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The trade deadline may have come and gone, but the buyout market offers teams an opportunity to further shake up their rosters.
Kevin Love is making his way to the Miami Heat. Terrence Ross already debuted for the Phoenix Suns. The Denver Nuggets will add Reggie Jackson to their rotation after the break.
A number of other potential difference-makers remain, though. And that list includes former MVP Russell Westbrook.
He and four others could still be on the move before the March 1 deadline to release players and preserve their playoff eligibility, and they’re ranked below by their ability to impact a playoff rotation.
5. Will Barton
Will Barton’s time with the Washington Wizards couldn’t have gone much worse.
His 38.7 field-goal percentage is the second-lowest mark of his career, trailing only his rookie campaign, and his 7.7 points represent his lowest average since 2014-15.
He was almost completely out of the rotation in Washington by January. However, he’s only 32 years old and one season removed from a 14.7-point scoring average and a 36.5 three-point percentage for the Denver Nuggets.
Plus, there’s still a hunger throughout the league for wings, especially as we near the playoffs, when lineup versatility becomes even more important.
Any team that signs him probably wouldn’t be looking for double-digit scoring, but as a fourth or fifth wing in the rotation, he can be an upgrade for a handful of teams headed to the postseason.
4. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose hasn’t appeared in a game with the New York Knicks since New Year’s Eve, and the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy wrote of the former MVP point guard: “… a source close to the situation wouldn’t totally dismiss a buyout after the dust settled on the new rosters after a crazy trade deadline.”
Given the fact that Rose has fallen entirely out of the rotation and injuries limited him to 26 appearances in 2021-22 (and an average of just 44 over the four seasons prior to that), it may be hard to imagine him being helpful to a contender this season.