5 buyout candidates that could help an NBA contender

1. Blake Griffin

The Pistons have already banished Blake Griffin to the bench until they can find a trade partner for the All-Star forward. So Drummond is not the only one dealing with this unusual scenario.

A buyout is possible but probably unlikely. That is because Griffin has a $39 million player option for next season. The Pistons would have to basically pay him a giant lump sum to even get him thinking about accepting a buyout. The alternative is hoping they can trade him to avoid a situation where he is simply getting paid to sit on the bench all year.

If Griffin does get bought out, every contending team should be calling him right away — and so should the potential dark-horse suitors if he’s available at such a cheap price following a buyout.

He could reunite with former teammate DeAndre Jordan in Brooklyn. Or he could show up in Golden State and pair up with Stephen Curry as the Warriors seek a return to the postseason. The Lakers may even enter the sweepstakes with the pitch of being title favorites.

The Pistons are going to have a tough time coming up with a team-friendly way to get Griffin to agree to a buyout. But if it happens, the entire NBA playoff landscape could change instantly.