UNC basketball fans voted on X, formerly known as Twitter, if Marvin Williams or Brandan Wright was the better player in Chapel Hill.
Marvin Williams and Brandan Wright were two of the best one-and-dones to play basketball at UNC.
Williams, who helped the Heels capture the 2005 NCAA Championship over Illinois, averaged 11.3 points per game and shot 50.6% from the field, while grabbing 6.6 rebounds per game in Chapel Hill. He was named 2004-2005 NCAA and ACC Rookie of theYear, plus he earned a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Drafted 2nd in the 2005 NBA Draft, Williams averaged 10.2 points per game across 16 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks.
Brandan Wright, who played at Carolina in 2006-2007, averaged 14.7 points per game on 64.6% shooting and 6.2 rebounds per game. Wright was ACC Rookie of the Year, 2nd Team All-ACC and a member of the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Drafted 8th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, Wright averaged seven points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game across 14 season with the Golden State Warriors, New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets.
If either Williams or Wright stayed at Carolina for more than one season, it remains to be seen if there’d be any more titles for the boys in baby blue.
Tar Heel fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to vote for who they wished played multiple years in Chapel Hill:
Former UNC basketball standout Marvin Williams has joined the Charlotte Hornets staff for the upcoming season.
A former UNC basketball standout is staying in North Carolina following his lengthy NBA career.
The Charlotte Hornets have added [autotag]Marvin Williams[/autotag] to the coaching staff as the team opens up training camp in preparation for the new season. Williams joins the basketball operations department to help with player programs and player development off the court per Rod Boone who covers the Hornets for the News & Observer.
Williams has been retired since 2020, last playing for Milwaukee and is now venturing into the front office side of the game. This is just a start for Williams who could work his way up.
Marvin Williams is back. He has joined the #Hornets basketball operations department to help with player programs and player development off the court. pic.twitter.com/1dW0jdWYxX
After one season at North Carolina, Williams was drafted No. 2 overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2005 NBA Draft. He played for Atlanta, Utah, Charlotte, and Milwaukee in his career.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
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The three weeks between the trade deadline and March 1 are a busy time for veterans on expiring contracts trying to find new squads. Players on NBA teams must be waived by the end of March 1 in order to remain eligible for the playoffs. A total of …
The three weeks between the trade deadline and March 1 are a busy time for veterans on expiring contracts trying to find new squads. Players on NBA teams must be waived by the end of March 1 in order to remain eligible for the playoffs. A total of 20 players on standard NBA contracts were waived within those three weeks. Of those 20, several of them agreed to reduce their guaranteed salary so they could move to new destinations.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
MARVIN WILLIAMS
Remaining salary before buyout: $15,006,250
Marvin Williams was waived by the Charlotte Hornets after agreeing to give back $956,349. This is equivalent to his prorated end-of-season salary with the Milwaukee Bucks ($604,278 cap hit for Milwaukee). Players giving up the equivalent amount of salary that they are set to earn with their new team is usually the norm in buyouts. Financially he breaks even at the expense of losing his Bird rights, which didn’t hold much value since he did not get moved ahead of the trade deadline and the Hornets did not plan on re-signing him.
In Milwaukee, Williams is already getting consistent playing time with about 17 minutes per game. Mid-season signings rarely make significant impacts for their new teams but so far Williams is showing a lot of promise to be an exception. Soon to be 34-years-old, proving he can contribute on a contending team will improve his stock in free agency. He was going to be on an NBA franchise next season even if he finished this season in Charlotte, but this opportunity in Milwaukee could add more time to his next deal.
MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST
Remaining salary before buyout: $13,000,000
Like Williams, his former teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist also gave up what was supposed to be his prorated minimum for signing with Dallas on the same day he cleared waivers. He surrendered $810,763, but he signed with the Mavericks for a $798,479 prorated minimum salary ($595,122 cap hit for Dallas). Overall the Hornets saved $1.77 million by buying out both veterans, but they were never close to the luxury tax this season.
The Hornets extended Kidd-Gilchrist in 2015 to a four-year $52 million deal but it never quite worked out between both parties. His minutes declined each season and this season he only appeared in 12 of 51 games for the Hornets. The lack of playing time made leaving Charlotte early a no-brainer, and even if things don’t work out in Dallas, another team will take a shot on Kidd-Gilchrist next season. Being 6-foot-6 inches and a below-average shooter makes him unplayable in certain situations, even if he were to transition into a being full-time small-ball center. His time in Dallas will be about discovering what his role is in the modern NBA.
REGGIE JACKSON
Remaining salary before buyout: $18,086,956
Reggie Jackson was waived by the Detroit Pistons after agreeing to give back $800,000. His prorated minimum salary with the Los Angeles Clippers is $734,025 ($512,721 cap hit for the Clippers). Jackson leaves the Pistons after having spent five years with them and his pick-and-roll partner, Andre Drummond. They reached the playoffs twice in Jackson’s five years there, yet they were never more than a fringe postseason team. He had always been productive but has yet to prove if he can be a starting point guard on a good team.
Jackson’s decision to leave the Pistons early holds some risk. He battled several injuries throughout his time in Detroit causing him to miss many games, including 42 straight this season. He needs playing time to build up his free agency stock and he was getting a lot of minutes in Detroit. So far with the Clippers, he has averaged 20 minutes per game, which is great if he keeps them but there is no guarantee he is in their rotation during the playoffs. If Jackson proves he can be a contributor for a contender, like he was in Oklahoma City, that would be more impressive to potential suitors than filling up the stat sheet on a lottery team. If his tenure with the Clippers is successful, they are limited in re-signing him to either a minimum contract or via what will likely be the taxpayer mid-level exception (T-MLE). The T-MLE is currently projected at $6 million, which could be on the lower end of offers he will receive this summer.
MARKIEFF MORRIS
Remaining salary before buyout: $3,200,000 (2019-20), $3,600,000 (2020-21, player option)
Markieff Morris sacrificed the most guaranteed salary in a buyout than any other player this season. Morris gave back a total of $4,540,113 to the Pistons. $940,113 came out of his 2019-20 salary and the remaining $3.6 million came from declining his 2020-21 player option. His prorated minimum salary right after clearing waivers would’ve been $694,702, but he signed with the Lakers for $1.75 million for the rest of the season. While it appears he lost $2.8 million in the process, the combination of the $1.75 million for 2019-20 and signing for at least the veteran minimum in 2020-21 (currently projected at $2.45 million for Morris) will recoup enough money to almost break even. Like Jackson, having a shot to prove he can contribute for a contender is more valuable to Morris’ free agency stock than finishing the season with Detroit.
For Detroit, they generated a significant amount of savings between this season and the next. The buyouts of both Jackson and Morris reduced the Pistons payroll by $1.74 million. This, combined with the Drummond trade leaves the Pistons $3.3 million below the luxury tax. Throughout the season the Pistons were just $4,000 below the luxury tax, so now they have the flexibility to take chances on young free agents. Getting off of Drummond and Morris’ player options for next season puts them at a projected $36 million in cap space next summer.
DeMARRE CARROLL
Remaining salary before buyout: $7,000,000 (2019-20), $6,650,000 (2020-21), $7,000,000 ($1.35 million guaranteed, 2021-22)
$811,447 is what Carroll gave back. Amount equals a player with 10 years of service who signs a prorated minimum contract on Feb. 20. https://t.co/vpqugPsJ7i
The waiving of DeMarre Carroll will leave dead money in his name between this season and the 2021-22 season. He only gave back $811,447 of the $15 million guaranteed to him, the total of which will be divided over the next three seasons. Carroll walks away from San Antonio giving up just north of 5 percent of his guaranteed salary and will have a shot with the Rockets to prove he’s worth a long-term deal. As of now, his future as an NBA player isn’t looking particularly great, but fortunately for him, he secured that contract with the Spurs.
The Spurs opted against using the stretch provision on Carroll which would’ve given them a $1.6 million dead cap hit between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 seasons. The amount of dead money the Spurs have is a little alarming, but none of it should significantly affect them over the long-term. Pau Gasol was bought out last season and they still owe him $5.1 million this year because of it.
ALLEN CRABBE
Remaining salary before buyout: $18,500,000
Allen Crabbe was waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves and reportedly has given back $681,444, according to Dane Moore. Signing him on March 2 will add a $412,008 cap hit to whichever team signs him as long as it’s just for the rest of the season. Since signing his four-year, $74.8 million deal, he has slowly gotten lost with each new team that traded for him. Now he gets to pick his team of choice and should probably join whichever team will give him the most playing time.
The savings for Minnesota are significant as they are currently over the luxury tax after the D’Angelo Russell trade. $681,444 in savings would bring them from $1.13 million over the luxury tax to just $454,825 above it. There are still ways for the Wolves to get below the tax while fulfilling minimum roster requirements.
Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
ANTHONY TOLLIVER
Remaining salary before buyout: $2,564,753 ($1,620,564 cap hit)
Anthony Tolliver was waived by the Kings and its unclear how much salary he gave back, if any at all. Any savings for the Kings would be insignificant as they’re $16 million below the luxury tax. He was traded to the Kings in January as salary-filler and is not part of the Kings’ long-term plans. Allowing him to become a free agent was mainly a favor on their part.
JORDAN McRAE
Remaining salary before buyout: $1,645,357
Jordan McRae was waived by the Nuggets and it’s possible he agreed to give back some money. His minimum salary if he signs a contract after clearing waivers is $417,342, so its possible he gave up that much. The bench scorer was recently acquired by the Nuggets after having a breakout season in Washington. He wasn’t getting consistent playing time with the Nuggets so his tenure there ends after appearing in just 4 games for them. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo, the Phoenix Suns intend to put a waiver claim on him. Whichever team claims him will hold his early Bird rights, which is beneficial to cap space teams. With a minimum $1.7 million cap hold, he doesn’t interfere with cap space and teams can go over the cap to re-sign him after spending their cap space.
Other players that got waived between February 7 and March 1 but did not reduce their guaranteed salary include Chandler Parsons, Nenê, Derrick Walton Jr., Gerald Green, Tim Frazier, Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins, Troy Daniels, Dion Waiters, Dragan Bender, Amile Jefferson, Jonah Bolden, Trey Burke and Tyler Johnson. Bender is currently on a 10-day contract with the Warriors while Waiters is set to have a meeting with the Lakers.
Kemba Walker reportedly tried to recruit Marvin Williams to the Boston Celtics and was upset Williams chose the Milwaukee Bucks.
After spending five years together on the Charlotte Hornets, Kemba Walker wanted Marvin Williams to join him in Boston.
Walker spent a month recruiting Williams, according to Boston Globe reporter Adam Himmelsbach. When Walker’s buyout was finally reported, though, the Celtics weren’t his destination.
The power forward is planning to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The Bucks have already released Dragan Bender to make room on the roster, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Walker was informed of this by a reporter after the Celtics’ game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. He was shocked and upset, according to Mass Live’s John Karalis.
Kemba Walker’s reaction to Marvin Williams getting bought out and planning to sign with the Bucks: “Damn!” pic.twitter.com/pULuFlqrOW
Karalis wrote that Walker, as he walked off after the video concluded, said he was going to call Williams and said “I’m pissed.”
Over their five seasons together in Charlotte, Williams averaged 10 points and almost six rebounds per game while shooting 37.8% from 3.
So far this year, Williams has played the fewest minutes of his career and only started one game.
Listed at 6-foot-8, Williams’ experience and shooting ability made him one of the better small-ball fours available at the trade deadline. His true shooting percentage is strong at 59.3% and his 3-point percentage is in line with years past.
He would have been a beneficial piece for the Celtics and put another friend in the locker room for Walker.
Instead, Williams is reportedly off to the league-best Milwaukee Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have an open roster spot but fans are seeing their potential targets go to other teams.
The Los Angeles Lakers decided to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline and while there have been public flirtations with free-agent point guard Darren Collison, Lakers fans are seeing plenty of other potential options from the buyout market to improve their team commit to other squads.
The Charlotte Hornets produced two buyout candidates over the past few days, but veteran forward Marvin Williams has already committed to signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. In addition to Williams, the Hornets are also agreeing to a buyout with Anthony Davis’ Kentucky teammate Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist, according to ESPN’s duo of Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim McMahon. MKG, according to ESPN, has a good chance of landing with the Dallas Mavericks.
Reporting with @espn_macmahon: Charlotte is finalizing a contract buyout with F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Dallas has emerged as a possible destination once MKG clears waivers.
The Clippers made a big move at the trade deadline, pushing in all of their assets to the New York Knicks in order to add forward help in Marcus Morris.
If the Lakers were to add anybody, they would have to cut someone on their team that’s laden with veterans who have been there the whole season. Given that the Lakers’ chemistry has been a major strength for them all season, the benefits of a move to add someone from the buyout market are likely tougher than they are for any other team.
15-year veteran Marvin Williams is to be bought out by the Charlotte Hornets to latch on to a contender; could Kemba Walker’s ex-teammate help Boston?
Charlotte Hornets veteran forward Marvin Williams is working on coming to terms with the Hornets on a buyout so that the 33-year-old can latch on to a contending team, reports ESPN senior writer Adrian Wojnarowski.
Williams is in his 15th season in the NBA, and could provide a team of his choosing veteran leadership and excellent defence from small forwards to centers while shooting 37.6 % from deep this season.
He’s putting up 6.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and an assist per game over 19.1 minutes per contest, and should be on the Boston Celtics radar if the team is serious about pursuing some shooting for the bench.
He was also a longtime teammate of All-Star Boston point guard Kemba Walker when the UConn product was at his last stop, with the Hornets.
Forward Marvin Williams is finalizing a contract buyout with the Charlotte Hornets, league sources tell ESPN. Williams, 33, will become a free agent target for contending teams.
The Celtics decided to stand pat at the trade deadline, and may again if no interested parties able to help out above the players most likely to be cut from Boston’s roster can.
Rookie center Vincent Poirier is most often floated in such a role, but given he is owed $2.5 million this season and $2.6 next.
The Celtics may instead turn to rookie wing Javonte Green, earning just under $900,000 guaranteed this season, with just $100,000 of next season’s $1.5 million contract guaranteed.
Green, however, has been an intermittently productive player, contributing 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds over just 9.3 minutes per game, and Williams is one of a handful of potential buyout options who might reliably help more.
Marvin Williams is a rarity — a buyout guy good enough to actually help a good team. Think Utah, Boston, Houston could all really use him.
Still, at age 33, Williams is unlikely to have a long future with the team should he be interested in signing with Boston, and Green and Poirier could still develop into quality rotation players at 26 years old each.
The front office will have to decide whether the risk of disrupting team chemistry is worth the boost in production any such player could provide, and they’ll have to have made that decision my March 1st, the latest date for a player to bought out in order to be playoff eligible.
Williams, however, is one of the better options likely to come available that could earnestly help any playoff team, and particularly Boston.
With the Rockets seeking the best player among buyouts rather than just a traditional center, Charlotte’s Marvin Williams could be a fit.
Though there has been talk of the Houston Rockets needing to acquire a traditional center after trading Clint Capela, it doesn’t appear that GM Daryl Morey sees that as a necessity.
Now that Thursday’s NBA trade deadline has passed, veterans with expiring contracts on losing teams are typically candidates to have the remainder of their contracts bought out. It’s usually a means of doing a favor to the player and/or his agent by letting the player enter free agency and join a team better positioned to win that season.
Once trades are no longer an option, it becomes possible (if not likely) that the player could leave his team for no compensation in summer free agency. That means there’s not much downside to the team letting him go now, assuming they aren’t in a position to contend for the playoffs.
It could even be argued that there’s upside beyond a good-faith gesture for bad teams to buy out their veterans, since it could allow them to give more playing time to younger players needing evaluation and/or boost their odds of getting a higher draft pick by losing more games.
The Rockets currently have two open roster spots after sending away veterans Nene and Gerald Green in the four-way trade known best for the exchange of Capela for Robert Covington. Since Houston did not acquire a traditionally sized center in any of its pre-deadline deals, many wondered if Morey might add one via the buyout market.
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While Morey didn’t rule out a center in a new interview with USA TODAY Sports, he made it clear that the team’s biggest priority in the evolving buyout market is getting the best player, regardless of position.
Honestly, we’re just going for best player. We like how we’re playing. People are saying, ‘You have to get a big this or a big that.’ But we’re going for the best player. If that’s a big, we’ll go grab it and figure out if he can fit into our style. If it’s a wing, we’ll do that. We feel very comfortable with our roster. We like where we’re at. We think this is a team that can win the championship. But if we can add a good player in the buyout market, we’ll do it. But we’re not counting on the buyout market.
To Morey’s point about liking how the Rockets are playing, Houston (33-18) has now won seven of its last nine games following Thursday’s statement victory on the road over the Lakers (38-12).
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And while deadline-day acquisition Bruno Caboclo isn’t a traditional center in bulk, the 6-foot-9 forward has a 7-foot-7 wingspan — which should allow him to provide a considerable shot-blocking presence.
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With Houston’s clear emphasis on floor spacing, one non-traditional buyout candidate of interest could be Charlotte’s Marvin Williams.
Now 33 years old, the 6-foot-8 forward is shooting 37.6% on 3-pointers this season with the Hornets (16-35). For his career, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft has averaged 10.3 points (36.2% 3-point shooting) and 5.2 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.
How @hornets veteran Marvin Williams replied when I asked if he’s thought about requesting a buyout, for the possibility of playing with a contender: pic.twitter.com/mLwRSbCxcz
Williams is on HoopsHype‘s list of initial 2020 buyout candidates. Other names on that list potentially of interest to the Rockets may include Minnesota’s Evan Turner, Miami’s Solomon Hill, Detroit’s John Henson, and Charlotte’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
NBA buyout candidates: Who’s available after the 2020 trade deadline? https://t.co/JytCo4iFs6
It does not appear that Cleveland big man Tristan Thompson, who was rumored to be a Houston buyout target, is likely to accept a buyout, since it would cost him his Bird rights in this summer’s free agency.
Maintaining Bird rights could allow Thompson to re-sign with the Cavaliers to a big deal, or open more options for him in free agency via sign-and-trade possibilities — and that may be a factor that some other buyout candidates consider, as well.
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The league’s buyout market could take a few more days to fully take shape, with teams, players, and agents negotiating over exact financial terms. The deadline for a player to be bought out and still be eligible for the playoffs with a new team is March 1.
The NBA’s All-Star break begins next week, which could be the sweet spot in the schedule for negotiations to take place and teams such as the Rockets to potentially add and integrate a new piece to their roster.
On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!
1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.
5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.
7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.
13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?
16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?
20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.
25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.
32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.
37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.
39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.
If you’re interested in advertising on The HoopsHype Podcast, email hoopshype@hoopshype.com for more information.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
Now that the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Now that the 2020 NBA trade deadline has officially passed, it is worth looking at the most interesting buyout candidates in the league.
Some of the bigger names that could have been available (e.g. Tristan Thompson, Ian Mahinmi, E’Twaun Moore, Langston Galloway and even Vince Carter) are expected to stay with their teams for the remainder of the season. Similarly, there are various other players (e.g. Isaiah Thomas, Trey Burke and Tim Frazier) who are expected to be waived by their teams rather than bought out.
But with all of that in mind, there are several players around the league who do make sense as options on the buyout market.
Phoenix Suns guard Tyler Johnson is playing a career-low 16.6 minutes per game. The 27-year-old has played in just three of their last even games as he recovers from a calf injury. He was mostly brought into the organization so that the team could move off the hefty money owed to the veteran forward Ryan Anderson. Even though Johnson provides little value to the Suns, he could be a 3-and-D option in the backcourt for a contender. During his best season with the Miami Heat in 2016-17, he averaged 1.3 three-pointers and 1.2 steals per game.
EVAN TURNER, MINNESOTA
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $18,606,556
Unlike with Allen Crabbe, the Minnesota Timberwolves have not yet given any playing time to Evan Turner. Even when he was on the Atlanta Hawks, the 31-year-old forward was playing a career-low 13.2 minutes per game. He was, however, playing a career-high 63 percent of his time at the point guard position. Turner may not have much value around the league at this point but the Boston Celtics have already been linked to him for a potential reunion.
BISMACK BIYOMBO, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $17,000,000
Charlotte Hornets veteran big man Bismack Biyombo is certainly one of the candidates for a buyout, though such an agreement may be unlikely. There is at least some incentive for the Hornets to keep Biyombo on their roster as he is currently playing 19.1 minutes per game. That is the most playing time that he has had since 2016-17. Meanwhile, he has also been in the starting lineup for 25 of the 43 games he has played so far this season. It may make the most sense for Biyombo to continue getting his reps up in Charlotte, like Mahinmi with Washington, so that he can prove hs is worth more than a minimum deal in the offseason. However, if a contender expresses interest in a center who is capable of playing in their rotation, perhaps he is willing to leave the Hornets for a winning team.
BRANDON KNIGHT, DETROIT
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,643,750
28-year-old combo guard Brandon Knight was included in a package that sent him from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Detroit Pistons. Knight has only played 241 minutes so far this season, coming off the bench in each of the 16 games he played. That is a stark contrast to last year when he started in 26 of 27 games played for Cleveland. If the Pistons decided to hold on to Knight, it would be a reunion with the organization. He was drafted by Detroit with the No. 8 overall pick back in 2011 and made NBA All-Rookie First Team.
MARVIN WILLIAMS, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $15,006,250
For a team looking to find a floor-spacing big man, there are few if any better at the price he could be available at then Charlotte Howard forward Marvin Williams. With the emergence of rookie PJ Washington (who was selected to the Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend), Williams has lost the formerly steady role that he once had on his team. He had previously started in every game that he played for the Hornets since 2015-16. Now, he has made only one appearance in their starting lineup this season. His playing time is down to a career-low 19.7 minutes per game. But at 6-foot-8, the forward has made 1.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes in his career and has shot 36.2 percent from downtown. There should be a decent amount of interest in Williams if he and his team agree to a buyout.
SOLOMON HILL, MIAMI
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALARY: $13,290,395
When the Memphis Grizzlies traded Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat, the front office also included Solomon Hill for salary-matching purposes. While he has largely fallen out of favor on the teams he has played for over the past few years, the 6-foot-6 wing was shooting a career-best 38.1 percent from the three-point line this season. He had also made a career-best 2.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes during his time in Memphis. According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, the 28-year-old was told by the front office that he should plan to remain with the team “barring something unforeseen” happening. But in the NBA, those types of unforeseen situations happen all of the time.
MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST, CHARLOTTE
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $13,000,000
It was less than eight years ago when Anthony Davis was selected at No. 1 overall in the 2012 NBA draft. The player selected next was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The contrast between these picks remains absolutely deafening as hindsight rears its ugly head. The 26-year-old is down to a career-low 13.3 minutes per game and has only made twelve appearances for his team. With only 160 minutes offered to him this year, Charlotte has likely moved on. He may still have suitors around the NBA due to his defensive ability. According to The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, the Houston Rockets organization “has liked him for some time” and would be willing to take a flyer on him. The Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell recently reported that the Dallas Mavericks are also “kicking tires” on Kidd-Gilchrist.
COURTNEY LEE, DALLAS
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $12,759,670
The reality of the situation is that Courtney Lee was only included in a trade to the Dallas Mavericks for salary-cap filler so that they could land Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. During his two seasons with the team so far, he has played just 10.9 minutes per game in 33 total appearances. The 6-foot-5 wing has virtually no role on the Mavericks and despite their record being that of a contender thus far, perhaps another team would take a look at what Lee could offer them. The 34-year-old has shot 38.8 percent from three during his career, hitting 1.4 three-pointers per 36 minutes.
JOHN HENSON, DETROIT
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,732,396
The Detroit Pistons had to cut one of the players on their roster after trading away Andre Drummond in a two-for-one deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They reportedly opted to go with Tim Frazier rather than Knight or John Henson. This makes sense as Henson may play some of the minutes that Drummond was giving Detroit. He recorded a double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) in his most recent game for the Cavaliers on February 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That was his first game in the starting lineup since January 5 and just his second time in the first unit all season. More likely than not, though, he will join Thon Maker as backcourt depth in Detroit behind 24-year-old Christian Wood and rookie forward Sekou Doumbouya.
MATTHEW DELLAVEDOVA, CLEVELAND
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $9,607,500
There is hardly a role for Matthew Dellavedova on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their team already has three promising young guards selected in the past two NBA drafts in Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. and all require playing time for their development. Meanwhile, they recently traded Jordan Clarkson to land the 24-year-old Dante Exum. Dellavedova has not been in an NBA starting lineup since December 23, 2017. Unfortunately, his most valuable skill set (three-point shooting) has taken a major plummet this year. His career mark from downtown (36.7 percent) is suddenly down to an abysmal rate (16.4 percent) so far this season. It dampers any of the market that would have otherwise been interested in signing him.
YOGI FERRELL, SACRAMENTO
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
SALARY: $3,150,000
Sacramento Kings guard Yogi Ferrell does not make very much money and has a lower salary than anyone else on this list. However, he is playing at a career-low 11.4 minutes per game and was scratched from the lineup in the most recent game for the team. Ferrell is buried in their backcourt rotation behind emerging star De’Aaron Fox and backup point guard Cory Joseph. While there may not be much of a market for the six-foot playmaker, he has averaged 4.0 assists with 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals per 36 minutes in his NBA career. Still only 26 years old, there may be at least one contender that would be willing to give him minutes in their rotation.
