5 buyout candidates that could help an NBA contender

3. JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee is an obvious buyout candidate over Drummond in Cleveland. He is on a small, expiring deal and should be open to wanting to join a contender at the age of 33.

McGee was traded to Cleveland by the defending champion Lakers before the season and has served as a great veteran leader on a rebuilding Cavs team. He is another player who the team is going to try to trade, but contenders may hold firm waiting for a buyout.

The veteran is averaging 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season in a reserve role. He is someone who can give a team 15-20 energetic minutes off the bench and can also change a team’s defensive identity thanks to his status as a seven-footer.

One note about McGee is that if he is bought out, he could not join the Lakers after they just traded him. He would have to be traded to another team and then cut for that reunion to become a possibility.