After Rockets general manager Rafael Stone confirmed in a Friday press conference that Houston will simply waive John Wall, with no buyout required, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said during an appearance on NBA Today (YouTube link) that Danny Green would welcome a similar arrangement.
Both Wall and Green were acquired by Houston as salary-matching chips in the team’s Eric Gordon trade on Thursday. It’s unclear if Green would be willing to give up money as part of a buyout agreement.
If Green does become a free agent, teams like the Celtics and Cavaliers would be among those with interest, according to Wojnarowski. Woj also mentions “Los Angeles” as a potential Green suitor, though it’s unclear if he means the Lakers, the Clippers, or both — they each have an open spot on their 15-man roster.
Here’s more on the NBA’s buyout market:
- Jazz general manager Justin Zanik told reporters on Friday that no decisions have been made yet on Russell Westbrook‘s future and that the veteran guard is open to the idea of playing for Utah to finish the season, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic. Westbrook is considered a strong candidate to be bought out.
- Wojnarowski said today on NBA Today (YouTube link) that if Westbrook does become available, the Bulls are a team to watch as a potential frontrunner. Head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said today that the team plans to “look at” the buyout market, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. The Clippers have also been linked to Westbrook, but Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times says the Clips aren’t expected to be overly active in the buyout market, adding that insiders around the league are skeptical about Westbrook landing with L.A.
- The Magic and Patrick Beverley are working on a contract buyout, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). The Magic said on Thursday that they weren’t requiring Beverley to report to the team, so that news comes as no surprise.
- Big man Serge Ibaka, who will be waived by Indiana, has some interest in joining the Heat, but it’s unclear if that interest is mutual, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
- The Sixers and Grizzlies will take decidedly different approaches to the buyout market. Sixers executive Daryl Morey said today that moving under the tax line at the trade deadline sets up the team to potentially pursue “multiple” targets on the buyout market, per Kyle Neuback of PhillyVoice.com. Grizzlies head of basketball operations Zach Kleiman, on the other hand, said he doesn’t envision his team looking at the buyout market, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
Of course Westbrook should be open to playing out the rest of the season in Utah. It makes no sense for him to leave a significant amount of money on the table. Also, Utah is still in the playoff race.
Having Westbrook will out a nail in Utahs playoff hopes
Typically when a player is bought out, they only give up the prorated portion they will sign for on a veteran’s min contract.
Salaries this season
Conley + Beasley + Vanderbilt = 42 million
Westbrook = $47 million
Ainge pays additional $5 million for this deal?
Did the Lakers hurt Westbrook’s future career?
Westbrook is not a useful player for a team that has deep aspirations. Being a Laker has nothing to do with it. The bigger question is why does he now feel like his last TWO coaches disrespected him?
Conley has a partial guaranteed, Beasley has a team option, Vando isn’t guaranteed or very little, compared to no guaranteed salary for Westbrook. Jazz wanted flexibility.
I do think it would be fun to see Westbrook play for the Jazz. Would be a lot less pressure for him, at least. There’s no expectations to win. Sounds like he kinda likes that idea. Probably will depend on which other teams show interest and the role he’ll play.
I hate Jerry Reinsdorf
It’s not Reinsdorf’s fault. This mess was created by AKME. They used up all of the draft capital before creating a well balanced team. They’re over-valuing Coby White and PWill. They under-valued Markannen and basically gave him away. He was always offensively talented even in his worst BULLS moments. He was also the victim of terrible coaching. The LAKERS were basically in the same boat that the BULLS are in. No draft picks, not much tradeable talent. But when you know what you’re doing you can pull off miracles instead of praying for them.
Lakers.
I feel like the lakers did Westbrook wrong he helped win a lot of games they almost lost but he stepped up. Why are they holding onto Schroeder he’s not that good ova Westbrook. And now there bringing in D low and others which will make them to crowded. They could have traded AD.he’s not helping much lately. Last time they got all those guys then let them go wen they weren’t winning. Nunn was good.
I feel like the lakers did Westbrook wrong he helped win a lot of games they almost lost but he stepped up. Why are they holding onto Schroeder he’s not that good ova Westbrook. And now there bringing in D low and others which will make them to crowded. They could have traded AD.he’s not helping much lately. Last time they got all those guys then let them go wen they weren’t winning. Nunn was good.I have not said this before it’s the first time
Westbrook is a locker room cancer. He can’t shoot and is a turnover machine. He can’t even be trusted to hit free throws. They picked up some very nice role players and shedded a Prima Dona.
I don’t think Westbrook will ever step foot in a Jazz locker room.
He might…
They have minutes for him, and when you think about it, who else really wants him right now? There is no easy fit. Maybe Chicago…
I didn’t think so either until today. He said he’s open to playing for the Jazz. That’s not something you say when you want to leave.
The Jazz were transparent with him, according to Windy. Probably appreciates that.
Maybe he wants to be a vet on a young team? Would be a lot more fun than all the Lakers drama or possibly on another vet team.
Has Wall been hurt most of the year or just underperforming?
Danny Green would be incredibly lucky for the Lakers to get
Ibaka would make sense with Phoenix, Brooklyn, GS, and the Heat, among a couple of others, like Portland, and new orleans
Heat need to use their 2 roster spots to answer the issue at smallball 5 and at the 4. Ibaka isn’t a smallball 5 necessarily, but he does space the floor, so it’s at least an option to consider
Hope to god Riley has a plan bigger than Serge no offense