Buyouts and waivers

Just like any male and female relationships, NBA contracts can be complicated with all the riders that include special circumstances and additional details which add flexibility to the contract but still, parting ways between players and teams can be a difficult process.

- By BOBBY MOTUS

Before the new season begins, teams offload and reload their rosters in the hope of improving. The NBA has 15 roster spots for each team. These are to be filled with the right pieces to be competitive. So, if a less significant player is injured or not in the rotation or for whatever reason does not deserve a roster spot anymore, he can be waived or released. The open roster spot can be given to another serviceable role player. But some teams release players just for the purpose of saving money.

Non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts become fully guaranteed typically on January 10. If a player is waived before the guarantee date, the team won’t have to pay the rest of his salary.