Why did the Utah Jazz sign and waive Isaiah Miller in the span of a few hours?

The Utah Jazz signed Isaiah Miller and then released him soon after.

The Utah Jazz made news on Saturday for signing guard Isaiah Miller, just to release him. For some, they were left scratching their heads, wondering why the team would release someone they just signed. And that’s a question, so let’s answer it.

Miller was signed and waived for one reason; so he could qualify as an affiliate player. If a player signs with a team but is waived, they can be designated as an affiliate player. If they accept the designation, they’re then sent to that team’s G-League affiliate. For Miller, that means he’s going to be suiting up for the Salt Lake City Stars.

Unlike, say Major League Baseball, where players can be called up or sent down to various levels of the organization without say, NBA players have to agree to be designated an affiliate player. Once designated an affiliate player and they sign a contract, they’re with that team’s G-League affiliate and can’t be drafted in the annual G-League draft.

A player who’s played for the same franchise in two consecutive seasons can’t make up one of the four affiliate spots, it’s why so many undrafted rookies get them. Not only can players not continue to be an affiliate with the same team uninterrupted, but if they are waived and re-signed, as Miller was, it has to be done during the current league year.

Players like Miller are signed and waived on the same day far more than you realize, and that’s all so they can keep the player in their system without risk of another G-League club getting him. Their contracts are also through the G-League, not the team that designated them. So the G-League pays the contract for the affiliated player.

Now, unlike a two-way player, whose rights are held by that NBA affiliate, an NBA team can sign Miller, or any other NBA affiliated player whenever they want.