CANTON, Ohio — The NBA preseason is over, but the most important part of October may still be ahead for players on the edge of a roster. NBA teams must set their opening-night rosters by Monday, October 19, creating a final wave of cuts, contract decisions, and affiliate opportunities. Five days later, on October 24, the NBA G League Draft will take place. Those two dates are closely connected, because the players released during the final NBA roster crunch can quickly reshape the available talent pool. The next several days will determine which players stay in an organization’s development system, which players become draft options, and which players may need to find opportunities elsewhere. Being waived in October does not necessarily mean an NBA organization is finished with a player. Many teams use training camp to evaluate players who are not ready for an active roster spot but still have qualities worth developing. A player may show enough shooting, defensive versatility, playmaking, size, or athletic upside to remain in an organization’s long-term plans. The G League gives that team a chance to continue evaluating him without using one of its limited NBA roster spots. For the player, it creates a path to keep playing meaningful professional basketball while staying close to the league’s highest level.
Not every NBA preseason cut will enter the G League Draft, and that distinction matters. NBA teams can designate training-camp cuts as affiliate players, allowing their G League affiliates to retain those players outside the draft process. That means some of the best-known players released this week could remain connected to the organization that originally brought them into camp. Other players will become part of the wider pool, where any team could see them as a draft-day opportunity. The uncertainty is what makes the final week before the draft so important for front offices across the league. The G League Draft is not only for undrafted rookies and unknown prospects. It has become a second-chance market for players with NBA experience, former draft picks, and veterans looking to rebuild their value. In 2024, the Westchester Knicks selected former NBA shooter Matt Ryan with the first overall pick and six-year NBA veteran Landry Shamet with the second selection. Former NBA players Allonzo Trier and Chandler Hutchison, a former lottery pick, also entered that draft pool. Those names proved that a G League Draft can occasionally contain players who have already played meaningful NBA minutes and still have plenty to offer a professional roster. The 2025 draft provided another reminder of the talent that can become available. Dillon Jones, a former NBA first-round pick, was selected first overall by the South Bay Lakers after being waived by Washington. Jones was not a typical developmental rookie trying to create a professional résumé from scratch. He was a player with NBA pedigree who needed a new route to keep his career moving forward. That is the kind of opportunity G League teams will be looking for again this October.
The most intriguing names will not always be the most recognizable ones. Exhibit 10 players who impressed in preseason but lose a roster battle are often worth watching because they have already been evaluated by an NBA organization. Two-way hopefuls who are squeezed out by roster numbers can also become major additions, especially if they can defend, create shots, or contribute in multiple roles. Veteran G League players remain valuable because they bring professional experience and can help a team win immediately. Small-school standouts, international players, and athletes coming from independent professional routes could also emerge as draft-day steals. This is a critical stretch for players trying to keep their NBA dreams alive. The G League is no longer simply a place to wait for a call-up. It is a league where players can rebuild their value, earn a larger role, and prove they belong in an NBA organization. An injury replacement, a strong showcase performance, or a dominant month of production can change a player’s career quickly. The players entering the league now will be competing not only for a roster spot, but also for the next opportunity to move up. The G League Draft will arrive before the full picture is settled, and that is exactly what makes it interesting. Some players released before the NBA deadline will stay with the affiliates tied to the teams that brought them into camp. Others will become available to a league-wide pool and give new organizations a chance to find value. Alt Route Sports Network will be watching the final roster cuts, the players who enter the draft conversation, and the teams positioned to benefit most. The board is not finished changing, and some of the biggest names of the coming G League season may not be on it yet.
