On Thursday, the league wrapped up one of the craziest NBA trade deadline weeks ever.
Future Hall of Famers Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and Jimmy Butler all found new homes, as did All-Stars De’Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram, Andrew Wiggins, and Khris Middleton.
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A variety of contending teams added intriguing non-All-Star depth, as well, with forward De’Andre Hunter, center Mark Williams, wing KJ Martin, forward Caleb Martin, combo forward Kyle Kuzma, point guard Dennis Schröder, 3-and-D swingman Max Christie, and center Drew Eubanks all landing with playoff hopefuls.
Now, clubs could look to shore up their depth through another remaining mechanism for acquiring veteran talent: the buyout market. Beyond promoting two-way players or signing international pieces, the buyout market is the best resource left for teams.
Bruce Brown, who was reportedly moved to the New Orleans Pelicans to match salaries in the Toronto Raptors’ acquisition of Brandon Ingram, is easily the top name on this hypothetical list.
The 28-year-old combo guard is currently making $23 million on an expiring contract and is the very definition of a win-now player.
Although he had been floated as a possible fit for the team with whom he won a title in 2023, the Denver Nuggets, CBA rules would restrict his ability to sign with his old franchise — unless Denver makes some cuts, anyway.
Per league insider Yossi Gozlan, Brown, Brogdon, and Simmons number among three of the four possible top buyout market contenders who are earning more than the league’s $12.8 million mid-level exception.
Potential buyout candidates with salaries above the $12.8 million mid-level:
Malcolm Brogdon
Bruce Brown
Ben Simmons
Bojan BogdanovicThe Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Bucks, Wolves, Knicks, and Suns wouldn’t be able to sign these players since they’re above the first apron.
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) February 6, 2025
Thus, capped-out playoff hopefuls like the 36-15 Boston Celtics, the 34-17 New York Knicks Knicks, the Denver Nuggets, the 29-19 Los Angeles Lakers, the 27-22 Milwaukee Bucks, the 28-23 Minnesota Timberwolves, and the 25-25 Phoenix Suns — all of whom are above the league’s first luxury tax apron — cannot acquire any of them, as of this writing.
This year, the Miami product averaged 8.4 points on .435/.306/.897 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 18 healthy games for Toronto. He is a versatile guard who proved to be a critical sixth man on that Nuggets title team, capable of defending multiple positions and functioning as a 6-foot-4 role man in pick-and-role actions.
Like Brown, Malcolm Brogdon is on a pricey expiring deal and has yet to be officially bought out.
Thanks to the Washington Wizards’ acquisition of Brogdon’s former Boston Celtics teammate, 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, Brogdon is looking incredibly expendable for a tanking Washington team looking to duck the first apron itself, sources have informed Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
After acquiring Marcus Smart at the trade deadline, Malcolm Brogdon becomes a key buyout target around the league, league sources told @ClutchPoints.
Should Brogdon be bought out, the LA Clippers loom large here, reporting with @TomerAzarly.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 6, 2025
The 6-foot-4 veteran combo guard, who’s been honored as the 2017 Rookie of the Year and the 2023 Sixth Man of the Year during a decorated nine-year pro tenure, has struggled with injury issues across the past few seasons. In 21 bouts for Washington, the 32-year-old has averaged 13.1 points on .437/.314/.866 shooting splits, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists a night.
The Boston Celtics flipped reserve shooting guard Jaden Springer to the Houston Rockets for some massive cap relief. Houston promptly waived the defense-first wing, making him a free agent.
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It’s a shame. The springy 22-year-old out of Tennessee averaged 1.7 points on .353/.316/.714 shooting splits, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.5 steals a night during his 26 contests for the reigning champs. He had shown flashes of intriguing upside when given more minutes on a loaded Boston roster and still has major upside as a defender.
Former No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons has fallen mightily from his Philadelphia 76ers halcyon days.
The 28-year-old former three-time All-Star, who has been plagued by back issues for years, is on an expiring $40.3 million maximum deal. He’ll be lucky to make more than the veteran’s minimum next season.
Simmons remains a solid defender when healthy and engaged, although he’s certainly no longer at his prime All-Defensive Team level. His offense has cratered, but as a buyout signing, whatever contending squad picks him up would presumably appreciate that he’s being added for what he can contribute on the other end of the floor.
25-year-old point guard Trey Jones was acquired by the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal between Chicago, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Sacramento Kings, which saw former two-time All-Star swingman Zach LaVine shipped to Sacramento and All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox.
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Jones is on an expiring $9.1 million contract and is a solid ballhandler. He joins a crowded Chicago backcourt that may be fairly hostile terrain when it comes to logging major minutes.
In a reduced role behind Chris Paul on the Spurs, he had been averaging just 4.4 points on .484/.308/.758 shooting splits, 3.7 assists (against 0.8 turnovers) and 2.1 rebounds.
Other veterans who have been or seem likely to be cut include forwards P.J. Tucker, Cam Reddish, and Torrey Craig, plus well-traveled guards Josh Richardson, Monte Morris, Seth Curry, and Reggie Jackson.
It’s possible that even someone like former 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who was signed to a one-year deal to start for the Spurs and will now take a backseat to 27-year-old trade acquisition Fox, could become available. But we’ll believe that when we see it. Were that actually to happen, he would be an easy No. 2 on this list, behind only Brown.
More NBA News:
Grizzlies Trading Marcus Smart to Wizards in Blockbuster Deal
Rockets Land Veteran Center Cody Zeller in Massive Deal
Cavaliers Land De’Andre Hunter in Blockbuster Trade with Hawks
Suns Land Cody Martin from Hornets in Massive Jusuf Nurkic Trade
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