NBA's Top 5 Potential Buyout Candidates

Now that the trade deadline is done, it's officially Buy Out Season in the NBA. The first such move has already taken place, as a former three-time All-Star has been bought out and is planning his next move.

With that, it's time for a look at the Top 5 Potential Buyout Candidates, with the help of John Hollinger of The Athletic, and with an emphasis on the word potential.

Bruce Brown, New Orleans Pelicans

Sent to The Big Easy by the Toronto Raptors in the Brandon Ingram trade, it's been a rough time for Brown since he made the big decision to depart the NBA champion Denver Nuggets after the 2023 season and sign with Indiana. They dealt him to the Raptors in the Pascal Siakam trade, and now it sounds like the remainder of his $23M contract may be bought out by the Pels.

As Hollinger notes, "he’s re-established some of his value after struggling with knee injuries the last two years."

But alas, he cannot make his way back to the Nuggets on the buyout market, as that team is over the first apron.

D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets

Hollinger suggests that he might be a bit too good of a player for a team that's going all-in for the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes (i.e. tanking) this season. Since coming over from the LA Lakers earlier this season, Russell is averaging 14 points and 6.5 assists for the Nets, and the team has won four of its last five, playing far better with D'Lo on the court than off it. Perhaps a buyout could get the Nets back to their tanking plans.

Malcolm Brogdon, Washington Wizards

As with Russell, Brodgon is another point guard that many contenders could use as a nice scoring guard off the bench down the stretch. IF he can stay healthy, which isn't something he's been able to do in his NBA career. But it isn't clear as yet whether the Wizards will buy him out, says Hollinger. One report suggests they want to hold onto him as a mentor for the younger players.

Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls

He arrived in the Windy City at the deadline as part of the De’Aaron Fox trade, and as Hollinger notes in predicting whether he'll be bought out, "never underestimate what the Bulls might do for a chance to save some money."

Larry Nance Jr., Atlanta Hawks

On an expiring deal, Nance is currently third in line for minutes at the 'five', and also behind at least two others in the rotation at the 'four' in Atlanta. Do the Hawks do him a solid and buy him out, giving him a chance to "play more meaningful basketball" as Hollinger puts it?