01-27-2021, 07:45 AM
Zach Harper has a piece on the buyout market. Candidates include Drummond, Zeller, R. Lopez, McGee, Biyombo, Cousins, Muscala, E. Davis, Felicio, O. Porter, J. Parker, Ariza, Ellington, D. Miller, D. Rose, G. Temple, Exum. Obviously teams would prefer a trade to an outright cut or buyout if they can bring back an asset. But, in this season of no butts in the seats, a buyout might be a fruitful way to save a dollar or two.
Here is what he had to say about Drummond, Zeller, O. Porter and D. Rose. Dallas would probably have to trade for any of these because they would likely go to Brooklyn or a LA team if given the choice...
Andre Drummond, center, Cleveland Cavaliers
Drummond is the most intriguing player on this list outside of maybe Derrick Rose. A couple of league sources mentioned after the Harden trade to Brooklyn that it’s a matter of time before he finds his way into a buyout and joins up to give them help with the interior. Drummond is a difficult player to figure out because of how he wants to fit. He’s obviously better than the Kendrick Perkins option the Thunder once had, but Drummond does require you to waste possessions throughout a game throwing it to him in the post. If you can get Drummond to run the floor, catch lobs, set screens, rebound the hell out of the ball and play defense, he’s a great option for someone like the Nets.
However, if he wants to be hyper-involved as a scoring option on a team with KD, Kyrie and Harden, then that’s going to be a problem. He’s better than Jordan at this point, but how much better when you consider how he’ll want to be used? The idea of him in Boston is intriguing, but I’d be shocked if Danny Ainge decided to take that gamble. He doesn’t fit in Milwaukee. Maybe the Clippers would try him in the mix, but those seem like the only options.
Cody Zeller, center, Charlotte Hornets
I’ve been waiting to see if Zeller can find his way out of Charlotte to play in some meaningful games. He’s a guy who loves to run the floor. He can rebound. He can be a great pick-and-roll option, and he’s a very solid defender all over the floor. Zeller consistently does a good job of being in position on defense. He simply hasn’t been someone put in a position where he’s playing next to a lot of talent. He played with Kemba Walker for a while, but that’s it. He feels like a perfect type of pickup on the buyout market if a team doesn’t try to trade for him before the deadline. The market for him at the deadline should be quite healthy, especially with his future not residing in Charlotte.
Brooklyn would be a great spot for him. He’d be very good in Miami. The Clippers might work out too, but they already have Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac. Boston is a natural fit, even with its trio of big men. I wouldn’t be shocked if Milwaukee tried to persuade him to back up Brook Lopez. The market for Zeller should be active after we know what happens with Drummond.
Otto Porter, forward, Chicago Bulls
The idea of Porter becoming a buyout option would have a lot of contending teams salivating. While Porter has had plenty of injury issues over the years, he’s a phenomenal shooter with great size at the forward position. You’d prefer him as a stretch four, but you can get away with playing him at the three in certain scenarios. He’s just over 40 percent from 3-point range (over 1,400 attempts) for his career. His shooting is completely deadeye, and every team fears leaving him on the scouting report. He’s also a decent playmaker at the position and can move the ball if needed on any given play. The problem is Chicago might be too in the mix for a playoff spot to want to let him go.
It would be shorter to list the teams he doesn’t make sense for. I think every option we see above would value bringing him in. He’s a good option for depth alongside Joe Harris in Brooklyn. Miami would love his shooting and size. Boston putting him next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown makes a ton of sense. Both Los Angeles teams would want him in the mix. And, of course, Milwaukee and Philadelphia would value his shooting for what they’re trying to accomplish.
Derrick Rose, point guard, Detroit Pistons
Rose was expected to be a prime trade target, especially for both Los Angeles teams at the deadline during last season. He stayed in Detroit and never got moved during the brief offseason. He’s in the final year of his deal with Detroit, and this would be the time to expect him to get traded. However, those things aren’t a lock. Nobody quite knows if the Pistons will believe they’re receiving equal value in a trade, and that could lead to a stalemate at the deadline before ultimately allowing Rose to roam free if he clears waivers.
Rose hasn’t been quite as productive as last season, but he’s not far off from it either. He’d be a great reserve guard to add to the mix or maybe even start for certain teams. Lakers and Clippers would absolutely be interested with the Clippers hoping to add depth at the guard position. They did it last season with Reggie Jackson. Rose would be a significant upgrade.
Here is what he had to say about Drummond, Zeller, O. Porter and D. Rose. Dallas would probably have to trade for any of these because they would likely go to Brooklyn or a LA team if given the choice...
Andre Drummond, center, Cleveland Cavaliers
Drummond is the most intriguing player on this list outside of maybe Derrick Rose. A couple of league sources mentioned after the Harden trade to Brooklyn that it’s a matter of time before he finds his way into a buyout and joins up to give them help with the interior. Drummond is a difficult player to figure out because of how he wants to fit. He’s obviously better than the Kendrick Perkins option the Thunder once had, but Drummond does require you to waste possessions throughout a game throwing it to him in the post. If you can get Drummond to run the floor, catch lobs, set screens, rebound the hell out of the ball and play defense, he’s a great option for someone like the Nets.
However, if he wants to be hyper-involved as a scoring option on a team with KD, Kyrie and Harden, then that’s going to be a problem. He’s better than Jordan at this point, but how much better when you consider how he’ll want to be used? The idea of him in Boston is intriguing, but I’d be shocked if Danny Ainge decided to take that gamble. He doesn’t fit in Milwaukee. Maybe the Clippers would try him in the mix, but those seem like the only options.
Cody Zeller, center, Charlotte Hornets
I’ve been waiting to see if Zeller can find his way out of Charlotte to play in some meaningful games. He’s a guy who loves to run the floor. He can rebound. He can be a great pick-and-roll option, and he’s a very solid defender all over the floor. Zeller consistently does a good job of being in position on defense. He simply hasn’t been someone put in a position where he’s playing next to a lot of talent. He played with Kemba Walker for a while, but that’s it. He feels like a perfect type of pickup on the buyout market if a team doesn’t try to trade for him before the deadline. The market for him at the deadline should be quite healthy, especially with his future not residing in Charlotte.
Brooklyn would be a great spot for him. He’d be very good in Miami. The Clippers might work out too, but they already have Serge Ibaka and Ivica Zubac. Boston is a natural fit, even with its trio of big men. I wouldn’t be shocked if Milwaukee tried to persuade him to back up Brook Lopez. The market for Zeller should be active after we know what happens with Drummond.
Otto Porter, forward, Chicago Bulls
The idea of Porter becoming a buyout option would have a lot of contending teams salivating. While Porter has had plenty of injury issues over the years, he’s a phenomenal shooter with great size at the forward position. You’d prefer him as a stretch four, but you can get away with playing him at the three in certain scenarios. He’s just over 40 percent from 3-point range (over 1,400 attempts) for his career. His shooting is completely deadeye, and every team fears leaving him on the scouting report. He’s also a decent playmaker at the position and can move the ball if needed on any given play. The problem is Chicago might be too in the mix for a playoff spot to want to let him go.
It would be shorter to list the teams he doesn’t make sense for. I think every option we see above would value bringing him in. He’s a good option for depth alongside Joe Harris in Brooklyn. Miami would love his shooting and size. Boston putting him next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown makes a ton of sense. Both Los Angeles teams would want him in the mix. And, of course, Milwaukee and Philadelphia would value his shooting for what they’re trying to accomplish.
Derrick Rose, point guard, Detroit Pistons
Rose was expected to be a prime trade target, especially for both Los Angeles teams at the deadline during last season. He stayed in Detroit and never got moved during the brief offseason. He’s in the final year of his deal with Detroit, and this would be the time to expect him to get traded. However, those things aren’t a lock. Nobody quite knows if the Pistons will believe they’re receiving equal value in a trade, and that could lead to a stalemate at the deadline before ultimately allowing Rose to roam free if he clears waivers.
Rose hasn’t been quite as productive as last season, but he’s not far off from it either. He’d be a great reserve guard to add to the mix or maybe even start for certain teams. Lakers and Clippers would absolutely be interested with the Clippers hoping to add depth at the guard position. They did it last season with Reggie Jackson. Rose would be a significant upgrade.