Trade Deadline: Evaluating NBA Buyout Options

Who are the top options across the NBA that are available in the buyout market?

The NBA trade deadline has officially passed, and it's time for the aftermath to continue and shake up the league. While it'll mostly be small moves, contenders can often use the buyout market after the trade deadline to bolster up their depth and add solid role players to increase their title chances.

This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder is on pace to be one of the top seeds in the Western Conference heading into the playoffs as they currently hoist the top seed in the conference. With this, they could be a contender for multiple buyout candidates as they have two available roster spots. 

Here is a list of available options across the NBA in the buyout market

Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie is arguably the biggest name in the buyout market. He was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Toronto Raptors in a swap with Dennis Schroder in a move that doesn't quite shake things up too much for either team.

The Raptors are waiving Dinwiddie, allowing him to hit the open market and join a contender. Of course, the Thunder is among the list of teams that could be competing for a title come the season's end. Still, the two teams might not be an ideal fit for each other as the Thunder still has plenty of depth at the guard position.

Robin Lopez

For the crowd of Thunder fans lobbying for the team to pick up a big man, Lopez could be just that for the team. He's a traditional big and veteran presence, though is play style wouldn't quite compliment the team too, too well.

Lopez was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Sacramento Kings, who are waiving him and allowing him to hit the market.

Marcus Morris

Morris was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Indiana Pacers, who re-routed him to the San Antonio Spurs who are waiving him. He could be a viable option as a small ball big-man to help on the boards while providing versatility, which would compliment the Thunder well.

His brother, Markieff, was picked up by the Thunder in the buyout market over half a decade ago to beef up the team's playoff rotation when both Russell Westbrook and Paul George were on the team.

Danuel House

While the Thunder added Gordon Hayward for wing depth, House is a fun buyout candidate who is capable of playing in a playoff rotation. He was traded from the 76ers to Detroit Pistons before being waived.

Joe Harris

Just like House, Harris was waived by the Pistons. The spacing Harris provides will also be coveted by many contenders as having that production off the bench can open up the floor and allow an offense to flow much, much better.

The Thunder having even more spacing not eh bench wouldn't be a negative thing by any means.

Killian Hayes

Again, the Thunder is fine at guard depth, but the former No. 7 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft was waived by the Pistons as he would like a change of scenery. It makes sense for both sides, but to see where Hayes is coveted by teams will be intriguing.

Victor Oladipo

The Thunder traded Oladipo to the Houston Rockets ahead of the season. While he's been returning from an injury suffered in last year's playoffs, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Steven Adams. 

The Thunder front office is very complimentary of Oladipo and the two sides have a great partnership. His return to Oklahoma City would be quite intriguing and would provide some quality depth and insurance come playoff time.

Cory Joseph

Joseph was waived by the Golden State Warriors to create cap space, but, as mentioned, the Thunder doesn't need anymore guard depth. To trade for Hayward, they moved on from Tre Mann and Vasilije Micic, proving they're set at guard depth.

Thaddeus Young

After being paired with Spencer Dinwiddie in the trade from the Raptors to the Nets, Brooklyn waived both Dinwiddie and Young. He could provide a veteran presence for a team trying to make a deep playoff run.

James Bouknight

A lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Bouknight is a young player that teams can take a chance on as there is still time to develop his game. He wasn't dealt a fair hand in Charlotte and didn't quite have the opportunity to display his potential behind LaMelo Ball. 

Still, the Thunder doesn't need to add anymore young guards, hence why Tre Mann was shipped to Charlotte in the two teams' trade.

Danilo Gallinari

The former Thunder has made his way around the league this season, and the last time the Thunder played playoff basketball, Gallinari was a starter for the team. His return would be a full circle moment as the team is set to return to postseason play with high aspirations.

Chimezie Metu

At 6-foot-9, Metu is a 26-year-old big man that many Thunder fans will likely pull for to provide backup big-man minutes behind Chet Holmgren. 

Frank Ntilikina

Ntilikina has watched his role in the NBA deteriorate over the years, and finding his next role might be difficult as he needs somewhere where he can play backup point guard minutes, and the Thunder doesn't have that to offer.

Implications

The Thunder has two roster spots after adding Gordon Hayward to the lineup. They saw Davis Bertans, Tre Mann and Vasilije Micic be traded to the Charlotte Hornets. Now they've got roster flexibly and can pursue any of the players on the buyout market.

There will be minimal competition for Dinwiddie and Harris, as both players made more on their salary than the Non-Taxpayer MLE, which makes them ineligible to sign with certain teams.

Here is a list of teams who were above the first tax apron and can't sign those two players.

Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. This eliminates some competition in the market for the two players and gives the Thunder some leverage, should they decide to pursue either of the two payers.

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