The Golden State Warriors have announced the release of two players from their pre-season roster, Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder. The two NBA vets were signed under non-guaranteed deals on September 28.
This came shortly after the Warriors also waived four-year NBA player Javonte Green. This reduces the Warriors’ standard contracts to 13 players, allowing them more roster and financial flexibility. According to Charania, they will fill the 14th slot during the first two weeks of the season.
With their decision to cut down their roster to 13, they are still aligned with the league’s rules, which state that a team can have less than the standard 14 players entering the regular season “for no more than 28 total days during the regular season and 14 consecutive days at a time,” as reported by Bobby Marks of ESPN on X.
Minimum roster rules changed in the new CBA.
A team still has 2 weeks to sign a player if the roster falls below 14 players.
However, a team has only a 28 day allotment for the entire season. https://t.co/mYvkmSyd6c pic.twitter.com/TcT6vQdW4P
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) October 21, 2023
When the time comes, according to Anthony Slater, Gay and McGruder will be among the candidates to fill the 14th spot.
The Warriors will enter the season with 13 roster players. Trims a little tax. A 14th must be added within two weeks. McGruder/Gay both among candidates to fill 14th when time comes. https://t.co/QWngPNOYl2
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 21, 2023
Pre-season games
The preseason games have shown the fans what to expect in the coming season, with some of the highlights being Lillard and Antetokounmpo teaming up in the Bucks, Harden being MIA, Wembanyama living up to the hype, and Ben Simmons returning to form.
In addition to providing entertainment for the fans and helping the players get used to their new teams, this also gave the coaches a chance to observe which players perform well on the court and which don’t.
Golden State, the defending champions, on the other hand, had a great preseason, winning four straight games. The issue emerged when they encountered the Spurs, where Wembanyama, the formidable rookie, was waiting for them. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 122-117 on Friday, ending the Warriors’ winning streak and dropping their preseason record to 4-1.
Not long after their loss, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors were letting go of two vets they had signed in the off-season, Rudy Gay and Rodrick McGruder.
Via Shams Charania on X: “The Golden State Warriors are releasing Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. This trims Warriors’ standard deals to 13 players, giving extra roster/financial flexibility, and they will add the 14th spot within first two weeks of season.”
The Golden State Warriors are releasing Rudy Gay and Rodney McGruder, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. This trims Warriors’ standard deals to 13 players, giving extra roster/financial flexibility, and they will add the 14th spot within first two weeks of season. pic.twitter.com/tWRPSrFpYH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2023
Meanwhile, the Warriors also posted a press release on their X:
Warriors waive Rudy Gay & Rodney McGruder: pic.twitter.com/N8phe2eHV8
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) October 21, 2023
Gay participated in two preseason games and saw action for a total of fifteen minutes. He logged a total of four points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal. McGruder, who played in just one game, finished with eight points and five rebounds in twenty minutes.
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