roster experts - what would need to happen for the C's to sign a player?

[greenpride32]

Ok we're getting to that time of year where guys get bought out and we're going to see a million threads on C's getting a Peja or a Troy; or whoever the next buyout rumor is.

But we are at the 15 man roster limit max.  Even if JO is out for this year it's too late to get an injury exception for him (the only way it can happen now is if he is expected to miss all of NEXT season).

Obviously we can still trade players but what needs to happen for us to sign a player?  Would we basically have to cut a player and lose all rights to them (such as a Harangody, Wafer, or Erden)?  Can we send Luke to the D-league to free up a roster slot?  I'm guessing no because we sent AB down and that did not free up a slot.

Even if Sheed were to come back we'd need to cut a player correct?

[Fafnir]

They'd have to waive or trade a player to a team with cap space or a trade exception big enough to fit them. Sending someone down to the D-League doesn't change that they take up a roster slot.

[Roy H.]

Obviously we can still trade players but what needs to happen for us to sign a player?  Would we basically have to cut a player and lose all rights to them (such as a Harangody, Wafer, or Erden)? 

Yep.  We'd have to trade or waive / cut one of the guys on the 15-man roster.  The D-League is essentially irrelevant.

Technically, it's possible for the league to grant an exemption to teams to sign a 16th man, but this is extraordinarily rare.  (For the NBA to even entertain the notion, we'd have to be looking at several season-ending injuries.)