The Cavaliers signed and then waived swingman Sir’Dominic Pointer over the weekend, according to Kelsey Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link).
This sort of move isn’t uncommon during the preseason as teams look to either secure players’ G League rights or ensure that returning-rights NBAGL players will receive Exhibit 10 bonuses. However, Pointer’s case is a little more complicated.
The 53rd overall pick in the 2015 draft, Pointer was technically a draft-and-stash prospect who had yet to sign with the Cavaliers. He has spent his first four professional seasons playing for teams in Israel, Lebanon, and Hungary, as well as the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s G League affiliate.
In order to retain their draft rights to stashed players, NBA teams must submit a required tender, which is generally a non-guaranteed minimum salary contract. According to Keith Smith of RealGM (Twitter link), Pointer signed that tender. Because the 27-year-old wasn’t in Cleveland’s plans, he was subsequently released and the team no longer holds his NBA rights.
Curiously, the Cavs already had 20 players under contract at the time Pointer signed his tender. Teams aren’t permitted to carry more than 20 players during the offseason and preseason, but no other Cavs roster moves show up in the NBA’s transaction logs. Unless a corresponding move is reported retroactively, it seems safe to assume that Cleveland wasn’t required to clear a spot for Pointer because he signed a tender – rather than as a free agent – and was immediately released.
Why even sign him if they they knew they didn’t want his rights?
I get the sense that Pointer was the one initiating it (by accepting the tender that the Cavs had sort of passively put on the table). Haven’t entirely confirmed that though.
Thanks!
So they basically did him a favor by removing their rights to him?