The 2022 NBA trade deadline is behind us, but that doesn’t mean teams are finished making roster moves. With over a month-and-a-half left in the 2021/22 regular season, there are still many roster spots to be filled around the NBA, as well as veterans who might not finish the year with their current teams.
The NBA’s buyout market has been active since the trade deadline and could feature several more moves in the next week or two.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Buyouts]
A veteran in an undesirable situation due to his playing time or his team’s place in the standings (or both) could ask to be released and may even be willing to give back a little money to accommodate the move. Some teams might make that decision unilaterally, opting to release a veteran to open up a roster spot for a younger player.
Over the rest of the month, we’ll use the space below to monitor the buyout market, keeping tabs on which veteran players have been bought out or released, and which have found new teams. We’ll also keep an eye on players who are potential buyout candidates. The list will be updated daily.
A player on an NBA contract must be waived by the end of the day on March 1 in order to retain his playoff eligibility, so that will be a key date to watch.
Here’s our breakdown of the 2022 NBA buyout market:
Last updated 3-3-22 (8:08pm CT)
Veterans who have been recently bought out or released and are free agents:
- Enes Freedom, C
Not every player who has been cut since the trade deadline will be mentioned here. Essentially, this list is just made up of players with at least a few years of NBA experience who could be of immediate interest to teams in the playoff mix.
To that end, we’re not listing young players such as Jahmi’us Ramsey, KZ Okpala, Armoni Brooks, or Moses Brown, since they’d be unlikely to draw interest from playoff teams who are in win-now mode and looking for veteran depth.
We’re also not listing injured veterans like PJ Dozier, Cody Zeller, Michael Carter-Williams, or E’Twaun Moore, unless it becomes clear that the player will be able to return in the coming days or weeks.
Veterans who have been bought out or released and joined new teams:
- DeAndre’ Bembry, G/F: Released by Nets; signed with Bucks.
- Tristan Thompson, C: Bought out by Pacers; signed with Bulls.
- Goran Dragic, G: Bought out by Spurs; signed with Nets.
- Kevin Pangos, G: Bought out by Cavaliers; signed with CSKA Moscow.
- Jevon Carter, G: Released by Nets; signed with Bucks.
- Tomas Satoransky, G: Bought out by Spurs; signed with Wizards.
- D.J. Augustin, G: Released by Rockets; signed with Lakers.
- DeAndre Jordan, C: Released by Lakers; signed with Sixers.
Other veterans who could be candidates to be bought out or released:
- Kent Bazemore, Lakers
- Eric Bledsoe, Trail Blazers
- Gorgui Dieng, Hawks
- Wayne Ellington, Lakers
- Gary Harris, Magic
- Juan Hernangomez, Jazz
- Rodney Hood, Clippers
- Josh Jackson, Kings
- Robin Lopez, Magic
- Semi Ojeleye, Clippers
- John Wall, Rockets
We had viewed these players as possible buyout candidates, with some more realistic than others. However, they all made it through the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline without being cut, so they appear likely to finish the season with their respective clubs.
“we’re not listing young players such as Jahmi’us Ramsey, KZ Okpala, Armoni Brooks, or Moses Brown who would be unlikely to draw interest from playoff teams in win-now mode.”…. well, the celtics will be in the playoffs and they said they are likely to fill their last spots with young players. So maybe you want to retract your statement and include the young guys
I’ll adjust the wording of that sentence, but the goal of this tracker isn’t really to keep tabs on guys like that. If the Celtics sign Jahm’ius Ramsey with an eye toward the G League, Summer League, etc., I wouldn’t consider that to be a “buyout market” move (though it’s admittedly subjective).
Thank you. Well done. Some will complain about anything.
Buyout
I’d be happy to see John Wall joining the Lakers.
Lakers save a first round pick and keep Westbrook. (if trade)
Rockets cut the Wall pay checks for Lakers. It’s basically free of charge for Lakers.
Lol dude you eat mushrooms daily or what? “Give the lakers someone who might help them for free” trippin bro, the nba is laughing at bron bron, no one is coming to help
Kings still have a ton of Centers.
Alex Len might be a Buyout candidate.
Richaun Holmes, Damian Jones, Neemias Queta, Chimezie Metu, etc.
Considered Len, but he has a guaranteed salary for next season too, so I’d be surprised. Damian Jones could be a better bet.
How about Isaiah Thomas he would be a win now signing but not a buyout.
He would be a “lose now” not a win now signing. All signs have pointed to him no longer being very useful to a NBA team
Gorgui Dieng would look good back in MN!!!!
Aren’t the Sixers is need of a backup center?
Free Bassey!
Yep, That’s why I checked this post. Looks like limited options to fill that spot… what about players on 10 day contracts? Not on this list?
DeMarcus Cousins and Haywood Highsmith are the only two players on 10-day contracts right now, and I imagine Cousins will stick with the Nuggets.
Our full FA list is here though: link to hoopsrumors.com
Luke you think Raptors more likely to take a gamble and convert Champagnie the Magic mushroom or
Sign a buy out veteran for the playoff push in the
East?
I think a Champagnie promotion is probably more likely than a buyout signing.
I’m sort of skeptical that many vets I listed in this post will actually hit the market, and some may not draw a whole lot of interest based on how they’ve played (or not played) this year.
Memphis should sign Moses. Celtics should get Brooks . Spurs should get KZ
Is Marc Gasol still considering an NBA return?? Would love for the Raptors or another Eastern conference team to sign him as a big body to throw at Embiid, like the Raptors did back in 2019.
There has been no sync yet between CLE-Lavert (tho that was not expected… CL is kind of a takeover, down-the-middle guy, like Garland). Who could be an integrating piece?…
CLE has the injured-player exception to maybe be able to win a buyout bidding.
Gary Harris could make a difference with varied on-court off-ball skills, like Derrick White for BOS, as well as the off-court skills ORL desires.
Ed Davis has only seen 142 minutes for CLE… Moses Brown could offer better defense. Getting Enes Freedom would be a feather in Altmman’s cap.