Following the chaos of the NBA trade deadline, the NBA buyout market might feel like an afterthought. Yet, many teams manage to find gems in the buyout market. Yes, most of the guys that get bought out and signed by another team make little to no impact. This year, one of the first buyout signings is Alex Len to the Los Angeles Lakers. LA is thin at center after the Anthony Davis–Luka Doncic trade, and Len should get plenty of opportunities to contribute.
Often, the hype for the buyout market is overblown. It is hard to find someone who is going to make an impact. Are you curious to find out about the exceptions to that? Can you remember a player signed in the NBA buyout market who turned a team around or was a major contributor? Let’s take a look at the history of the buyout market.
NBA Buyout Market, Worth it or Not? These Players Prove it is
Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli, Philadelphia 76ers, 2018
These two made the buyout market a thing. Teams began seriously thinking about the buyout market, although we will see that there have been better signings before that. The Sixers lost in the second round, but Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli were very important role players for the team down the stretch.
They helped Philly get the third seed and into the second round. The Hawks tried to trade them. But they failed to do so and ultimately bought them out, and Philly jumped at the opportunity. The two combined averages of 24.4 points and shot 37.7% from three, however, they had a rough series against the Boston Celtics.
Chris Andersen, Miami Heat, 2013
We might not consider this a buyout, but the fact remains that Chris Andersen was signed in the middle of the season. In July, the Nuggets waived the Birdman using the amnesty clause. In January 2013, the Heat got him on a 10-day contract, another 10-day, and then for the remainder of the season.
The Birdman went 15-15 in Games 1-5 against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, including 7-7 in Game 1. That set a franchise playoff record. He reached the Finals for the first time with the Heat and played a solid role against the Spurs as LeBron James won his first NBA title.
Deron Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers 2017
Cleveland Cavaliers fans expected a lot more from Deron Williams than they got. He played so badly in the 2017 Finals that no team signed him after that. But to be fair, he joined to be a backup to Kyrie Irving and played a solid role. It was a desperate attempt by Ty Lue, and it didn’t make a huge impact. In the Finals, he was 2-16 from the field and 1-9 from the three-point range. While most of this list focuses on buyout players who made a strong impact, Williams is an example of a big name buyout player who didn’t totally pan out.
Joe Johnson, Miami Heat, 2016
The Miami Heat have a history of finding diamonds in the rough. They have proven that with young players and veterans in the NBA buyout market. Joe Johnson was declining when the Heat snatched him on the market. Yet, he averaged 13.4 points on 51.8% shooting from the floor and 41.7% from three-point range. He helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals, scoring 10+ points in 11 of 14 playoff games.
Enes Kanter, Portland Trail Blazers, 2019
Most fans might not remember it, but Enes Kanter had a stretch playing for the Portland Trail Blazers when he looked like a legit starting center. The Blazers might not make a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals without him. He was particularly impactful without Jusuf Nurkic. The Knicks waived Kanter, and he signed with the Blazers. In Portland, he averaged 11.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He was the third scorer and best rebounder on the team. In one of the playoff games, he recorded 20+ points and 18+ rebounds.
Derek Fisher, Oklahoma City Thunder, 2012
Derek Fisher was a champion before coming to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He knew how to win, and his veteran presence was crucial to the young Thunder team. He had three 10+ point games in the sweep of the Dallas Mavericks and then helped the Thunder eliminate the Lakers. In the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, Fisher had two clutch shots in Game 6 to help OKC advance. He averaged only 6.3 points in 22 minutes of action, but he was a great locker-room presence and leader.
Peja Stojakovic, Dallas Mavericks, 2011
One might say that the Dallas Mavericks began this three-point revolution in the NBA. On their way to their first championship, the Mavericks scorched teams from behind the arc. Peja Stojakovic was a huge part of that run. In 25 games in the regular season, Peja averaged 8.6 points on 40% shooting from behind the arc. His numbers dropped slightly in the playoffs to 7.1 points on 37.7% shooting from three-point range. His best games came against the Lakers, scoring 15 and 21 in Games 3 and 4.
Markieff Morris, Los Angeles Lakers, 2020
LeBron and the Lakers might hope Alex Len has a similar impact. When they signed Markieff Morris on the buyout market, he played the four and small ball five, a perfect fit next to LeBron and AD. He was immensely valuable for the Lakers, helping them beat the Miami Heat in six games in the NBA Finals. The team re-signed him as a free agent in the summer. He was the best shooter in the playoffs, shooting 42% from behind the arc.
Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs, 2012
Boris Diaw was a Swiss army knife of a player who had a dominant stretch playing for the San Antonio Spurs. He didn’t help them win a championship the first year, but the team got there in 2014. He was instrumental in the Spurs’ “Avengers” tour in the 2013-14 season. His passing ability made the Spurs a dominant team, averaging 2.8 assists in the regular season and 3.4 in the playoffs.
Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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