The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, but buyouts are allowing contenders to remain in the hunt for roster additions down the stretch and into the playoffs.
The biggest deadline deal this season was the Indiana Pacers sending Danny Granger to the Philadelphia Sixers in exchange for Evan Turner. The Pacers received a very capable scorer off the bench in Turner, but it doesn’t appear as if Granger has a very solid future in Philly.
According to multiple reports, the Sixers are discussing a potential buyout of Granger that would allow him to become a free agent. A resolution could be made within the next 24 hours, the report indicates, as the 30-year-old small forward is due $14 million and is in the final year of a deal that’ll allow him to hit free agency this summer.
One team may be watching very closely to see if Granger becomes available. The San Antonio Spurs.
According to ESPN, the Spurs have interest in adding Granger after the Sixers buy out his contract. It is believed that Granger would have interest in playing for a contender if and when he is released, but would also like adequate playing time. San Antonio currently sits in the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, two games back of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and would welcome a scoring threat off the bench.
Whispers persist that San Antonio has interest in Danny Granger … IF Granger goes ahead with extricating himself from Philly via buyout
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2014
We repeat: Granger would obviously rather be w/contender like Spurs than tanking Philly BUT also needs to make sure he’ll get PT w/new team
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 25, 2014
Another player who could be available shortly is Sacramento Kings 3-point shooter Jimmer Fredette. According to ESPN, the Kings and Fredette are working on a buyout of his contract that will allow him to be a free agent once he clears waivers.
Fredette no longer fits the team’s plans, per the report, and Kings owner Vivek Ranadive just “wants to do the right thing” for Fredette.
The Memphis Grizzlies have interest in signing Fredette if and when he becomes available, according to the report. The team apparently made a push to trade for the swingman last season.
Fredette is averaging 5.9 points in 11.3 minutes this season but is shooting 47.5 percent from the field and better than 49 percent from beyond the arc. As a team, Memphis is shooting 34 percent from the perimeter, which ranks 26th in the league.
Teams in need of a veteran may be able to add Caron Butler. According to the Journal Times, the Milwaukee Bucks and Butler are negotiating a buyout as the team looks toward rebuilding. One possible landing spot could be the Miami Heat, which could use an insurance policy with oft-injured Dwyane Wade in and out of the lineup, as well as the Spurs should they not be able to get Granger.
Bucks and Raymond Brothers, agent for Caron Butler, in discussions to buy out Butler’s contract.
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) February 25, 2014
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