With the NBA Trade deadline over, teams’ only option to add talent to their roster is through adding free agents, mostly being bought out from teams. Some players on the list have already been waived, and some are projected to be waived by league insiders. Due to changes in the new CBA rules, several players on this list cannot sign with several different contending teams in the tax apron, which prohibits signing a player with a pre-existing salary of over $12.4M. These teams include the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and Miami Heat.
1. Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG, Contract: Over $12.4M
The top player on the buyout market is easily Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is a combo guard who can put the ball in the basket, though he is sometimes an inconsistent roller coaster-type player. Dave McMenamin tweeted out yesterday during the trade deadline, “The Los Angeles Lakers are among the frontrunners to sign guard Spencer Dinwiddie when he clears waivers, sources tell ESPN.” This season, Dinwiddie is averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and six assists per game for the Brooklyn Nets while shooting around 40% from the floor and only 32% from three. Though the 30-year-old Los Angeles native signed with the Lakers today to go on a bit of homecoming of sorts, the Dallas Mavericks are also a rumored option as Dinwiddie was a vital piece of the Maverick’s 2022 Western Conference finals run played for over two seasons in Dallas, averaging 17 points and nearly five assists per game. Dinwiddie was seen courtside for the Mavs’ win over the Knicks on Thursday and the Lakers’ win over the Pelicans on Friday.
Just in: Spencer Dinwiddie plans to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after he clears waivers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/XJCQZnW1Dc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 10, 2024
2. Kyle Lowry, PG, Contract: Over $12.4M
The move gives the Sixers the salary cap cushion to sign buyout players post-deadline — including the possibility of Charlotte's Kyle Lowry should be become available in a contract buyout, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/we9OOlRF4C
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 8, 2024
Lowry is a great buyout candidate for contenders searching for a veteran ball handler off the bench. So far in the 2023-2024 season, 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and four assists per game on 42% shooting. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, similar to Dinwiddie, sees a homecoming in Lowry’s future, predicting the former All-Star will sign with the 76ers. This opens the door for the 37-year-old to play for his hometown, Philadelphia 76ers, returning to Philly after last playing for his hometown, Villanova, nearly two decades ago in college. During the trade deadline, the Sixers replaced their backup point guard Patrick Beverly with Cam Payne, so they might be bringing Lowry in as a veteran guard to back up Tyrese Maxey and the newly acquired shooting guard Buddy Hield. Kyle Lowry was speculated to be the Lakers’ top target as a buyout candidate after the NBA Trade Deadline; however, with the recent news of Spencer Dinwiddie, Lowry seems to be the Lakers’ second option.
3. Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Contract: Under $12.4M
The Miami Heat have already been in contact with 6’10 235 pound PF Danilo Gallinari’s camp and are set for a meeting (that was fast)
Not sure how many teams are getting meetings but Miami is one of them
Are y’all interested in this Heat fans? pic.twitter.com/s4mpzIOpUw
— Jaime Jaquez Jr Muse (@JaquezJrMuse) February 9, 2024
Danilo Gallinari has always been a well-respected and valued frontcourt player across the league because of his ability to stretch the court, even with his potential as a small-ball center at times. In 32 games played this season, Gallinari is averaging 7.3 points and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field and 35% from deep. Gallinari would be the ideal addition for a playoff team looking to improve their perimeter shooting. Whether or not the Detroit Pistons look to make Gallinari a buyout candidate remains to be seen, as there are other candidates for them to waive before him. Pat Riley and the Miami Heat have tried to add Gallinari for years. Gallinari could join the Miami Heat to give them another three-point shooter in the front court alongside Kevin Love off the bench.
4. Daniel House Jr., SF, Contract: Under $12.4M
🚨TRADE🚨
The Philadelphia #76ers are trading Daniel House and a 2024 second-round pick to the #Pistons, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/REx9zozs4j— ML Basketball (@_MLBasketball) February 8, 2024
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pistons decided to release Daniel House Jr. upon his arrival in Detroit in a salary-dump move by the Philadelphia 76ers. House’s three-point shooting, averaging around 36% from deep in his career, will generate some interest as a buyout candidate for contending teams. So far this season, Daniel House Jr., in his 34 games with the 76ers, has averaged 4.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 44% field-goal shooting. The Clippers are a team that makes a lot of sense for House to join, and they would pair him back up with James Harden, whom House played alongside during Harden’s Houston tenure.
5. Killian Hayes, PG, Contract: Under $12.4M
BREAKING: Killian Hayes wants a new team
“Killian Hayes’ camp, per a source, would prefer the fourth-year point guard land with a new team. The Pistons seem to agree.”
(Via https://t.co/DErN6QVL3N) pic.twitter.com/1uBFylL9MG
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 4, 2024
In the 2023-2024 NBA season, Killian Hayes averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, shooting 41.3% from the field. The Detroit Pistons have already bought out the former 7th overall pick in the 2020 draft from France. Killian Hayes’s options in the open market will be interesting since he is only 22 years old. As a young player, Hayes might have the best opportunity to develop his skills by attending a great organization like the Miami Heat.
6. Marcus Morris Sr., SF/PF, Contract: Over $12.4M
Marcus Morris says he’s ready to help a team pic.twitter.com/XX3qZDbwj8
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 10, 2024
Marcus Morris, a savvy veteran with extensive NBA experience, will be a potential buyout candidate for contenders. Morris is averaging only around seven points and three rebounds per game this season but did have 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists in a game for Philadelphia less than two weeks ago. Morris has had decent shooting splits, too, with 44% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.
7. Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, Contract: Under $12.4M
Otto Porter Jr. on what he learned from joining the Warriors organization:
“Man, I learned a lot. How they win. How they go about doing it the right way. There’s really no place like it.” pic.twitter.com/sdCfUO2lpK
— Quinones Muse (@LesQMuse) February 8, 2024
The Utah Jazz added Otto Porter Jr. at the trade deadline, in a deal that sent Kelly Olynyk and Obi Toppin to Toronto. The expectation is for Porter Jr. to be bought out and to sign with a contender. While in Toronto, Otto Porter Jr. appeared in only 15 games, averaging around three points and two rebounds while shooting over 40% from the field and around 35% from three. A reunion with the Warriors is a potential option for the 30 year-old forward.
8. Victor Oladipo, SG, Contract: Under $12.4M
BREAKING : The Grizzlies have waived Victor Oladipo.
(via @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/Itq265tKmv
— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) February 8, 2024
Victor Oladipo is coming towards the end of his career and looking to join a contender after having limited minutes this season. The former first-round pick burst into the NBA with high expectations and, as of late, has struggled due to injuries. In the 2019-2020 season, Oladipo played 33 games, putting up nearly 20 points per game, but the production has significantly fallen off since. Oladipo averaged 12 points a game in the 2020-2021 NBA season to 10 points per game the past two years on 39.7% from the field and 33% from deep while playing under 50 games each season. A team like the Phoenix Suns may be willing to add Oladipo as a veteran presence off the bench that has the potential to be a decent scorer.
9. Seth Curry, SG, Contract: Under $12.4M
Bring Seth Curry back at this point. I need that dribble hand off action between Seth and Embiid
pic.twitter.com/Lee8qbJ6Y7— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) February 9, 2024
Seth Curry is likely to be bought out by Charlotte after he was traded by the Mavericks for the third time in exchange for P.J. Washington. Seth Curry will likely find himself a new home, whether in Charlotte or somewhere else, because the NBA can always use shooters, and Curry still can provide some veteran leadership and shooting off the bench. Though Curry is shooting the lowest percentage from deep in his career at 36.3%, a team will take the chance on him as in his previous nine seasons, Curry shot at least 40% from the three-point line.
10. Delon Wright, PG, Contract: Under $12.4M
600 career steals for Del🍪n. @delonwright | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/fpwUzS6Ur4
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 8, 2024
Delon Wright has averaged 4.4 points in 29 games on the season while struggling with his jumper shooting under 40% from the field and from deep. The guard for the Detroit Pistons plays at his own pace and is excellent at getting into the paint and finding open shooters around the perimeter. Even though Wright has had limited playing time on the season, he still puts up 2.7 assists a night.
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