5 potential buyout candidates for the Sixers
The Sixrs added veteran guard George Hill at the NBA trade deadline Thursday. They sit at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 32-13 record and a two-game lead on the Bucks and Nets. They could still afford to add some depth as they hit the home stretch, and the Hill acquisition opened a roster spot.Fortunately, there will be some opportunities to come even after the deadline in the buyout market. These players, once free to choose a new team, will be most attracted to clubs who have title aspirations.Here are a handful of buyout candidates who could be value adds to the Sixers as they head to the postseason.
Reports out of Cleveland say that the Cavaliers and Drummond are working toward a buyout of his contract. He averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds a game before the Cavs shelved him, but they were unable to find a buyer for him at the deadline.
The 27-year-old will have plenty of teams bidding for his services if/when he is bought out. He has not played since Feb. 12.
Aldridge has already been bought out by the Spurs, so let the bidding commence. He has been dealing with a hip injury, but he may be more attractive to the Sixers than Drummond, as he can play away from the basket (36 percent this season from three).
The 35-year-old seven-time All-Star will also have his share of suitors; the Heat are reportedly in hot pursuit already.
Porter was traded to the Magic at yesterday’s deadline in a deal that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Bulls. There is a chance he could still seek a buyout from Orlando, however, and he could add another long-range threat to the Sixers' arsenal.
He's shot 40 percent from three for his career and has been rebounding at a rate of 9.2 per 36 minutes. He’s also back healthy after missing 15 games with a back ailment.
The 31-year-old, who has had his battles with Joel Embiid in the past, had a strong 2019-20 season with Portland, averaging 15.5 points and 13.5 rebounds a game. Not sure why he found his way into Luke Walton’s doghouse in Sacramento this season; he has been inactive for 17 of the Kings’ 45 games.
While he doesn’t have the range Daryl Morey would be looking for, he still has plenty left in the tank and can provide reserve minutes for a team that needs it.
The 30-year-old big man was waived by the Rockets a month ago. The four-time All-Star has dealt with several major injuries in recent years; a ruptured Achilles tendon, a torn quad muscle, and a torn ACL have all cost him significant time over the past four seasons.
He’s certainly no stranger to “ring chasing,” having signed with the Warriors in 2018-19 and the Lakers last season prior to the knee injury. But you have to wonder how much all the injuries have affected his mobility.
