The Hawks have waived forward Joey Hauser, the team announced today in a press release. Hauser was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal last week.
Hauser, who went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2023, signed a two-way contract with the Jazz last July, but was cut during the preseason. He caught on with the Clippers as a G League affiliate player and spent his rookie season with the Ontario Clippers (now called the San Diego Clippers), appearing in 50 total Showcase Cup and NBAGL regular season games and averaging 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game.
The younger brother of Celtics wing Sam Hauser, Joey made 41.6% of his three-point attempts in his college career at Marquette and MSU, then converted 36.4% of his tries from beyond the arc in the G League last season. He suited up for the Pelicans at the Las Vegas Summer League last month.
The College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s NBAGL affiliate, acquired Hauser’s returning rights from the San Diego Clippers a couple weeks ago. Now that he’s been released, the 25-year-old could receive a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with College Park.
The Hawks now have 19 players on their roster, two shy of the offseason limit.
Can someone explain to me, because I honestly don’t know, why teams sign guys like this only to waive them a few days later?
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong but it’s to entice the player to play for THEIR G League team. I’m sure they get many invites maybe 10 or 15 or whatever, but if they sign with the NBA team, they get perhaps more money which makes the decision clear. That’s my understanding.
I can either try out for the G league team initially through a camp invite, or I can sign an NBA contract guaranteeing me at least $25,000 and up to $77,000, knowing I’ll get cut and play in the G League. But I’ll have that extra cash after 60 days and maybe be called up first?
Your larger point is correct, Gary, but the lowest possible bonus is actually $5K, not $25K.
Luke took an in-depth look at this topic a few days ago. link to hoopsrumors.com
To secure their G-League rights. That’s literally the only reason
There are two reasons:
1. To secure a player’s G League rights; and/or
2. To ensure he gets a bonus if he plays for the team’s G League affiliate.
If a player’s G League returning rights aren’t already held by a team, signing and waiving him allow his team to designate him as an “affiliate player” and give him a bonus.
In some of these cases, the team ALREADY controls the player’s G League rights. In those instances, it’s about getting the player some extra bonus money on top of his G League salary. That might make a difference if he’s weighing returning to the G League vs. an overseas offer (and it’s just good business to improve relationships with players/agents when the cost is so minimal and the bonuses don’t count against the cap).