisions before opening night. Contract structure and a team’s need to preserve a spot for another transaction may also matter. A cut should not automatically be read as a judgment that the player cannot play.
As dated context, NBA.com’s David Aldridge reported in January 2017 that about 10 percent of the typical yearly NBA workforce then played on fully non-guaranteed contracts, and described roster flexibility as one reason teams made waiver moves. That historical estimate is not a current percentage or a rule applying to every player.
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