The NBA waiver wire starts to get busy right around the trade deadline. Teams making trades often need to cut a player or two to clear a roster spot to accommodate their new additions, while teams unable to move a veteran on an expiring contract at the deadline may opt to buy them out of their deal a couple days later. Then, teams that want to take a flier on those veterans will create openings on their roster by waiving someone else.
The cycle ensures that plenty of new free agents hit the open market at this time of year, and while some of those players have quickly found new homes, there are some interesting new names on the list of current free agents.
Here’s a recap of the players who have been waived by NBA teams since the All-Star Game, along with details on whether or not they’re still available…
Waived and joined a new team:
- Matt Barnes: Waived by Kings, signed by Warriors
- Andrew Bogut: Waived by Sixers, signed by Cavaliers
- Brandon Jennings: Waived by Knicks, signed by Wizards
- Chasson Randle: Waived by Sixers, signed by Knicks
- Deron Williams: Waived by Mavericks, signed by Cavaliers
Waived and now a free agent:
- Omri Casspi: Waived by Pelicans
- Marcelo Huertas: Waived by Rockets
- Terrence Jones: Waived by Pelicans
- Lamar Patterson: Waived by Hawks
- Luis Scola: Waived by Nets
- Mike Scott: Waived by Suns
- Jared Sullinger: Waived by Suns
- Marcus Thornton: Waived by Nets
Waived and haven’t yet cleared waivers:
- Jose Calderon: Waived by Lakers, then signed and waived by Warriors on Wednesday.
- Danuel House: Waived by Wizards on Wednesday.
- Jordan McRae: Waived by Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Because all of these players were waived by the end of the day on March 1, they’ll all be eligible to participate in the playoffs with a new team. However, if any of them are cut again between now and the end of the regular season, they won’t retain their postseason eligibility.
I’d like to see Boston waive Young and Mickey to add a wing shooter/ 3 and D guy, and a rebounding rim protector. 3 and D guys don’t usually get cut since they’re good though. Casspi maybe? I don’t know what his shooting %’s look like. Casspi, Scola, Sullinger, Scott, and maybe McRae. Take a look at 2. Or cut Zeller and add Sully. I can’t see them making 3 moves, but adding one now for down the stretch along with Casspi whenever he gets healthy would give them a deeper rotation which would be huge in a playoff series.
Casspi is only a free agent because he broke his thumb. He’s still out 3-5 weeks. None of the players listed are 3 and D guys or rim protectors. Sully is fat and was trash in Toronto
And teams don’t need deeper rotations in the postseason. The rotations shrink, so it’s actually the opposite.
Right, I meant adding a quality player like Casspi would make their playoff rotation deeper. I know the rotations shrink, but that’s because of a quality drop off, which Casspi would not be. My point was that they should pick him up when he is healthy because he’s good. Sully is fat and would sadly become the best rebounder in Boston. I don’t like calling for them to get these guys. I’d rather have PJ Tucker and Noel, but they didn’t go get him. The team still has rebounding as a need and Casspi gives them a good rotation player.
They won’t make any moves, but I think Sullinger actually should be considered. Celtics still could use rebounding and Sully can at least provide that. If he can crack the rotation over Zeller or Jerebko, he could be considered.