Besides the NBA Trade Deadline, the buyout market is also one of the most intriguing times of the year for players. As player's services are no longer needed with a franchise, it opens a new opportunity for them to contribute to a franchise in a position to win a championship. LaMarcus Aldridge recently agreed to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs. Also agreeing to the same deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers is big man Andre Drummond, who will clear the waivers Sunday afternoon, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Andre Drummond Buyout
Drummond spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was traded from the Detroit Pistons a season ago to provide veteran leadership to a young Cavaliers roster. Drummond's time with the Cavaliers saw him struggle to be a consistent performer on the floor. Although he averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per contest with the Cavs this season, Drummond has not been the most dependable asset for the Cavs. He’s shooting a career-low 47% from the field and has become a liability defensively.
This may look like Andre Drummond’s worst season of his career, but there’s still time to turn things around. Recent reports state that Drummond is close to a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. As the Purple and Gold look to defend their crown, Drummond could become the difference-maker.
Last season's Lakers team had a lot of length in the middle. Having JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis on the roster meant there were huge defensive threats sat the rim with those shot-blockers patrolling the paint. Unfortunately, Marc Gasol is no longer the defensive anchor he used to be.
Drummond signing with the Lakers would make his role very simple: defending and rebounding. Last season, Dwight Howard rejuvenated his career with Los Angeles by making all of the necessary hustle plays. Drummond can do the same once he signs his contract with Los Angeles.
But Andre Drummond aside, here are two other great NBA buyout pickups in the past:
Derek Fisher: 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder
Sixteen seasons into his career, five-time champion Derek Fisher understood that he still had a lot to bring to a contender. After contributing two championships to the Los Angeles Lakers, Fisher was shipped away during the 2012 trade deadline to the Houston Rockets. Luckily, Fisher and Houston agreed on a buyout, allowing him to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder were led by three all-stars, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. After making the playoffs the past two seasons, the franchise knew they could continue to grow. Fisher’s presence in the locker room helped the Thunder tremendously throughout the playoffs.
The Thunder were able to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since the franchise was in Seattle. Although the team lost to the Miami Heat in five games, it was still a remarkable journey for the team to make it out of the Western Conference. The Thunder’s historic run may have not been possible without Fisher’s leadership on and off the floor.
Joe Johnson: 2016 Miami Heat
Iso-Joe’s tenure with Brooklyn Nets was slowly coming to a close. After many years of failed attempts, Joe Johnson was waived by the Nets. Miami would shortly pick him up once he became available.
Johnson was comfortable becoming a role player for the Heat. After the departure of LeBron James in 2014, the franchise still believed they were contenders in the East. Johnson averaged 13.4 points during his time with the Miami Heat, becoming a key component to their success in the playoffs.
The Heat moved past the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs. They even competed with the Toronto Raptors at a high level before losing in seven games in the semifinals. As he played alongside Dwyane Wade on the wing, Johnson grew into a valuable piece for Miami in their playoff run.
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