Over the last month, several teams headed for the lottery have bought out and/or waived veteran players, allowing them to seek out new opportunities with playoff-bound clubs. Some of those players gave up some money to incentivize the arrangement for their old teams, while others were simply released outright.
Listed below is our round-up of the players who were bought out and/or waived, along with several players who were candidates to receive buyouts but ultimately stayed put.
While it’s still technically possible that players from that second group could be cut, they’ll no longer be playoff-eligible if they’re released now and sign with a new team down the stretch.
Veteran players who were bought out or released in February or on March 1 (chronological order):
- Greg Monroe, C: Waived by Suns; signed with Celtics.
- Quincy Pondexter, G/F: Waived by Bulls.
- Willie Reed, C: Waived by Bulls.
- Tony Allen, SG: Waived by Bulls.
- Marco Belinelli, SG: Waived by Hawks; signed with Sixers.
- Josh McRoberts, PF: Waived by Mavericks.
- Derrick Rose, PG: Waived by Jazz.
- Brandan Wright, F/C: Waived by Grizzlies; signed with Rockets.
- Joe Johnson, F: Waived by Kings; signed with Rockets.
- Ersan Ilyasova, PF: Waived by Hawks; signed with Sixers.
- Trevor Booker, PF: Waived by Sixers; signing with Pacers.
- Corey Brewer, G/F: Waived by Lakers; signing with Thunder.
- Shabazz Muhammad, SF: Waived by Timberwolves; signing with Bucks.
Buyout candidates who remained with their current teams (alphabetical order):
- Arron Afflalo, G/F (Magic)
- Vince Carter, SF (Kings)
- Mario Chalmers, PG (Grizzlies)
- Dante Cunningham, F (Nets)
- Channing Frye, PF (Lakers)
- Jarrett Jack, PG (Knicks)
- Brook Lopez, C (Lakers)
- Joakim Noah, C (Knicks)
- Nerlens Noel, C (Mavericks)
- Marreese Speights, F/C (Magic)