The 2025-26 NBA Trade Deadline is officially over but transaction season never ends. Having been waived to create roster space or financial wiggle room, there are now several players who are available on the free agent market that could help a team. When the dust settles, those free agents will be joined by players that would rather leave money on the table than be in what they consider to be an untenable situation; players who reached a contract buyout agreement with their respective teams.
Best Post-NBA Trade Deadline Buyout, Free Agent Options
Looking around the league, here are the best post-trade deadline free agent options.
Chris Paul
The Los Angeles Clippers were unable to make life with Chris Paul work, so they traded him to the Toronto Raptors. Whether it was their decision or his, the Raptors will waive Paul once the trade becomes official. At that point, he’ll be a free agent for the second time in less than a year. If this is the end, it’s yet another unceremonious ending for a future Hall of Famer. Sentimentality aside though, based on the way the 40-year-old played for the San Antonio Spurs last season, he deserves at least one more shot in the league.
In 2024-25, Paul averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He also converted 37.7% of his 3s, which accounted for 63.6% of his total shot attempts. As has become a common theme over the years, his team was unable to count on his on-ball defense. Nevertheless, he made himself particularly useful with his basketball IQ, passing ability, and 3-point shooting. Even his leadership was lauded, the Spurs’ foals more receptive to his prodding than the Clippers’ schooners.
Because Paul was prioritizing proximity to his family during his last free agent negotiations, it stands to reason he wants to remain out west. If so, the Los Angeles Lakers are an obvious potential destination. Notably, they flipped their backup point guard for a wing , creating a very specific hole.
Should Paul make his way to the Eastern Conference, it would be the first time in his career. However, the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons all traded second-string ball-handlers this week. The Celtics and Pistons in particular have head coaches whose intense personalities would seem to mesh with his own.
Cam Thomas
Cam Thomas , who the Brooklyn Nets released just after the trade deadline , is a controversial player. His biggest fans will point to his prodigious scoring ability as evidence that he’s a star hiding in plain sight. His main detractors have honed in on his tunnel vision while decrying his defensive miscues. The truth, as always, is somewhere in the middle.
Thomas creates space instinctively, the efficiency of his shot-making separating his super sixth man and All-Star performances. Likely because he knows he’s just that good at getting a look off, he has tended to fixate on scoring. That’s not ideal for any player, let alone a high usage 6-foot-3 guard with unspectacular efficiency. Ultimately, he needed to evolve as a facilitator. At the same time, his defense wasn’t up to scratch, Thomas’s technique lacking as much as his effort and awareness.
Over the past couple of seasons, Thomas has made authentic attempts to strengthen his weaknesses . The results have been mixed but it’s encouraging that he knew he had to get better. Even if he remains rather one-dimensional, that coachability will allow him to keep getting chances in the league.
The best team for Thomas will allow the 24-year-old to grow but provide structure.
Mike Conley
As expected, the larval Charlotte Hornets have announced that they’ve waived 38-year-old point guard Mike Conley , who they acquired from the Chicago Bulls as part of yesterday’s Coby White –Collin Sexton swap.
Unable to escape Father Time’s clutches, Conley has been declining for the past couple of seasons. In 2024-25, he averaged a then career-low 8.2 points per game, shooting 40.0% from the field. However, he converted 41.0% of his 3s and averaged 4.5 assists to 1.1 turnovers per game. Between his leadership, experience, playmaking, and defense, he still made himself valuable to a contender.
A season later, Conley remains a heady facilitator and disciplined defender. However, he’s averaging just 4.4 points per game, shooting 32.2% from the field and 32.1% from 3. Consequently, the team that signs him likely won’t be expecting a sizable or significant statistical impact. Nevertheless, he can provide value in myriad ways, both tangibly and intangibly.
Due to Conley’s age, retirement breathing down his neck , a return to the Memphis Grizzlies is possible. Conley played for the Grizzlies for 12 seasons, and is high on the list of their respected former players . Yet, the Grizzlies have entered a rebuild after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, which may not appeal to the 19-year NBA veteran.
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball ‘s one of the league’s what-if stories.
What if the former second overall pick resisted his father’s desire to make he and his brothers a brand? What if that stopped him from wearing those ill-fated Big Baller Brand sneakers ? Finally, what if not wearing those shoes prevented him from suffering the meniscus tear that may have started a debilitating chain reaction ?
Those questions can’t be answered, only ruminated over. Nevertheless, with the Utah Jazz waiving Ball after attaining him and two second-round picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of the trade deadline, they’re the first ones that pop up. They’re thrown into even sharper relief by Ball’s numbers since returning from the knee injuries that kept him out for two-plus seasons: 6.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, 33.9% shooting from the field and 31.3% shooting from 3.
As far as the way that Ball moves in the open court, he looks good. Yet, it’s clear that he’s not as explosive as before, frequently failing to get into the paint. Add in the decline in his efficiency as a 3-point shooter and his overall scoring profile is far less than optimal. Even so, Ball’s a high IQ facilitator who can still create turnovers. Any team, even his brother’s , could find value in that.
Haywood Highsmith
Haywood Highsmith being waived by the Nets may not have been on anyone’s bingo card. Earlier this season, they sounded as if they were anxiously awaiting his return following an offseason knee surgery . However, the initial recovery timeline for Highsmith was 8-10 weeks from Aug. 8 . It’s now been just about six months.
For what it’s worth, Highsmith’s agent (Jerry Dianis) says that he’s been playing 5-on-5 and was set to make his season debut on Feb. 11, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Dianis also reveals that multiple contenders have expressed interest in his client. That being said, Highsmith’s 3-and-D skillset is definitely still en vogue. With the 29-year-old playing a key role for a Miami Heat team that made it to the NBA Finals, it’s likely that there are playoff teams looking at him.
The Los Angeles Lakers may be at the front of Haywood’s queue. Based on previous reporting about their team needs, they’re in the market for a 3-and-D addition . Though they were able to secure a deadeye shooter from the Atlanta Hawks, trading Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard , their defense got worse.
Chris Boucher
When Chris Boucher signed with the Celtics, he probably assumed he’d be able to break into the rotation. Instead, he was a steady DNP-CD under Joe Mazzulla. As a result, Boston opting to trade him to Utah made more sense than it would otherwise. After all, Boucher had a really solid season with the Toronto Raptors in 2024-25. In a general sense, he’s built a reputation as a versatile defender who can impact the scoreboard with his athleticism and 3-ball.
Despite the Jackson trade making them true playoff contenders, the Jazz are parting ways with Boucher too, per Scotto. Because he’s more of a jack of all trades than a master of one, there may not be a team that he’s an exact fit for. However, as the saying goes, “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” With that being said, there are a couple of contenders who truly emphasize versatility.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson and Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s affinity for position-less basketball is well-known. So is Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s. In fact, with the Warriors losing Jimmy Butler to a season-ending ACL injury and trading Jonathan Kuminga to the Hawks for a big man , they could be in the market for a multi-positional frontcourt piece.
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images