As usual, there are interesting NBA players in this season’s list of potential buyout candidates.
And as usual, teams searching for that player who might be able to help them get to the next level will scour the buyout market hoping for a brilliant discovery.
But a word of caution: the buyout market typically does not yield a player who leads to a championship.
In 2020 during the COVID-19 season, Markieff Morris was bought out by the Pistons and joined the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win a title. Obviously on a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Morris wasn’t the key piece but he was a valuable contributor.
In 2012, Boris Diaw with San Antonio and Derek Fisher with Oklahoma City were important buyout additions.
But those are the exceptions. Still, it won’t stop teams from exploring the buyout market.
Top potential NBA buyout candidates
Spencer Dinwiddie
The Toronto Raptors acquired Dinwiddie from the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline and then waived him. Dinwiddie isn’t having his best season (12.6 points and 6.0 assists and shooting 39.1% from the field), but he is still a scoring guard who might get better and easier opportunities with a quality team.
Kyle Lowry
Davis Bertans
The Hornets need to decide what they want to do with Bertans who came over in the trade that sent Gordon Hayward from Charlotte to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Bertans has played in just 15 games this season but has maintained his shooting touch, hitting 41.7% of his 3-point attempts.
Seth Curry
Marcus Morris
Cedi Osman
Another San Antonio player who could hit the buyout market, Osman is shooting 37.3% on 3s this season and scored 20 points against the Washington Wizards late last month.
Evan Fournier
Fournier fell out of favor with the New York Knicks, making just three appearances this season. Two seasons ago for the Knicks, he played in 80 games and averaged 14.1 points and shot 38.9% on 3s. He was traded to the Detroit Pistons, and if he hits the buyout market, he could help a team looking for shooting.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
