To waive a player means that a team is releasing the player from its roster before the contract ends, but the player is placed on a "waiver wire" or waiver system for a set period (usually 48 hours). During this time, other teams have the opportunity to claim the player and assume the existing contract under the same terms. If no team claims the player within that period, the player becomes a free agent and can sign with any team
. Key points about waiving a player:
- The player's contract is not immediately terminated; it is subject to claims by other teams during the waiver period
- If claimed, the new team takes over the player's contract as is
- If unclaimed, the player is released outright and becomes a free agent
- Waivers help maintain competitive balance by giving teams with lower standings priority to claim players
- In leagues like the NFL, players with less than four years of service are waived and subject to claims, while veterans with more experience are released outright and become free agents immediately
- Waived players with guaranteed contracts typically still receive their salary even if released
In summary, waiving a player is a formal process of releasing them but allowing other teams a chance to claim the player and their contract before the player becomes a free agent. This system is used across major sports leagues like the NBA, WNBA, NFL, and MLB to regulate player movement and maintain fairness
