You know how it was basically assumed, for months, that the Cleveland Cavaliers would land two semi-impactful free agents on the buyout market after the NBA’s trade deadline?
Yeah, that’s not cool with certain general managers around the league, according The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
A predominance of the NBA’s general managers are pushing for the league to begin a dialogue on possible alterations to the in-season contract buyout and waiver process, league sources told The Vertical.
Among executives and owners, there’s concern that the buyout process, which allows players to negotiate releases from contracts and often sign with playoff contenders, has become unfair to many smaller and mid-size market teams.
A majority of the league’s executives and several owners attached support to a letter sent to the NBA’s New York offices recently that requests an agenda item on the buyout process be included as part of the general managers’ meetings in May with the NBA, league sources said.
In theory, this tracks. Veterans who seek buyouts and aren’t necessarily concerned with playing time or earning their next contract, such as Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut, typically flock toward contenders. Even those who are chasing a new deal might want to land there, since it allows them to play deeper into the season, theoretically increasing their exposure to potential suitors.
It’s unclear what the solution to this would be, though. The NBA can move up the date, but that won’t really drum up the trade value of players who are buyout and waiver-wire candidates. Those players are there for a reason: They don’t have value.
Moving up the playoff eligibility date to Feb. 1, before the trade deadline, or even earlier than in that, might entice variety in player decisions. The postseason race will be more expansive at that point, and free agents could be more inclined to pick fringe squads for their next home since there is still so much season left.
