Mideason Buyout Acquisitions Ranked Based on Impact

The buyout market in the NBA has always sounded slightly odd on the surface. A player willing to sacrifice part of his contract to join another team? The situation seems risky. 

They don’t even know if they will get signed or how big their role will be. However, the buyout market is arguably the most active it’s ever been, and plenty of big names have been picked up. Teams are still signing guys, but most of the biggest names have already signed with new teams (Apologies to John Wall, Will Barton, Stanley Johnson, and Serge Ibaka, who remain unsigned).

In this article, we’ll go through buyout acquisitions from most to least impactful. Let’s get started.

Russell Westbrook (Bought out by Utah Jazz; signed with L.A. Clippers)

by Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

If someone said five years ago that Westbrook (along with the unsigned Wall and another name we’ll be seeing soon on this list) would be bought out, you would probably think they were crazy, but a lot has happened in five years, and Russ is no longer playing at the MVP level that he was at the time.

Even though he has improved from last year, Westbrook has still been inconsistent and probably remains the league’s most divisive player. Despite this, he still has a lot of fans and friends, with new teammate and fellow L.A. native Paul George being one of them. This led to the Clippers signing him. 

The Clippers were playing well before the signing, and many saw the acquisition as concerning. Westbrook has often been viewed as a ball-dominant player with difficulty dealing with a complementary role. However, if any team can guide him into the right role, it is the Clippers since he will be playing with familiar faces in George, Eric Gordon, and Robert Covington under the guidance of the player-friendly Tyronn Lue.

Time will tell whether he meshes well with the team, but his signing has the biggest impact out of those on the buyout market easily. Because of it, Vegas has even decreased the odds of the Clippers winning the championship.

Patrick Beverley (Bought out by Orlando Magic; signed with Chicago Bulls)

by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI-USA TODAY SPORTS

I’m guessing Beverley probably isn’t too thrilled that he got traded, but he must be happy that he agreed to a buyout to sign with his hometown team. 

Many people are down on Beverley because of his inadequate play with the Lakers, but you only have to look as far back as last year to see that Beverley is an impactful player. Yeah, he doesn’t score many points, and his stats aren’t flashy, but he continues to be a great defender and an excellent locker-room presence. And guess what? That is just what the Bulls need.

The Bulls have looked like a soulless team lacking identity for most of the season, despite having some great players. Yes, they probably needed a power forward since they (unbelievably) only have two guys on their entire roster who can play the position. 

Yes, they already have a truckload of guards. However, they need a solid point guard who can start every night, and that’s what they got. I think it’s a low-risk, high-upside acquisition for the Bulls that will easily result in more passionate performances than the ones fans have witnessed lately.

Westbrook may have been the bigger name, but Beverley is probably the player that will prove the most necessary to his team. That could be up for debate, though, because next, we have…

Kevin Love (Bought out by Cleveland Cavaliers; signed with Miami Heat)

And now we have completed the Big Three of the buyout signings. Speaking of teams with a lack of power forwards, the Heat addressed that issue by going out and signing Love once he was available. He should start for them as the season goes on and could help the team with his three-point shooting alongside more inside-oriented stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

In 2017, people would have scoffed at Love being bought out, but the truth is that he became an afterthought in Cleveland after more than seven seasons with the team. He sustained a thumb injury earlier this season and began to struggle with his shot which was his calling card since he isn’t a particularly strong defender anymore.

The Heat pride themselves on strong defense, but the truth is that they can account for any weaknesses Love has on that side of the floor, as the team is stacked with good defenders. Additionally (and surprisingly), Love has shot better from three than some of the team’s designated shooters despite his struggles. In his time in Cleveland this season, Love shot the three at a higher percentage than Kyle Lowry, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and Duncan Robinson all have this year for the Heat.

Love should prove to be a key contributor for the Heat as they fight for a higher seed going into the playoffs.

Ranking the Rest and a Few Words on Each

Terrence Ross (Bought out by Orlando Magic; signed with Phoenix Suns)

After a long, long time, Ross’s tenure with the Magic is finally over. Thankfully, he gets to bring his instant offense to a title contender, and I think he will become the top shooting guard off the bench, decreasing the roles of Landry Shamet and Damion Lee in the process. Ross signing with the Suns is easily the most underrated move on the buyout market.

Danny Green (Bought out by Houston Rockets; signed with Cleveland Cavaliers)

A few years ago, this would have been a bigger deal, but this year, Green is a guy who can be counted on to play 15 minutes off the bench and hit a three or two while positively impacting the development and psyche of younger players. Green is an all-around professional who never has difficulty adjusting to his new environments. He is also no stranger to big games and big moments, so the Cavs definitely made the right move.

Reggie Jackson (Bought out by Charlotte Hornets; signed with Denver Nuggets)

If you have followed the Clippers for the last few years, then you know what Jackson is capable of when everything is going right for him. He is super hot and cold, making him a similar acquisition to the Terrence Ross one. This one feels a little more slight, though, since it doesn’t feel like the Nuggets will ever really need to play him big minutes, barring serious injuries to two of Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Bruce Brown.

Justin Holiday (Bought out by Houston Rockets; Signed with Dallas Mavericks)

Since Dorian Finney-Smith is no longer on the Mavericks, the team needed another forward. While Holiday is nowhere near the defender Finney-Smith was, he can hit threes at a decent rate. I can see him playing some big minutes for the Mavericks, but whether he actually should is a different discussion (I don’t think so).

R.J. Hampton (Bought out by Orlando Magic; Signed with Detroit Pistons)

A typical Pistons signing that is worth it for them as they continue to give new chances to prospects that have been tossed aside by other teams. In the best case scenario, Hampton adjusts well to a 18-20 minute a-night role.

Goga Bitadze (Bought out by Indiana Pacers; Signed with Orlando Magic)

As a player, I prefer Bitadze to Hampton. As a signing, the Hampton one makes far more sense. Hampton can take whatever minutes Corey Joseph or Alec Burks was playing eventually. On the other hand, Bitadze (again) has to fight with other young centers for minutes, so he won’t play. At least he isn’t unsigned, I guess.

Dewayne Dedmon (Bought out by San Antonio Spurs; Signed with Philadelphia 76ers)

I don’t like this at all. Sure, the center minutes when Embiid is on the bench have been underwhelming, but the solution is letting Paul Reed play more so that he can get accustomed to how to play the position well. He has been pretty strong at times. Montrezl Harrell isn’t the answer, and although Dedmon is a more traditional center from a physical standpoint, I don’t think he’ll be very good, either.

James Johnson (Bought out by Indiana Pacers; Re-signed by Indiana)

I don’t get the point of this one, nor do I care about it.