Devin Carter's $5.16 Million Still Counts After Atlanta Waived Him

Photo: NBA.com / Atlanta Hawks. Official league headshot, 1040×760, full head.

Atlanta waived Devin Carter on Friday and still carries his fully guaranteed $5,158,080 for 2026-27.

The Hawks also decline the $7,370,897 team option for 2027-28 as part of the cut.

NBA.com’s transaction log lists Carter and Lamont Butler both cleared Friday. Carter never logged a regular-season minute in Atlanta red. The sheet that matters is the one that keeps $5.16 million on the books after the body is gone.

June sold a different movie. Sacramento sent Carter and a 2033 second-round pick to Atlanta for the draft rights to Alpha Kaba, the No. 60 pick from 2017. The Kings dumped a lottery salary. The Hawks banked a second and, per Hoops Rumors’ June reporting, absorbed the deal on the Capela trade exception from last summer. Two months later Dort and Ryan Nembhard landed in the same backcourt pile. McCollum and Alexander-Walker already owned the starting guards. Kingston Flemings and Nembhard sat as the true point depth. Carter’s lane was a maybe that never survived camp math.

Look at the minutes he actually played before the trade. Seventy-four games across two Kings seasons. 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes. Career splits sit at .401 from the field, .274 from three, .674 at the line. Last season’s line climbed to 8.9, 3.3, and 2.7 in 18.4 minutes over 38 games, per HoopsHype, and that bump still did not buy him a rotation chair in Atlanta once Dort arrived. Shoulder surgery delayed the debut. Ankle, back, and calf stops chewed year two. The No. 13 pick from 2024 who averaged 19.7, 8.7, and 3.6 as Big East Player of the Year at Providence is now a waived 24-year-old with two-way eligibility left and a paycheck Atlanta already owes.

Photo: NBA.com / Getty Images NBAE. Devin Carter #22 Sacramento Kings in-game still used on the league trade report, 1568×886 landscape, full head. Never stack with the headshot.

Atlanta sits at 16 after the waive and still has to get to 15 before the opener. SI’s OnSI sheet has the Hawks about $3.8 million under the tax, $11.5 million under the first apron, and $24.2 million under the second, hard-capped at the first apron. Mouhamed Gueye’s non-guaranteed deal and foot fracture keep another roster decision live. Kispert, Hield, and Nembhard remain the names floating next to the last cut. Boston has been linked if Carter clears, per Jake Fischer. Atlanta still carries the $5.16 million on the apron ledger whether he lands there or elsewhere.

The possession to watch in State Farm Arena this fall is every night that dead money buys nothing on the floor while the next roster cut finishes the Dort crunch. Carter gets paid either way. Atlanta keeps the 2033 second and one fewer body on the sheet.

Sources

• Hoops Rumors: Hawks waive Devin Carter, Lamont Butler — Rory Maher; Fischer/Scotto Fri intent; NBA.com transaction log both waived; $5,158,080 guaranteed 2026-27; decline $7,370,897 option 2027-28; June trade Carter + 2033 2nd for Alpha Kaba rights; 74 games 6.4/2.7/1.9 in 14.8; .401/.274/.674; shoulder debut delay; ankle/back/calf year two; No. 13 in 2024; Providence Big East POY 19.7/8.7/3.6; two-way eligible; Gueye non-guaranteed / foot
• HoopsHype / Michael Scotto — waived; 8.9/3.3/2.7 in 18.4 over 38 Kings games last season
• SI / OnSI: Atlanta Hawks waive Devin Carter — Jackson Caudell; roster to 16; $5,158,080 still counts; ~$3.8M from tax / $11.5M first apron / $24.2M second; hard-capped first apron; Dort/Nembhard crunch; Kispert/Hield/Gueye/Nembhard next cuts
• NBA.com: Hawks add Devin Carter in trade with Kings — official June trade tree; Carter + future second for Alpha Kaba (2017 No. 60); career 6.4/2.7/1.9
• RealGM Wiretap — Sep 12 note; Celtics interest if he clears (Fischer)
• Photos: NBA.com Carter headshot 1642269; NBA.com trade still GettyImages-2246601553