Post-NBA Trade Deadline 2025 Buyout Candidates

With the NBA trade deadline now in the rearview mirror, some of the top teams in the league will turn to the buyout market for potential roster additions.

The main candidates for buyouts across the NBA are veterans who were recently traded, or those who have been languishing on the back end of rosters during the 2024-25 season.

The buyout market, though, is not a free-for-all because there are some restrictions within the salary cap.

Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers are among a collection of seven teams that can't sign a player making more than $12,822,000, per Spotrac.

The buyout transactions will trickle in over the weekend as teams reset their rosters ahead of the final stretch of the regular season.

Marcus Smart was shipped to the Washington Wizards from the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.

Smart only played in 19 games for the Grizzlies this season and is now on a Washington roster where there isn't much opportunity there for him.

Washington is committed to building through its young core and it would be foolish of the Wizards to give Smart playing time ahead of Jordan Poole, Bilal Coulibaly or Carlton Carrington.

Additionally, the Wizards already have a veteran ball handler in Malcolm Brogdon on their roster, so they likely have to choose between keeping one or the other on their roster.

Smart would provide value as a backup ball-handler for a few contenders. Golden State comes to mind as a fit since it just shipped away Dennis Schroder.

Smart is earning more than $12.8 million this season, per Spotrac, so he is off the board for a return to Boston, or a roster spot with the Lakers, Nuggets, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks and Suns.

Malcolm Brogdon fits the billing for a veteran option on the buyout market for the same reasons as Smart.

Washington shouldn't keep both of Brogdon and Smart because there's just no room for either player.

To be honest, there hasn't been much room for Brogdon in the first place during the 2024-25 regular season. He is averaging 24.1 minutes per game across 21 contests.

Brogdon only played 17 minutes on Wednesday despite the Wizards' roster being depleted after the Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas trades.

Brogdon might be harder to acquire because he is on a $22.5 million salary.

The good part about the former Indiana and Portland guard is that he is a free agent at the end of the season.

A rental veteran point guard could intrigue Philadelphia, who just let go of Reggie Jackson in a trade with Washington. Brogdon would be an upgrade over Kyle Lowry as the backup point guard for the 76ers.

Memphis might have interest in Brogdon, but it also would've been easier for the Grizzlies to swap Smart and Brogdon in its deal with Washington on Thursday instead of competing on the buyout market.

Bruce Brown landed in New Orleans as part of the return in the Brandon Ingram trade with Toronto.

Brown is on a $23 million contract for this season, so his list of potential suitors after a buyout is smaller than other candidates.

New Orleans could choose to keep Brown as part of its rebuilding phase around Zion Williamson, but the Pelicans have to make sure he fits within the rotation.

If the Pels choose the buyout route with Brown, Golden State could be a fascinating option as an upgrade from some of the young talent on the Warriors roster.

The Sixers might want some extra depth in the frontcourt to support Joel Embiid, Guershon Yabusele and others.

The Los Angeles Clippers could use some depth at forward as well as they look to push up from sixth in the Western Conference standings.

Perhaps the most fascinating name on the buyout market is Lonnie Walker.

According to Marc Stein, Walker has an escape clause in his contract with Zalgiris until February 18.

Walker excelled in the Euroleague this season and has been on NBA radars.

Walker would be an easier pickup for the Lakers, Celtics, Bucks and others because he does not have the high salary restrictions of other candidates.

With so few options available for teams restricted by salary cap space, Walker could receive a handful of phone calls in the next few days to see if he wants to return to the NBA.