NBA teams are trimming down fast as the Oct. 19 roster deadline approaches, and Oct. 14 brought another wave of cuts across the league.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs were among the busiest clubs, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors also moved on from players as front offices continue trying to get under the 15-man limit. Toronto waived two-way center Trey Jemison, and the Lakers and Clippers each made multiple cuts.
The Lakers parted ways with Cole Swider and Jahmir Young while bringing in Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones. Swider had averaged 4.0 points and 1.0 rebounds over three preseason games before being waived, and then Young was let go just hours after the team made room for him.
Young had put up 26.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game in the G League last season. Both players could end up with the Coachella Valley Lakers this season.
The Clippers waived Cam Christie and DeAndre Williams. Williams spent last season with the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats, where he averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game, and he is likely to join the San Diego Clippers for the 2026-27 season.
Christie saw NBA minutes with Los Angeles last season, averaging 2.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.3 steals per game. He still carries two-way upside, but a G League stop could be the next step in his development.
San Antonio made the largest batch of cuts, waiving Taelon Peter, Malik Williams and Terry Taylor. Peter averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists with the Noblesville Bloom in the 2025-26 season, but his two preseason appearances for the Spurs were not enough to stick, as he finished with 1.5 points and 0.5 rebounds on 20.0% shooting from the field.
Williams, who last appeared in the NBA in the 2023-24 season with the Toronto Raptors, most recently played for the Bulls in Summer League and signed with San Antonio on Sept. 24 before being waived. Taylor was signed and waived within hours; he last played for Sacramento in the 2024-25 season and spent this season with the G League’s Iowa Wolves, averaging 10.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals per game.
All three are likely headed toward the Austin Spurs.
Cleveland waived Jax Robinson five days after signing him to a training camp deal. The 23-year-old forward appeared in five Summer League games for the Cavaliers, starting three, and averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 38.7% from the field. He is expected to be in the mix for Cleveland’s G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.
Denver also moved on from Steven Crowl after signing and waiving the 25-year-old center on Oct. 14.
Crowl had previously been part of the Utah Jazz training camp roster before being waived last season, and he played for the Salt Lake City Stars for the 2025-26 season, averaging 6.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He also appeared on Detroit’s Summer League squad, but not enough to earn a roster spot.
Toronto’s move with Jemison came with an eye on future flexibility. He had been part of New York’s title-winning team last season and was in the Raptors’ preseason group, but he did not do enough to remain on the roster as a two-way player. By waiving him, Toronto opened another path to add a player on a two-way contract.
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