Washington Wizards Could Add Buy-out Candidates

Washington Wizards NBA Trade Deadline 2016: Buyout Options

Ernie Grunfeld has been in charge of the Washington Wizards for well over a decade. Unlike many general mangers who are reluctant to make moves right before the NBA Trade Deadline, Grunfeld typically gets involved.

Last year, the team acquired Ramon Sessions from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Andre Miller. While the move certainly didn’t make the team a contender, it proved to be a solid one before the start of the NBA Playoffs.

Sessions became an instant spark off the bench and even filled in for John Wall as a starter against the Atlanta Hawks in the semifinals. His presence was invaluable, really. This season, Sessions has done even more to increase his production. He’s upped his totals in virtually every statistical category.

The move, in hindsight, was a fantastic one.

I, like most people, criticized Grunfeld for trading Prof. Miller, who was a calming presence for an otherwise erratic second unit. Sessions helped take pressure off John Wall and continues to do that this season, too.

Still, unlike last season, the Wizards don’t have many desirable pieces. Everyone on their roster besides Wall, Kelly Oubre and Marcin Gortat is on an expiring deal. Plus, the players they have available are rotation pieces at best. Teams won’t be calling about Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair, believe it or not.

So, while a move is likely, it doesn’t mean that it will certainly happen.

If the Washington Wizards don’t make a move, they still have a few exceptions to add a player after the trade deadline.

After the deadline, teams will look to rid themselves of the players they failed to find new homes for. Instead of having them rot on the bench or become disgruntled, teams will reach buyouts with the players, allowing them to part ways and find new clubs.

The Wizards, as Bobby Marks of The Vertical pointed out, have a couple of ways to add players following buyouts:

"Washington will still have the disabled player exception available at its disposal after the trade deadline.Although close to the luxury tax, Washington could offer more than the minimum to a veteran who is bought out of his contract."

Obviously, players with true value will not become available following buyouts.

The likes of Kevin Love, Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin who’ve been involved in the rumor mill will either get traded or stick around with their current teams. The latter is the more likely outcome.

That doesn’t mean the Wizards won’t be able to find a difference-maker, though.