Ranking the NBA's best remaining buyout candidates

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone, but some big names could still be on the move. Some players may have their contracts bought out, which would allow them to go to different teams and possibly be part of championship-contending squads.

Join us now as we rank the NBA's five best remaining buyout candidates.

5. Al Horford (Oklahoma City Thunder)

This is going to be fascinating to watch. Horford is a capable veteran with gas in the tank. He’s still averaged greater than 14 points per game in his age-34 season, but he’s been shut down by the Thunder, who seem to want to see what their younger players are capable of.

Will Horford be bought out, or will he be shopped during the off-season? Whatever the case may be, there’s no doubt interest will be present.

4. Darius Miller (Oklahoma City Thunder)

We’ll stay in OKC to focus on Miller, who was acquired in a four-team deal before the season. He established himself as a valuable role-player with New Orleans, where he played every game in 2017-18, and averaged more than 25 minutes per contest in 2018-19. However, he missed the 2020 campaign due to an Achilles injury, has barely averaged more than 10 minutes per contest this year, and turned 30 earlier this month.

With all of that in mind, and with the Thunder possibly in "let’s see what we have" mode, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Miller in another jersey at some point soon.

3. Hassan Whiteside (Sacramento Kings)

Whiteside rose to prominence during five seasons with the Miami Heat, where he emerged as a nightly double-double threat and one of the best shot-blockers in the league. However, it sure seems as though he’s regressed during his age-31 season in Sacramento.

He’s averaging less than 15 minutes per game and was seen as an option for the Lakers before they signed Andre Drummond a few days ago.

2. Otto Porter (Orlando Magic)

Porter exercised a player option back in November, one that guaranteed him a salary north of $28 million for the 2020-21 campaign. He was part of a deal late last week that sent him from Chicago to Orlando, but while he’s a capable player, the Magic aren’t going anywhere this season. It may make sense to buy him out, which would allow Porter’s "three and D" skill set to be used by a contending team.

1. Avery Bradley (Houston Rockets)

Bradley was part of the blockbuster deal that brought Victor Oladipo to Miami. The well-traveled point guard is now on his fourth different team since the start of the 2017-18 season, and may be on the move again.

Houston is 13-32 and is in the midst of a complete rebuild, one that may not include Bradley.