NBA buyout market tiers: Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and more names to watch

Welcome to the after-party, everyone! You thought the party ended with the trade deadline? Guess again! Actually, it’s just beginning, as now we get into the buyout market. Grab a kazoo and an umbrella drink and have a seat; this fiesta is going to run until early March.

The way the buyout market typically works is that a little-used player on Team A with an expiring contract has already found his landing spot on Team B. Team A then agrees to release him, and the player agrees to give up the amount Team B would pay him. (These are almost all minimum deals, but the amount varies depending on the number of days left in the season and the players’ years of service.)

Note that no player waived after March 1 can sign with a new team and be eligible for the playoffs. Keep in mind this is the waiver date, not the signing date; a couple of teams can and will sign players in April to finish off their playoff rosters.

Additionally, any players making more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception ($14.1 million) before their buyout cannot sign with a team that is above the first apron. As of today, that list only includes three teams: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks.

With that said, let’s take a look at the market. I came up with 52 players on expiring deals (or deals that are non-guaranteed after this season) who either have already been waived, or have at least some reasonable likelihood of either being cut outright or wrangling a buyout in the next 23 days.

Here’s how I’ve ranked them from 1 to 54:

Tier 1: Rotation-caliber additions

1. Russell Westbrook, SG, Sacramento Kings — The Russ Show isn’t for everyone, and his fit on a contender can be clunky if it doesn’t need whatever-you-can-get-us shot creation at a modest efficiency clip. Still, Westbrook has had a decent year for an indecent team, and at 37 there’s no reason for him to be in the rebuilding Kings’ plans.

2. Cam Thomas, SG, waived by Brooklyn Nets — The market for undersized gunners has shriveled in the past few years as teams have become smarter about roster constructions and analytics has made the cost-benefit of this type of more clear. Still, to say Thomas wouldn’t help at all is a stretch; yes, he’s had a bad year, but when I last saw him six days ago he was pouring in 21 points in 24 minutes in Utah for the Nets. Any team with a shortage of bench scoring has to at least consider what Thomas could do for them on a rest-of-season minimum.

3. Jusuf Nurkić, C, Utah Jazz — Still a monstrous rebounder and screener at 31, Nurkić has been in and out of the lineup with the same flu bug that ravaged Utah’s whole roster just before the deadline. He had three straight triple-doubles in January, the third a hilarious affair in which it took a gassed Nurkić five entire minutes of game time to get the 10th rebound in a game that the Jazz were losing by 30. Nurkić is on an expiring deal and shouldn’t be in the team’s plans, so him getting his wings seems entirely possible.

4. Tyus Jones, PG, Dallas Mavericks — Jones seems likely to have a role in Dallas that could go beyond this season, and thus probably won’t be bought out. He would settle in as a low-turnover game manager wherever he ends up, although hopefully he’d shoot more often than the twice a week he did in Orlando.

5. Haywood Highsmith, SF, waived by Brooklyn — He has missed entire season with knee issues after struggling to recover from a torn meniscus. However, he’s a good defender when healthy who has just enough juice as a shooter to keep defenses relatively honest.

6. Marvin Bagley III, C, Dallas — Dallas no longer has the third pick from the 2018 draft, but look on the bright side: It has the second pick from the same draft. That’s better, right? Bagley was pretty effective in Washington, but Dallas has a lot of frontcourt bodies and shouldn’t really be trying to win the rest of the way.

7. Matisse Thybulle, SG, Portland Trail Blazers — It seems unlikely the Blazers would buy out Thybulle ahead of his free agency, given that the Blazers still harbor playoff aspirations and might also want his Bird rights. Also, he’s out indefinitely with knee tendinopathy after late fall thumb surgery and has only played four games all season, so another team would need to sign off on his health before pursuing him.

8. Kyle Anderson, PF, Memphis Grizzlies — Between the Jazz youth movement and their crowded frontcourt, Anderson hasn’t had a ton of chances in Utah, and it’s not clear where he would fit in Memphis’ rebuild either. Anderson has $9.7 million on the books for next season, but it’s non-guaranteed. “SloMo” fits best on a team that needs ballhandling and versatile defense and won’t sweat his lack of shooting.

Tier II: Interesting fliers

9. Jeremy Sochan, PF, San Antonio Spurs — He can’t shoot and struggles as a backup five, and we’ve definitely determined he’s not a point guard, which is why he can’t get any run in San Antonio. He needs to go back to a more developmental situation and figure out where his game fits.

10. Ochai Agbaji, SG, Brooklyn — Agbaji looked like a back-end rotation player in Toronto a year ago; he has definitely not looked like one this year, hitting just 18.5 percent from 3 despite shooting form that releases perfect parabolas. He’s only 25, however, and this may just be extreme variance. We’ll see if he’s in Brooklyn’s plans; but if he’s released, keep an eye on Cleveland. The Cavs originally drafted Agbaji before throwing him into the Donovan Mitchell trade. Agbaji is also two-way eligible, but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t on a 15-man roster.

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11. Josh Minott, PF, Brooklyn — It appears the Nets intend to keep Minott, as they didn’t charge the Boston Celtics anything for dumping his contract onto their roster. If for some reason he wriggles free, his switchable defense and relative youth should get other rebuilding teams’ attention.

12. Ousmane Dieng, SF, Milwaukee Bucks — His final stop in a three-trade odyssey seems to be a team that actually wants him. Dieng had trouble getting minutes on the Oklahoma City’s Thunder’s talented roster, and his motor doesn’t run very hot, but he has great positional size and shows some spice as a passer.

13. Dalen Terry, SF, New Orleans Pelicans — Thrown overboard by Chicago and then by discarded by the Knicks in the Jose Alvarado trade, it’s not clear Terry is in the Pels’ plans either. New Orleans wants to upgrade two-way Bryce McGowens to a regular contract, and Terry would seem the most obvious cut. That said, he’s 23, he’s shooting 41.3 percent from 3 this year, and his stats in four years with the Bulls are more “fringe rotation” than “get this guy out of here.” He’s also two-way eligible through the end of the season.

14. Kobe Brown, PF, Indiana Pacers — The Clippers didn’t pick up his option for next season, and that decision is “contagious” and extends to his new team — the Pacers cannot pay him more than the declined option of $4.8 million this coming summer. Does Indiana still want to take a look, or would it prefer a different option with one of their last roster spots? If waived, Brown is two-way eligible through the end of next season.

15. Leonard Miller, PF, Chicago Bulls — Miller may finally get a chance at some real minutes after nearly three years at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench. Is he any good? Who can say? He’s only played 179 minutes in three seasons! That’s a light week for Mikal Bridges. Miller still has a team option for next season, so the Bulls would seem likely to hang on to him, but perhaps there’s another guy out there they like better.

Tier III: Mildly helpful back-end roster guys

16. Khris Middleton, SF, Dallas – The key to the salary match in the Washington Wizards’ trade for Anthony Davis, Middleton’s level of play has dropped considerably since his glory days in Milwaukee. The Mavs should tank the rest of the way and don’t need him, and one wonders about a Middleton/Bucks reunion. Note that Middelton cannot be signed by any of the three teams over the first apron (New York, Golden State or Cleveland) because he currently makes more than the non-taxpayer midlevel exception; he and Terry Rozier are the only players on this list for which that applies.

17. Kelly Olynyk, C, San Antonio — The veteran stretch big is still getting run as the Spurs’ third center and seems highly unlikely to be released, but I’m listing him here for completeness. The Raptors would be one obvious interested party.

18. Lonzo Ball, SG, waived by Utah — Paying Ball $10 million and expecting him to play at a championship-caliber level as a 20-minute backcourt player? Yeah, that isn’t a great idea. But paying him the minimum to be a fifth guard who can come in, play some defense, make an occasional open 3 (please?) and not screw up the game for six minutes? Yeah, he can still capably do that.

19. Mike Conley, PG, waived by Charlotte Hornets — The beloved vet has seen his level of play drop at 38, but it seems quite possible he’ll end up back in Minnesota — a legal move since he technically stopped in Chicago first.

20. Chris Paul, PG, Toronto —  CP3 looked near the end in his short stint with the Clippers, but his sheer IQ may give him some utility in the right situation. The Raptors intend to waive him at some point, presumably when he’s found a destination and can arrange a proper buyout.

21. Cole Anthony, PG, Phoenix Suns — Another shoot-first small guard. I’m keeping him here on faith, because I’m floored that he was so bad in Milwaukee after a pretty solid five-year run in Orlando. He’s only 25! We’ll see if the Suns keep him around to have another ballhandler.

22. Jevon Carter, PG, waived by Chicago — He can knock down shots and will pressure the ball; if he can play next to a ballhandler, he can soak up backcourt minutes.

Tier IV: Maybe there’s something left in the tank?

23. Chris Boucher, PF, waived by Utah — Lost at the end of the bench in Boston, Boucher lacks muscle and ball skills but can knock down an open 3 and block shots. Could Toronto look at bringing him back?

24. Kevin Love, C, Utah — He’s enjoying his role as the Jazz OG and might stay put. He’s still a monster on the glass and a 3-point threat.

25. Amir Coffey, SF, Phoenix — It’s not clear if the Suns will keep him; he’s a theoretical 3-and-D wing and back-of-rotation glue guy who has struggled to provide enough “3.”

26. Jordan McLaughlin, PG, San Antonio — He has only played 132 minutes in a crowded backcourt, but the Spurs likely have better waiver candidates on hand (see below) if they need a roster spot.

27. Drew Eubanks, C, Sacramento — His numbers are way down this year, and he’s only played four minutes in the last month while two rookies moved ahead of him in the center rotation. Not great.

28. Gabe Vincent, PG, Atlanta Hawks — It’s unclear if he’s in the Hawks’ long-term plans after his recent trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Hawks need another guard have two other non-performing roster spots to work through first.

29. Pat Connaughton, SG, waived by Charlotte — He played well enough in 22 games to provide a glimmer of hope that he can still fill at a role at 33. Would Bucks have interest in reuniting?

30. Xavier Tillman Sr., C, Charlotte — A beloved locker-room guy, Tillman’s knees are an issue; he’s a 6-8 center with no shooting range, and he never played in Boston.

31. Kevon Looney, C, New Orleans Pelicans — Looney has an $8 million team option for next season; the Pels might like the offseason flexibility that provides enough to keep him around despite his limited production.

32. Dwight Powell, C, Dallas — Powell has been Mister Mav, and that likely will keep him on the roster, even though the Mavs don’t really need him.

33. Nick Richards, C, Chicago — It appears the Bulls traded for him intentionally (no, really) and that he’ll be staying put as one of their few actual tall people. If not, he’d be one of the few true centers of any stripe on the market.

34. Bismack Biyombo, C, San Antonio — He’s still in the league because he’s a great guy and can protect the rim. Just don’t ask him to catch a pass or make a shot.

35. Bogdan Bogdanović, SG, L.A. Clippers — I’m not sure where the Clippers are going directionally after trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and Bogie might be worth keeping just for his $16 million team option this summer. But he also may be at the point where his legs just can’t do it anymore; it’s been rough this year.

36. Lindy Waters III, SG, San Antonio — The shooter would only wriggle free if the Spurs found a different wing they liked better on the buyout market; that doesn’t seem like it would be too hard given the year he’s had.

37. Georges Niang, PF, waived by Memphis — He has been out the entire season and may need to try to make a roster next fall.

38. De’Andre Jordan, C, New Orleans — Brought in as a veteran OG for the young Pels, he might get his wings if New Orleans decides to take a look at some other talent for next year.

Tier V: This might be it

39. Nigel Hayes-Davis, SF, waived by Milwaukee — The former Wisconsin star had a short-lived return to the Badger State; he could take a buyout and head back to Europe.

40. Doug McDermott, PF, Sacramento — Not really sure why he’s still on the team, but you do you, Sacramento

41. Eric Gordon, SG, waived by Memphis — He’s 37 and has only played six games this year. He can still knock down an open shot but has absolutely no juice left for anything else.

42. Mason Plumlee, C, waived by Oklahoma City — The sometime-southpaw never played even on a Charlotte team desperate for frontcourt size. It will be up to Jay Huff to carry on his never-dunk-while-facing-the-basket legacy.

43. Maxi Kleber, PF, Lakers — He makes $11 million and never plays, but being friends with Luka Dončić might keep him around for three more months.

44. Dario Šarić , PF, Detroit Pistons — His salary was kicked around a few times during deadline week, but the Croatian big man hasn’t been an NBA-caliber player for a few years now.

45. Dante Exum, SG, Washington — The oft-injured guard is out for the season and will be waived imminently.

46. Terry Rozier, PG, Miami Heat — All but certain to be cut from his $26 million deal; Rozier is radioactive until his federal gambling case resolves, and even then there’s the little issue of how he played in the basketball games.

Tier VI: See ya at Summer League

47. Tyrese Martin, SG, waived by Brooklyn — Nets cut him even though he’s playing nearly 20 minutes a game, a strong sign they won’t release Minott (above). Martin lacks one huge strength but can respectably sponge wing minutes without killing you, and remains 2-way eligible through next season.

48. Rayan Rupert, SF, Portland — The Blazers need to waive at least one player to convert 2-way Caleb Love to a standard contract, and two if they also wish to convert Sidy Cissoko. Rupert has shown flashes as a defender, but it’s year 3 and he’s still a total zero on offense. He would be 2-way-eligible for another team if released.

49. Isaac Jones, PF, waived by Detroit — Two-way eligible because he’s only in his second season; he could possibly return to Sacramento, where he was signed last year after the draft.

50. Malaki Branham, SG, Charlotte — He has given no real evidence that he’s an NBA caliber player in four pro seasons but remains two-way eligible through the end of this season.

51. Hunter Tyson, PF, waived by Brooklyn — A wild draft stretch in 2023 by Denver, Tyson never approached rotation-level quality as a Nugget. He remains two-way eligible and could sign a two-year two-way.

52. N’Faly Dante, C, waived by Atlanta — Out for the season with a torn ACL; it seems likely he will be monitored by the Hawks over the summer for a potential two-way next year.

53. Duop Reath, C, waived by Atlanta — He’s out for the season but was traded for Vit Krejčí as matching salary.

54. Nikola Durišić, SF, Atlanta — He’s not even remotely an NBA player but is somehow still here. Amazingly, he has not been active for a single game despite being healthy the entire season and is languishing badly in the G League. The Hawks need to turn this roster spot into a positive player.