It has been a record-setting year for buyouts, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).
Since the trade deadline, nine players have given up money in buyout agreements to be granted their release. Will Barton became the ninth, on Tuesday, joining Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Reggie Jackson, Patrick Beverley, Danny Green, Terrence Ross, Justin Holiday, and Leandro Bolmaro.
As Marks notes, that’s a new record for post-deadline buyouts in a single NBA season.
So far, seven of those nine players have either signed with new teams or have their new home lined up. We’re still waiting to see what the next move will be for Bolmaro, who is rumored to be headed back to Europe, and Barton.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Speaking to several All-Stars in Salt Lake City over the weekend, Joe Vardon, Law Murray, and Bob Kravitz of The Athletic polled players on the NBA’s playoff format, the league’s top trash talkers, and their favorite road cities, among other topics. Interestingly, the All-Star respondents polled by The Athletic seem pretty open to the idea of a midseason tournament, with eight players saying either “yes” or “maybe” to the concept, while just three said “no.”
- While it doesn’t sound like something the NBA is seriously considering in the short term, commissioner Adam Silver – speaking at his annual All-Star weekend press conference – didn’t rule out the possibility of the league eventually conducting an in-season tournament that includes non-NBA teams. Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com has the story and the quotes from Silver.
- Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype identifies several players who won’t necessarily be free agents this summer but who are worth monitoring in the coming months as possible candidates to change teams in “pre-agency.”
- In a column for Yahoo Sports, Vincent Goodwill weighs the pros and cons of the NBA’s player movement era for players, teams, and fans.
Okay, opinions on the in-season tournament? I personally dislike it because I feel like it would cheapen the Finals. It would be better than the farce of the All-Star game, though.
I think it sucks honestly
Without having more info it’s hard to really have an opinion.
More high stakes basketball? Sure. Will it be a gimmick with no real consequence? Probably not interested. Does it give g league guys or intl players a chance to shine? I’m listening. Will all star players sit it out to avoid injury? No thanks.
If someone can definitively answer some of these questions I can definitively have an opinion. Until then it’s just noise and guessing. I’d expect nothing less from the fine commenters here.
Why have the playoff’s if there’s a mid season tournament?
Ideas like this sound like the NBA praying for money to fall out of the sky on top of what they are already making. When is enough, enough?
FYI Bolmaro needed his freedom to play for Argentina in the FIBA qualifiers this week (not the same as signing with a professional team).
link to basketnews.com
With seeding not meaning as much as it used to the regular season has lost it’s zing…
But an in season tournament is going to serve as a distraction to the regular season, not enhance it…