The time for trades has ended, but contenders searching for slight upgrades still have the ability to scour the buyout market.
As long as they are waived by March 1, buyout candidates are eligible to compete in the postseason. These kinds of players typically only fill small roles — otherwise they would have been traded — but in some cases, buyouts can make a big difference over the course of a playoff run.
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Think about guys like P.J. Brown on the 2008 Celtics or Chris Andersen on the 2013 Heat. They aren't the first names that come up when fans remember those championships, but they certainly had big moments on the way to titles.
With that said, let's temper expectations with these four buyout candidates, plus four more players who could possibly negotiate buyouts with their teams before Friday.
Available NBA buyout candidates
Carmelo Anthony — It would be a shame to see this future Hall of Famer slowly disappear from the league without any real ending to his career, but he doesn't seem to have a ton of options. Los Angeles emerged as a destination (again) after the Bulls waived Anthony. Unfortunately for Melo, the Lakers could use defenders rather than scorers, and he just isn't a great fit there at this point in his career.
Greg Monroe — The veteran center saw his minutes dwindle in Toronto. The Nets chose to waive Monroe after acquiring him at the trade deadline. Where does he go now? Perhaps he could serve as a backup big in the right rotation, but his defensive limitations make him a huge liability, even against second units.
Marcin Gortat — "The Polish Hammer" remains one of the NBA's best screeners, averaging a similar number of screen assists per game as Steven Adams and Al Horford. Gortat has reportedly expressed interest in joining the Warriors, though Golden State is showing patience and weighing all options.
Alex Abrines — This is a bit of an unusual situation. The Thunder waived Abrines so he could devote more time to a personal matter. If that matter is resolved and he is actually available, he could be a useful 3-point shooter off the bench, but it seems more likely he takes the rest of the season off and later returns to Oklahoma City.
Potential NBA buyout candidates
Robin Lopez, Bulls — Chicago has bounced back and forth on Lopez. The Bulls reportedly refused to let him go as part of a buyout, but they also appeared willing to trade him prior to the deadline. Then the Bulls and Lopez were expected to discuss a contract buyout once the trade deadline passed. It's difficult to predict how this will end, but he is averaging more than 30 minutes over his last six games. It wouldn't be surprising to see him stay in Chicago.
DeAndre Jordan, Knicks — He isn't an All-NBA center these days, but Jordan could fill a void in the right environment. The Lakers are apparently eyeing Jordan as they make a playoff push, according to Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus, so that's at least one suitor on the board. A subplot to watch: Jordan, who is averaging 11.8 points and 12.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game since being traded to the Knicks, is a good friend of Kevin Durant. Part of a New York recruiting pitch?
Dewayne Dedmon, Hawks — During his time in Atlanta, Dedmon has turned himself into a modern big. He's shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the arc this season, and he's a solid defender who understands how to use his athleticism. The real question is whether Dedmon and the Hawks would really want to reach a buyout agreement. Dedmon is playing a lot — and playing well — with his current team, so it's possible he'll wait until free agency this summer to make a change.
JR Smith, Cavaliers — Following his awkward breakup with the Cavs back in November, Smith has stayed quiet. That probably won't change much. The Cavs aren't interested in buyout talks with Smith, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Cavs reportedly still view him as a trade asset. Things can always change quickly in this league, but don't expect Smith to suddenly jump on a playoff squad in 2019.
