OCTOBER 15: Shortly after signing Kobets on Saturday, the Wizards waived him, per the NBA’s official transactions log. According to JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (via Twitter), Kobets will play for Washington’s G League team.
Because the Wizards cut Kobets on Saturday, he won’t count against their cap for the 2018/19 season.
OCTOBER 14: After the Wizards cut down their roster over the weekend, the club has signed Oleksandr Kobets, a guard from Ukraine, according to a tweet from agent Michael Lelchitski (hat tip to Sportando). Kobets is expected to play with the Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, per Oleksandr Proshuta (Twitter link).
Kobets played for the Cherkasy Monkeys last season as they became the Ukranian League champions. The 22-year-old guard averaged 14.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
The Wizards are taking a look at a young guard with potential after releasing several veterans over the weekend, including Lavoy Allen. Chasson Randle, Chris Chiozza and Tiwian Kendley were the other players waived. Kobets figures to be cut by Monday as well, if he hasn’t been already.
Unless they really like this guys I can’t really explain the timing of this move with it coming after the waiver deadline date (assuming they didnt get this done beforehand). The $4,737 they will have to pay him for one day of NBA service will add to their growing tax bill by another $11,842
Yeah, this is another move where it wouldn’t surprise me if it eventually comes out that they managed to sign him and waive him on Saturday. With some teams not announcing these very minor signings at all, the timing is hard to pin down until they show up in the NBA’s transactions log. We’ll keep an eye on it.