Official waiver in Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks have waived center William Baker, effective September 18, leaving him without an NBA team after a waiver transaction that confirms his exit from the main roster. The move is official and fits the usual preseason routine for players tied to G League affiliate College Park Skyhawks.
The transaction appears in NBA.com oficial and was reported by Hoops Rumors, which places the cut four days after Baker signed an Exhibit 10 contract and within the same procedural dynamic Atlanta uses to secure development-player rights in the G League.
Baker profile
Baker, a 6-foot-11 center out of LSU who went undrafted in 2024, has spent the past two G League seasons with the Iowa Wolves and then the Osceola Magic, Orlando affiliate. Last year he averaged 9.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in 43 games (18.6 minutes), with 1.0 assist per outing.
Hoops Rumors notes that Atlanta acquired his returning rights from Osceola in a four-team trade last month and that the most likely plan calls for Baker to join the College Park Skyhawks, where he could earn a $91,000 bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the affiliate after this waiver.
What the waiver means
By leaving the Hawks main roster, Baker no longer occupies a preseason spot and becomes a free agent until his next step within the franchise ecosystem is defined. The move opens a second vacancy on Atlanta 21-man offseason roster, which now lists 19 players under contract.
For Atlanta, the cut fits the development structure the Hawks are consolidating before training camp, prioritizing G League rights control rather than locking roster spots on the main NBA team.
Roster context
Baker waiver comes in September, within the procedural wave before training camp. The transaction repeats the dynamic the Hawks have used with other camp profiles signed to Exhibit 10 deals in this market window.
