Which players should be buyout targets for NBA contenders?

Suitors: Lakers, Nets, Knicks? Celtics?

The face of this year's buyout market is Andre Drummond. While the hype surrounding the top buyout guys is usually disproportionate to their ultimate impact on that year's title race (after all, the guy is being bought out because he couldn't be traded for anything of value or was included as a throw-in to match salaries), Drummond is in a unique situation where he could possibly swing the championship despite the fact that he'd probably only play 20 minutes or so in important playoff games. And that's because his two hottest suitors are the favorites to win it all: the Lakers and the Nets. Drummond would give the Lakers the lob threat and brute in the paint that they've missed all season after having Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee punishing opposing bigs last season. On the other hand, Drummond would give the Nets a more talented, and younger upgrade over DeAndre Jordan at center. While the Knicks and Celtics are also lurking, if Drummond cares at all about winning, he'll join one of the two Finals contenders and finally get a taste of what playoff basketball is really about.

Suitors: Lakers, Nets, 76ers, basically any contender that could use an extra wing

You may have missed it, but Otto Porter Jr. was included as a salary matcher in the Nikola Vucevic-Wendell Carter Jr. trade that kicked off trade deadline day. After a stellar start to his career in Chicago that saw him average 17.5 PPG in the 15 games he played after the trade deadline in 2018-19, Porter has been a massive disappointment, appearing in only 39 games over the past two seasons, and averaging a paltry 10.6 PPG and playing generally uninspiring basketball for a player that was the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and should be in the middle of his prime. If he's willing to agree to a buyout, he  

Suitors: Jazz, Bucks, Mavericks

Rodney Hood is another wing having a disappointing season that was quietly included in a trade yesterday as he was shipped to the Toronto/Tampa Bay Raptors along with Gary Trent Jr. for Norman Powell. Unfortunately for Hood, he ruptured his Achilles 21 games into the 2019-20 season right when he was playing some of the best complimentary basketball of his career (11.0 PPG, 51-49-78 shooting splits). Like most role players coming off that injury, Hood struggled to regain his footing in the Blazers' rotation all season and was only averaging 4.9 PPG in 19.1 MPG. Hood could be a spot veteran contributor for one of the non-coastal teams with hopes of making a deep playoff run.

Suitors: Heat, Lakers, Hornets

LaMarcus Aldridge has already agreed to a buyout with the Spurs and appears to be headed to South Beach to join the Heat according to most reporting. While LMA's game has fallen off a cliff over the past two seasons (he's averaging almost all career-lows, or at least, the lowest numbers since his rookie season), and his defense is very poor, he could probably give the Heat 10-15 minutes of adequate pick-and-pop offense, replacing some of what they had in Kelly Olynyk (who was traded to the Rockets and also appears on this list!). 

Suitors: Blazers? Knicks? Nets?

One surprise buyout candidate that emerged after the trade deadline was John Wall. In his first season back from multiple Achilles injuries and knee problems, Wall has put up decent, albeit somewhat inefficient numbers for the Rockets, averaging 21.0 PPG and 6.3 APG on 41-33-75 shooting. He's flashed enough of the speed and athleticism that made him so special earlier in his career that he should draw some interest from playoff contenders who wouldn't mind essentially giving Wall a tryout for 20-30 games before the offseason. Look for a team like the Blazers, who only have one true point guard in Damian Lillard to snoop around Wall. The Nets have to be on the list of any former superstar looking to accept a lesser role to play for a contender. And the Knicks seem like a team that might take a low-risk, high-reward play on Wall just for kicks.

Suitors: Lakers, Celtics

More Rockets buyouts, coming right up!! Avery Bradley, an offseason signee with the Heat who struggled to stay healthy all season (missing all but 10 games), was sent to Houston in the Victor Oladipo deal that was finalized at the deadline buzzer. As an 11-year veteran who played for the eventual champion Lakers all last season until the pandemic shutdown, Bradley probably wants no part in Houston's plummet to the bottom of the standings (they've lost 21 of 22!!). Thus, expect him to jump at any opportunity to get to a contender. There seem to be two obvious choices for Bradley: He could make a return to the Lakers (they have two open roster spots) and play meaningful playoff minutes; or, he could reunite with Brad Stevens and the Celtics, and take some of the minutes that were going to Jeff Teague and Payton Pritchard. 

Suitors: Celtics, Suns

The last of the Rockets buyout candidates is the newly acquired Kelly Olynyk (also part of the Oladipo deal). Despite shooting a career-low 31.7 percent from three this season, Olynyk was actually playing fairly well for the Heat, averaging a career-high 26.9 MPG, scoring 10.0 PPG, grabbing a career-high 6.1 RPG, and likely giving opposing big men cringeworthy wafts of his disgusting chin beard during every box out. A return to Boston (remember his Game 7 masterpiece against the Wizards in 2017?) seems like the best fit as the Celtics just dealt starting big, Daniel Theis, to the Bulls for Moritz Wagner and still haven't figured out how to get more out of free-agent signee, Tristian Thompson. Keep an eye out on the Suns as well - they could use a backup small-ball five to play some occasional crunch time minutes.

Suitors: Clippers, Lakers, 76ers?

In all likelihood, Austin Rivers will never don a Thunder jersey after being dealt in a three-team deal highlighted by George Hill going to Philadelphia. Rivers, a very capable spark plug off the bench, could step in and help just about any contender in need of a fourth guard. Rivers can get to the rim a bit, shoot it from deep (36.4 percent from three this season), and always competes. With Lou Williams heading to the Hawks, the Clippers might want a scoring guard to complement Rajon Rondo and Patrick Beverley. Likewise, the Lakers could use another scorer with LeBron James and Anthony Davis still out for the foreseeable future. Finally, while they would probably prefer to not have to balance the coach-player and father-son relationship again, you can't rule out Rivers heading to the City of Brotherly love to play for Doc for the stretch run.

Suitors: Blazers, Nets

It starts to become slim-pickings at this point in the buyout market. Most teams wouldn't touch Hassan Whiteside with a 10-foot pole (and rightly so), which makes it all the more perfect that the Kings wasted a roster spot on him this offseason. Whiteside has all the tools to be a nice center and is an intimidating shot blocker who can occasionally play up to higher competition. Unfortunately, he's maddeningly inconsistent and will try to block every shot taken near the paint, often leaving his man open for an easy rebound and layup. Portland had a little success with him last season, so maybe they would take a look at Whiteside. The Nets need depth at center and love players with lots of talent, so they'd also be an option.

Suitors: Blazers, Bucks

Before the season, Jeff Teague, who was dealt to Orlando in the Evan Fournier deal, seemed like he'd be an ideal backup point guard for the Celtics this season. Instead, he lost his role to rookie Payton Pritchard and played pretty poorly even when given more minutes as a byproduct of the injuries to Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart. After being an average-to-above-average starting point guard for the better part of a decade, Teague appears to be completely washed at this point in his career (6.9 PPG, 2.1 APG). However, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt here and make him the final buyout target. Any team in need of a third point guard will probably do their due diligence if Teague gets bought out by the Magic.

Although they technically aren't buyout guys since they're already free agents, don't be surprised if players like DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, and maybe even Dion Waiters get some looks. Occasional contributors like Gorgui Dieng (Grizzlies), Aron Baynes (Raptors), Jabari Parker (Kings), and Quinn Cook (Cavaliers) might also get some love as free agents if a contender suffers a major injury down the stretch.