Can C's waive PJ III in preseason, then sign during season?

[otherdave]

First time poster - here is my scenario for Larry Coon CBA experts to weigh in on:

Let's say P Jones does raise some eyebrows in October, but DA can't find a trading partner to unload another player.  I'll pick on ET for this example.  Near the end of training camp DA waives PJ, C's down to allowable 15 players.  PJ will still collect his 2 mil salary (1.5 mil was paid by OKC) and agrees to play for Maine Red Claws, thus continuing to learn C's "corporate knowledge".  February rolls along and DA is able to trade ET for a future draft pick before trade deadline.  Now there is a roster spot open.

I believe C's lost all "rights" to PJ by waiving him, but in February can they sign Jones to say a veteran minimum contract?

I'm pretty sure if you waive (or trade) a player after the season starts, that player can not return to that team during the same season.  My example though has PJ getting waived before the season starts - is this a loophole?  What do you all think?

[pearljammer10]

Why would we waive him? Can't he just play for the Red Claws and be called up when we want him to?

Like James Young usually does. Like Mickey Hunter and Im sure James Young will do again.

[freshinthehouse]

Why would we waive him? Can't he just play for the Red Claws and be called up when we want him to?

You can only have 15 guys under contract.  That includes guys that have been sent down to the D-league.

[Roy H.]

Yes, they could.  The risks are 1) somebody picking him up on waivers (unlikely), or 2) somebody else offering him a contract.

There's no rule against signing guys you waive, even after the season starts.  I think the rule you're thinking of is that you can't sign a player that you traded, that another team waives.

[Surferdad]

This is a great argument for a bonafide NBA minor league system.

[Celtics18]

This is a great argument for a bonafide NBA minor league system.

Yup.  One of many. 

[alldaboston]

Idk the answer, but welcome to the forums! Here's your first TP!

[tarheelsxxiii]

This is a great argument for a bonafide NBA minor league system.

Yup.  One of many.

Great point. This is an issue that came up in a recent thread about Tebow, and the issue is definitely relevant to bball as well. In the article below, Stevens is actually quoted (among others, like SVG).

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13136578/should-ncaa-serve-nba-minor-league

Seems like the primary issues are the collapse of NCAA bball and the NBA forking up money to entice big HS prospects to opt join the D-League over the NCAA (if that were even a possibility).

[Big333223]

I think there are too many bad teams that would take a flier on a prospect like PJ3 for us to cut him and still be able to find him on the wire months later. And if no team bites? That's sort of an argument for not picking him back up.