Twelve Players Cut Across NBA on Thursday
The NBA waived 12 players on Thursday, including Keon Johnson, who had signed with Atlanta the previous day. Most of the released players are expected to have held Exhibit 10 contracts, making them eligible for bonuses if they join their teams' G League affiliates. Johnson, a 2021 first-round pick, spent last season in the G League with Maine.
The waived group includes several players with brief NBA résumés. Payton Sandfort and Mark Sears each appeared in games last season on two-way deals with Oklahoma City and Milwaukee, respectively. Keon Johnson, a 2021 first-round pick, previously played for the Clippers, Trail Blazers, and Nets before spending last year with Maine in the G League.
Most of these players are expected to have signed Exhibit 10 contracts, which typically include a bonus of up to $91,000 if they remain with their NBA team’s G League affiliate for at least 60 days. Johnson, who joined Atlanta on Wednesday, may now land with College Park, while others could follow similar paths to their affiliates.
This wave of roster cuts is routine preseason housekeeping, but it may affect player development pathways. For undrafted or fringe prospects, the Exhibit 10 bonus offers financial stability while they chase G League opportunities. For fans, these moves rarely shift team fortunes, yet they underscore how quickly careers can pivot—especially for a former first-round pick like Johnson, whose trajectory now hinges on a minor-league stint.