A Look at Potential NBA Buyout Candidates for the 2020 Season

2025-11-21 12:00

As I sit here watching the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, I can't help but draw parallels between the world of international volleyball and our beloved NBA. The recent performance of Alas Pilipinas Men's captain making that smashing comeback from injury in their tournament-opening loss to Tunisia got me thinking about NBA veterans who might be looking for their own comeback opportunities through the buyout market this 2020 season. You see, in both sports, there's something special about watching experienced players return to form, finding new opportunities to contribute meaningfully to teams chasing championships.

The NBA buyout market has become this fascinating secondary marketplace that often flies under the radar of casual fans, but for those of us who follow the league closely, it's where championship puzzles sometimes find their final pieces. I've always believed that the period following the trade deadline through early March creates this unique ecosystem where veteran players and contending teams find mutual benefit. What makes this season particularly interesting is the unusual combination of aging stars on non-competitive teams and the financial landscape created by the league's current collective bargaining agreement. Teams like the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers are carrying about $47 million in dead money between them on players who might be better suited contributing elsewhere.

Now, let me tell you about a pattern I've noticed over my years covering the league – the best buyout candidates typically share three characteristics: they're on expiring contracts, they play for teams clearly out of playoff contention, and they possess specific skills that playoff teams lack. Andre Drummond immediately comes to mind, and I know some fans might disagree with me here, but I think he could be transformative for the right contender. The numbers don't lie – before the season paused, he was averaging 17.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game. Sure, his defense has limitations, but for a team like the Celtics who've been struggling with interior presence, grabbing 32% of available offensive rebounds when he's on the court is nothing to sneeze at.

Then there's the Evan Turner situation that really fascinates me. He's making approximately $18.6 million this season, and while his stats don't jump off the page at 3.3 points per game, I've always appreciated his basketball IQ and playmaking ability. He's the kind of veteran who understands spacing and can run a second-unit offense effectively – qualities that become increasingly valuable during playoff runs when every possession matters. I remember watching him in Portland and thinking how his game would age well because it wasn't reliant on athleticism.

What many fans don't realize is how much the buyout market has evolved strategically. Teams aren't just looking for the best available player anymore – they're searching for specific skill sets that address particular weaknesses. The Rockets, for instance, could really use another wing defender after losing Luc Mbah a Moute, and I think someone like Maurice Harkless could be perfect for them. He's not going to light up the scoreboard, but his defensive versatility would fit nicely into Mike D'Antoni's system. I've counted at least seven contenders who could use his particular skill set, which creates an interesting bidding war scenario despite the veteran minimum constraints.

The financial aspect of buyouts often gets overlooked in public discussion. When a player like Jeff Teague gets bought out from his $19 million contract, there's this complex negotiation about how much money he's willing to leave on the table to reach free agency. From conversations I've had with agents, most players in this situation typically leave between $2-4 million on the table, which teams then spread across their cap sheets in various creative ways. It's this unspoken ecosystem that operates parallel to the main transaction market.

Personally, I'm keeping a particularly close eye on the point guard market. Reggie Jackson's situation in Detroit seems increasingly untenable, and I've heard from sources close to the situation that there's mutual interest in a separation. His 15.4 points and 4.2 assists per game would be valuable for any contender needing backcourt depth, though I have concerns about his efficiency metrics – his 42% shooting from the field needs improvement. Still, in limited minutes off the bench, he could provide that scoring punch that so many playoff teams crave when their starters need rest.

The international basketball world we saw in that Philippines-Tunisia match demonstrates how veteran leadership can impact games beyond pure statistics, and the same principle applies to NBA buyout candidates. There's intangible value in adding players who understand playoff basketball, who know how to prepare for specific opponents, and who can mentor younger players during the grueling postseason journey. I've always valued these "locker room guys" more than most analysts – their impact might not show up in the box score, but winning organizations recognize their importance.

Looking at the landscape holistically, I'd estimate that roughly 12-15 players will change teams through buyouts this season, with about 8 of them landing meaningful rotation spots on playoff teams. The timing is crucial – players need to be bought out by March 1st to be eligible for other teams' playoff rosters, which creates this compressed negotiation period that favors players with clear market value. From what I'm hearing around the league, we might see more movement than usual this year because several contending teams have open roster spots and specific needs they couldn't address at the trade deadline.

As the season progresses toward what promises to be an unpredictable playoffs, these buyout acquisitions could very well determine who raises the Larry O'Brien trophy in June. The margin between championship and disappointment is often razor-thin, and having the right veteran contributor off the bench might make all the difference in a crucial Game 5 or 6. Just like that Alas Pilipinas captain fighting through injury to make an impact, these NBA veterans getting second chances could write compelling comeback stories of their own when the games matter most.