Chapter 327 The Buyout Market Opens

The Pelicans' game against the Cavaliers concluded amidst much discussion.

Tang Tian's 60+ triple-double was the talk of fans, and James' bold statement about giving up magnesium powder made fans even more excited about this year's playoffs.

Amidst the buzz, March 1st arrived, and the NBA's buyout deadline for 2017 was fast approaching.

This year, there were quite a few potential buyout targets with considerable value, making this year's buyout market highly anticipated.

The Knicks failed to land a big fish in the summer, exchanging small change for a whole by acquiring Rose from the Bulls, but Rose and Anthony's playing styles were incompatible, and Rose's own condition was also a problem.

After Rose was traded to the Wizards, he was basically treated as an expiring contract by the Knicks.

He wasn't in the Wizards' plans either, and rumors had been circulating that Rose would be bought out by the Wizards.

The Heat failed to retain Whiteside in the summer and couldn't find a suitable replacement in the free market, resulting in a significant decline in overall strength.

They've basically said goodbye to the playoffs this season, and there are rumors that Wade is considering a buyout with the team to go to a team with championship aspirations.

Players like Rose and Wade, superstar players from the early 2000s, are no longer in their prime due to injuries and age, and their remaining contracts are quite large.

Reaching a buyout with them can reduce some expenses (the buyout amount is generally less than the contract amount), and it also gives the bought-out players an opportunity to continue playing for the remainder of the season on a playoff team.

In addition to Rose and Wade, there are other players who still have immediate combat power.

The Timberwolves are expected to buy out Shabazz Muhammad, the 14th overall pick in 2013;

The Jazz are expected to buy out veteran Boris Diaw, who has gradually fallen out of the rotation;

The Lakers are expected to buy out veteran Deron Williams, who was never in their plans;

The Grizzlies are expected to buy out undrafted rookie Troy Williams.

……

These players, especially Wade and Rose, are avoided by various teams before the buyout, but become hot commodities after the buyout.

Before the buyout, they were representatives of high salary and low ability, but after the buyout, they generally sign at extremely low prices, or even minimum salaries, and the cost performance immediately emerges.

The Rockets are the most active team in the buyout market.

Morey saw the potential market as early as the trade deadline, freeing up spots early, and now the 13-man roster still has a full 2 spots.

Many of these bought-out players are veterans, and a championship team is definitely their first choice.

The Rockets happen to be such a team, with strength and spots, and if they can sign Wade and Rose, even just one of them, their strength will be further enhanced.

The Pelicans are also one of the teams targeting the buyout market.

When they traded Williams, they sent away Deron and Joe Harris, and now there are only 14 players on the roster.

Although that's enough, it's better to be prepared, and no championship team enters the playoffs without a full roster.

Before the deadline, Demps visited Tang Tian at the manor as usual.

Although the 15th man is irrelevant, the trade market is over, and this is the last chance to strengthen the team, and the 15th man signed at this time may be very useful.

"Rose and Wade, I think signing either of them would be a great help to us, and we are more attractive than the Rockets."

Demps' idea is similar to Morey's: the two former superstars, although their strength has declined, are still better than most.

Tang Tian nodded.

The Pelicans' current backcourt, Brogdon, Stephenson, and Williams, is completely sufficient, even surplus.

If it weren't for the fact that Brogdon is a rookie, the Pelicans would even consider buying out Stephenson to reduce expenses.

Signing another guard seems redundant and may disrupt the chemistry.

But Wade and Rose are different. These veteran superstars still have gas in the tank and have rich playoff experience.

Moreover, one thing to consider is that after the change in penalty standards, the intensity of the playoffs will become even higher than in the past.

At that time, the Pelicans' current backup guards may not be able to score, and Rose and Wade's personal attacking ability is obviously higher.

Even if they sign and don't play a role, it's only a one-year contract.

So Tang Tian doesn't object to Demps' proposal.

"But we need to consider one thing, if neither of them is bought out, who do we need to sign."

Tang Tian was also a general manager for many years when he was a head coach in his previous life, and he considers things more carefully and comprehensively.

There are only rumors about Rose and Wade now, and they may not be bought out.

Especially Wade, Riley left him behind to sell tickets, and now that Wade wants a buyout, he may not agree.

Demps nodded, it's true that preparations need to be made in advance.

Otherwise, if they miss the buyout market, they can only sign people from the current free market if they want to sign the 15th man again.

At this point in time, the remaining players in the free market are unwanted, and the players signed are really just to make up the numbers.

"What do you think of Boris Diaw?"

Demps gave a suggested candidate.

Diaw was Tang Tian's teammate when he was with the Spurs, and Diaw also played well in the last game between the Pelicans and the Jazz, which was very difficult.

Tang Tian also agreed.

Diaw is now a power forward/center swingman, especially able to play center.

Jokic has been unable to find his form, Diaw as a veteran can give him some advice, and also increase the center's playoff experience.

At midnight on March 1st, the buyout deadline arrived as scheduled.

However, the buyout market was very different from the previous rumors and many people's predictions.

The Heat ultimately did not accept Wade's buyout request and continued to keep him on the team.

Riley's idea was the same as Tang Tian's guess: the team has missed the playoffs, and of course he wants to keep Wade to sell more tickets.

The Wizards also did not buy out Rose in the end.

Because Rose signed a 14-year contract with Adidas, and for personal influence, the latter did not want to be bought out, so he did not compromise on the buyout amount.

This also led to the Wizards' final decision to keep him on the team. After all, the team also wanted to save money with the buyout. It's better to save money and keep him to sell tickets than to force a buyout.

Rose and Wade, the two players with the most rumors and the strongest strength before the game, were ultimately not bought out.

The most hurt by this was the Rockets.

Morey planned and strategized, but in the end, he got nothing.

Just as Morey was preparing to turn his guns and aim at other buyout players.

Woj quickly announced a message that after Diaw was bought out by the Jazz, the Pelicans quickly reached a one-year minimum salary contract with him.

This made it even more difficult for Morey, and there were not many players left for him to sign.

In the end, he had no choice but to sign Deron and Troy Williams.

Rose and Wade became Deron and Troy. It really corresponded to a sentence that Rockets fans said after seeing the news: Morey gave the fans a Trojan horse trick.