Rockets, Cavaliers, Nuggets and Pistons clear 12 camp contracts before Monday’s deadline

Four more teams trimmed their training camp rosters on Saturday, October 17, as the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons waived a combined 12 players on Exhibit 10 contracts, according to the league’s official transaction log.

The deals carried no guaranteed money, so none of the four teams takes on a cap charge. Everyone released will clear waivers on Monday, October 19, the day rosters are due, and most are expected to report to their former clubs’ G League affiliates.

Team by team

• Rockets: wing Bryce Harris, forward Cameron Matthews and guard Caleb McConnell. All three are expected to join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where an Exhibit 10 bonus of up to $91,000 is available to a player who stays with the affiliate for 60 days.
• Cavaliers: forwards Rashaun Agee, Zack Austin and Tre’Von Spillers, plus guard Noam Yaacov.
• Nuggets: guard Dane Goodwin and forwards Coleman Hawkins and Emanuel Miller.
• Pistons: forward John Ukomadu and wing Brice Williams.

Where the rosters stand

Houston still has work to do. Hoops Rumors counts 18 players under contract in Houston: 12 on fully guaranteed deals, Jae’Sean Tate on a partial guarantee, Isaiah Crawford with no guarantee, two players on two-way deals, and center Oscar Tshiebwe and forward Julian Phillips still on Exhibit 10 terms. Reports expect one of Tshiebwe or Phillips to be converted to the open two-way slot by Monday.

Cleveland is finished, with 14 standard contracts, 12 of them fully guaranteed, and three two-way players. The Cavaliers are hard-capped at the first apron and lack the room to add a 15th man.

Denver also sits at 14 standard deals and three two-way contracts. The Nuggets could carry a 15th player, but as the only team above the second apron and well past the luxury tax line, they have no reason to hurry. Detroit is full, with 15 standard contracts and all three two-way spots filled.

What comes next

The Pistons are first up, hosting the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, October 20, at 3 p.m. ET (Celtics at Pistons Game Center). The Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, October 21, at 8:30 p.m. ET (Mavericks at Rockets Game Center). On Thursday, October 22, the Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers at 7 p.m. ET (Cavaliers at 76ers Game Center) and the Nuggets play at the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 p.m. ET (Nuggets at Thunder Game Center). Every move is logged on our transactions page.