The Hawks intend to waive protection Devin Carterleague sources told NBA Insider Jake Fisher (Link to Twitter).
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto confirms the news (via Twitter).
Carter is guaranteed $5,158,080 this season. The Hawks will give up their fourth-year option on Carter, valued at $7,370,897 for the 2027-28 campaign, as part of the deal.
In late June, Atlanta acquired Carter and a 2033 second-round pick from Sacramento. It was a cost-cutting move for the Kings, who also declined DeMar DeRozanpartially guaranteed his contract this offseason and then used that provision to spread the rest of his salary over three years.
i pondered In late July, Carter seemed to be one of the odd men out in Atlanta when I previewed potential roster changes and repeated that point this afternoon when I wrote that his fourth-year option would likely be declined regardless of whether he made the roster or not. Our own Luke Adams also viewed Carter as a likely casualty of Atlanta’s roster shortage Arrival in the off-season.
The Hawks will still have 15 players on guaranteed standard contracts after the former Providence star was terminated, with Muhammed Guye — who is currently out with a broken foot — on a non-guaranteed deal.
Carter, 24, was a lottery pick by the Kings just two years ago, the 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft. However, his NBA debut was delayed due to surgery on his left shoulder, and he struggled with ankle, back and shin problems during his second season in 2025/26. In two years with the Kings, he played in just 74 regular-season games, averaging 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes per contest, with a staggering .401/.274/.674 slash line.
Carter’s spot on the Hawks’ roster looked shaky when they originally acquired him, as they received a second-round pick to take on an unwanted contract, and it seemed likely that he would eventually move after the Atlanta acquisition Ryan Nembhard from Dallas as part of Lugentz is there/Zachary Ryzaker trade
In 2023/24, Carter showed real promise as a junior for the Friars, averaging 19.7 ppg, 8.7 ppg, 3.6 ppg, 1.8 and 1.0 .473/.377/.749 shooting in 35 games and earning Player of the Year honors in the Great East”. He will hope to resume his NBA career with a new team.
Because Carter only has two years of NBA experience, he is still eligible for a two-way contract. It’s unclear if he would accept such a large pay cut, but he will make his $5.16 million this season either way.