The NBA trade deadline has passed. For most, that means it\u2019s time to take a breath and reset. For NBA front offices, they get right back to work.<\/p>\n
The buyout market is the less-glamorous cousin to the trade deadline. Coming off a slow-to-start, but then utterly wild 2026 NBA trade season, the buyout market might seem a bit underwhelming.<\/p>\n
That said, there will still be some recognizable names on the buyout market\u2026maybe.<\/p>\n
As they have for the past couple of seasons now, teams are working under tighter rules in the buyout market. Gone are the days of the most expensive teams filling out their rosters by snagging a high-salaried player who gave up the equivalent to a prorated veteran minimum to chase a ring.<\/p>\n
Under the current CBA, teams who are over the first or second apron are restricted from signing a player after a buyout (or waiver) whose previous contract was greater than the Non-Taxpayer MLE for the current season. For this year, that\u2019s $14,104,000.<\/p>\n
So, on one side, you have a handful of contenders out of the mix to add a formerly high-salaried player. On the player side, they may be less likely to take a buyout if their options for the next team are limited.<\/p>\n
For example, if you are making $20 million-plus, but your options are limited of where to go next, you may be better off staying where you are. This is especially true of players who have full Bird rights as a free agent in the summer of 2026. That could lock in a bigger contract via re-signing or a sign-and-trade than is prudent to give up by taking a buyout.<\/p>\n
The same is true for teams. If they are capped out, they might prefer to have a player on an expiring deal, as opposed to buying them out. Similar to the player side, a team would rather be able to use that player\u2019s Bird rights to bump up their salary in an outgoing sign-and-trade deal.<\/p>\n
So, if you add it all up, the buyout market has changed over the last few years. Several players will still hit the market, as their contract situations now and moving forward won\u2019t prevent them from taking a buyout.<\/p>\n
As of this writing, the following teams are over the first or second apron and will be restricted from signing a player who makes more than $14,104,000 currently:<\/p>\n
\nCleveland Cavaliers
\nGolden State Warriors
\nNew York Knicks
<\/p>\n
In addition, the following teams are over the luxury tax line. There\u2019s no restriction on them adding a buyout player, but teams are often reluctant to add to their tax bill:<\/p>\n
\nHouston Rockets
\nLA Clippers
\nLos Angeles Lakers
\nMinnesota Timberwolves
<\/p>\n
With all of that in mind, here the players to watch on the 2026 Buyout Market. Note: some of these players have already been waived. We\u2019ll note where those waivers have happened or reported.<\/p>\n
(This list is presented in alphabetical order. There is no ranking involved.)<\/p>\n
Kyle Anderson<\/a> (Memphis Grizzlies, PF, 32 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $9.2 million<\/p>\n Anderson hasn\u2019t played a lot this year and was a salary-matching part of the trade that sent Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah. When Anderson has played, he\u2019s shown he can still be productive. As the Grizzlies lean into rebuilding, they may let Anderson go to join a playoff team. If a team needs a veteran in the frontcourt, Anderson could be a nice pickup for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n Malaki Branham<\/a> (Charlotte Hornets, SG, 22 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $4.9 million<\/p>\n Branham went on quite the journey at the trade deadline. He was swapped from the Washington Wizards to the Dallas Mavericks to Charlotte Hornets. Branham could stick in Charlotte, but the red-hot Hornets may prefer to have an open roster spot to convert a two-way player or add a veteran after a buyout. Branham can shoot and score a bit, but the Hornets backcourt is stuffed full, making him unlikely to stick beyond the rest of this season at most.<\/p>\n Mike Conley<\/a> (Free Agent (waived by Charlotte Hornets), PG, 38 years old)<\/p>\n Former Salary: $10.7 million<\/p>\n Conley was waived by the Hornets. Because he was traded a second time after the Minnesota Timberwolves sent him to the Chicago Bulls, Conley could return to Minnesota. That may even be the plan here. If not, Conley will have a wide market for teams looking for a veteran point guard.<\/p>\n Pat Connaughton<\/a> (Free Agent (waived by Charlotte Hornets), SG\/SF, 33 years old)<\/p>\n Former Salary: $9.4 million<\/p>\n Connaughton didn\u2019t play much for the Hornets before he was waived to allow Charlotte to complete their deadline moves. As recently as a couple of seasons ago, Connaughton was a rotation player on playoff teams for the Milwaukee Bucks. If a team needs a veteran shooter (or at least a former shooter) for their bench, they could take a look at Connaughton.<\/p>\n Eric Gordon<\/a> (Memphis Grizzlies, SG, 37 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $2.3 million<\/p>\n Gordon was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Memphis Grizzlies in a tax-avoidance deal. The Grizzlies are reportedly going to waive the veteran shooting guard. Gordon has barely played this season for the Sixers. When he got semi-regular minutes for Philadelphia last season, Gordon still hit 41% from deep on 3.5 three-point attempts per game. If a team is desperate for shooting, Gordon could make for a sensible pickup. Just don\u2019t expect much beyond shooting at this point.<\/p>\n Haywood Highsmith<\/a> (Free Agent (waived by Brooklyn Nets), SF\/PF, 29 years old)<\/p>\n Former Salary: $5.6 million<\/p>\n Highsmith hasn\u2019t played yet this season, as he\u2019s been recovering from offseason knee surgery since August. However, it was reported that Highsmith is just about ready to make his season debut. When we last saw Highsmith, he was a rugged defender who could make shots. Not your typical 3&D wing, but more of a shooting combo forward. He\u2019ll have plenty of offers from playoff teams who need some shooting and defense at the forward spot.<\/p>\n Isaac Jones<\/a> (Free Agent (waived by Detroit Pistons), PF\/C, 25 years old)<\/p>\n Former Salary: $1.9 million<\/p>\n The Pistons waived Jones when they needed a roster spot to complete a deadline acquisition. Jones didn\u2019t see much NBA action with Detroit, but was solid in the G League. He\u2019s tough and athletic, if a bit undersized. Keep an eye on rebuilding teams with an open roster spot that could bring Jones in for a rest-of-season look.<\/p>\n DeAndre Jordan<\/a> (New Orleans Pelicans, C, 37 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $2.3 million<\/p>\n Jordan is a valuable locker-room voice at this point. The Pelicans value his presence with their young roster. However, Jordan may want to finish his career on a title contender. In addition, New Orleans could use a roster spot to convert two-way player Bryce McGowens, who has been a regular rotation player this season. If Jordan is waived, a playoff team with the need for center depth will likely give him a call, as he\u2019s well thought of around the league.<\/p>\n Kevin Love<\/a> (Utah Jazz, C, 37 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $4.2 million<\/p>\n Love has played a lot more for Utah than most expected he would. His shooting has slipped, which is an issue because Love is strictly a spot-up shooter now on offense. He can still rebound, so maybe a frontcourt-needy team will take a look. The Jazz also seem to like having Love around, so he may finish the season in Utah.<\/p>\n Khris Middleton<\/a> (Dallas Mavericks, SF\/PF, 34 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $33.3 million<\/p>\n This is our only player who can\u2019t be signed by the apron teams. It\u2019s also a bit of a weird situation for Middleton, where his Bird rights could be more valuable to him and the Mavericks than simply buying him out. But if Middleton does give back some money, a playoff contender will definitely pick him up. He\u2019s no longer a switchable wing, and is instead more of a small forward\/small-ball power forward. It took Middleton a while to get going for the Wizards this season, but he\u2019s found a good form recently. He\u2019s a still a smart ball-mover, can still shoot a little and has been in big playoff games for years. That will have interest for playoff contenders.<\/p>\n Georges Niang<\/a> (Memphis Grizzlies, PF, 32 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $8.2 million<\/p>\n Like Kyle Anderson, Niang was tossed into the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade to make the salary-matching math work. Niang hasn\u2019t played this year, as he\u2019s battled a foot injury. When we last saw him, Niang was a productive backup forward, who can also play some small-ball five. If he\u2019s healthy, Niang could help a team that needs some floor spacing and positional defense in their frontcourt.<\/p>\n Chris Paul<\/a> (Toronto Raptors, PG, 40 years old)<\/p>\n Current Salary: $2.3 million<\/p>\n Paul will reportedly be waived by the Toronto Raptors. From there, it\u2019s about two things: Does Paul still want to play? If so, where? This offseason, the veteran \u201cPoint God\u201d self-limited his market to West Coast teams, specifically those close to his Los Angeles home. If he\u2019s open to playing away from home, Paul will have no shortage of suitors. Just about any playoff team could use a veteran like him coming off their bench. There are also a few high-profile playoff teams that need another point guard. It\u2019s all up to Paul where, and if, he wants to play.<\/p>\n Mason Plumlee<\/a> (Free Agent (waived by Oklahoma City Thunder), C, 35 years old)<\/p>\n Former Salary: $2.3 million<\/p>\n Plumlee was waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder after being traded there from the Charlotte Hornets. He\u2019s also dealing with recovery from a groin injury. Plumlee is expected to be healthy by the end of the season, so he could provide veteran frontcourt depth for a playoff team. Plumlee is still a good screener and ball-mover, and is solid enough on the glass. For a depth big, you could do worse.<\/p>\n