It’s officially NBA Buyout Season!
The NBA buyout season occurs after the trade deadline, allowing teams to negotiate contract buyouts with players who may no longer fit their roster plans. These players become free agents, allowing contending teams to add veteran talent for the playoff push. Miami has a strong history of making impactful additions through the buyout market. Notable past acquisitions include Kevin Love, Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen, and Joe Johnson. The Miami Heat, now under the first apron, can sign any bought-out player without salary restrictions.
While this flexibility presents exciting possibilities, the Heat will be very selective. With 15 players currently on standard contracts, adding a player from the buyout market would mean releasing a current roster member. This could put players such as Keshad Johnson and Alec Burks at risk. However, Miami sees value in keeping Burks for his shooting and sees developmental potential in Johnson, who holds a $1.9 million team option for next season.
Competitive Landscape in the Buyout Market
Seven teams—Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, New York, and Minnesota—are unable to sign any player who started the season earning more than $12.8 million. Why? because those teams are over the first apron. This limitation gives the Heat a competitive advantage in pursuing top-tier buyout candidates.
However, the market continues to shift, with indications that New Orleans has no plans to buy out Bruce Brown—a player Miami has shown interest in—while Washington is expected to keep Malcolm Brogdon on its roster.
Potential Buyout Candidates
As reported by The Athletic, several players could become available, including:
- Guards: D’Angelo Russell, Tre Jones, Delon Wright, Patty Mills, Bones Hyland, Seth Curry, Josh Richardson
- Forwards: Chris Boucher, P.J. Tucker, Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish, Jaden Springer, MarJon Beauchamp, Javonte Green
- Bigs: Larry Nance, Ben Simmons, Mo Bamba, Daniel Theis, Monty Morris, Alex Len, Cody Zeller
Ben Simmons is currently engaged in buyout negotiations with the Brooklyn Nets. However, he is expected to meet with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers, making it unlikely that he will be a viable option for the Heat.
Final Thoughts
While the Heat is positioned well to capitalize on the buyout market, their front office remains focused on making calculated decisions. The flexibility gained by moving under the first apron allows Miami to be more aggressive, but they will only act if the right player becomes available.
Who do you think the Heat should target in the buyout market? Let us know in the comments!
