Spurs Claim Isaiah Roby on Waivers After Thunder Release
The San Antonio Spurs are in the early stage of a rebuilding effort. Using roster spots for young players with upside is a common strategy for teams in such a state.
Among the top names available in a significantly depleted remaining free agency market was Isaiah Roby. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021-22, but was placed on waivers due to a position logjam on Tuesday.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Spurs have claimed Isaiah Roby on waivers. San Antonio will be taking on the $1.9 million salary he was set to earn in 2022-23.
The landscape for Roby's potential landing spots were limited due to the depleted landscape of salary cap teams. Any team that claimed him needed to have salary cap space or a trade exception since he was signed to a four-year contract before being waived.
After claiming Roby, the Spurs' projected salary cap room is now $35.6 million, per Spotrac's Keith Smith. No team in the NBA has more open spending potential than San Antonio with the Indiana Pacers being the only other team exceeding the $10.0 million threshold for cap room.
Roby spent a lot of his time with the Thunder playing both the power forward and small ball center position. His athleticism enables him to be a threat as an interior play finisher and he was serviceable as a spot-up shooter.
The overall versatility that Roby presents is worth taking a flier on. While his size will limit him from being a rim protector, he does have the ability to switch and guard multiple positions. He hasn't yet found a home in the NBA since being selected No. 45 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
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