3:13pm: The Nets have officially waived Shumpert, the team announced this afternoon in a press release.
10:54am: The Nets will waive veteran swingman Iman Shumpert, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Brooklyn is currently carrying 16 players, but will have to get back down to 15 after this Saturday’s game in Toronto, when Wilson Chandler‘s 25-game suspension ends and he becomes eligible to be reinstated. The Nets, who have posted a 9-4 record since Shumpert entered the lineup, will “reluctantly” release the recently-signed 29-year-old due to their roster crunch, per Charania.
Having signed with the Nets on November 13, Shumpert quickly entered the club’s rotation, averaging 4.2 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 13 games (18.5 MPG). He didn’t shoot well during his time in Brooklyn (.328/.242/.571), but he provided head coach Kenny Atkinson with another reliable perimeter defender.
Once he’s officially placed on waivers, Shumpert will be eligible to be claimed by any of the NBA’s other teams, since he’s on a minimum-salary contract. Assuming he clears waivers, he’ll once again become an unrestricted free agent and the Nets will be on the hook for the prorated portion of his non-guaranteed salary (about $419K if he’s cut today, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks).
Chandler, David Nwaba, Rodions Kurucs, and Theo Pinson were among the other players the Nets could have considered parting with if they’d wanted to retain Shumpert, but they’ll all hang onto their roster spots for now.
SASpurs … ???
Houston, again
Why? Is he any better than Sefolosha? Nope.
Thabo has been Tucker’s backup.
If he joined HOU he’d be replacing McLemore for tax-related reasons.
It’s a shame they cut him. I doubt he’d take a two-way deal if they cut Luwawe-Cabarot…
He cannot sign a two way deal, he’s been in the league longer than 4 years.
Ok, I found that out after I wrote it. I don’t think they had to waive him until after Saturday’s game. Wilson Chandler’s suspension is for 25 games so they could’ve waited one more game.
Portland could surely use a tough perimeter defender. He wouldn’t have to take too many shots (CJ and Dame would take care of that) and there’s an open roster spot after Hood’s season-ending injury.
My guess is Shumpert will sit at home waiting for Nets roster spot to open up via trade, rather than join another team.