3 waived NBA players who can make a difference for playoff teams

The NBA trade deadline is over, and teams are now able to assess the mess they’ve fixed, created, or left untouched. The good news is that more players are still available, as the NBA moves into its post-deadline buyout phase to shed the unwanted pieces after the weeks’ deals.

That process can get slightly confusing. Once players’ contracts are bought out, they are placed on waivers for 48 hours. During that time period, only teams with enough cap space to take on the players’ entire salary or teams with trade or disabled player exceptions can claim them.

Currently, the Jazz, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Nets, Suns, and the Sixers are the only teams with significant cap room. The Pacers, Rockets, Thunder, Bucks, Bulls, and Celtics are all slightly under the cap.

If a player isn’t claimed, he’s free to sign with whichever team he wants. And this year’s buyout market could be especially robust. Here are three players who contenders should strongly consider signing:

Williams’ contract was bought out at its full $10 million price on Thursday at his request. It appears the Mavericks are ready to move on with Yogi Ferrell, and J.J. Barea is on his way back from injury.

The Jazz, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Nets could all claim him off waivers, though it seems unlikely. (That’d be a great troll move for Utah to claim him.)

NBA.com’s David Aldridge reports that Williams is likely to negotiate a deal with the Cavaliers if he clear waivers. Cleveland needs another playmaker and may be able to land Williams on the cheap.

Bogut’s contract is likely to be bought out by the Sixers, as they couldn’t move him in a subsequent deal after acquiring him in a trade for Nerlens Noel. His contract is worth slightly over $11 million, which limits waiver-claim options to the Jazz or Nuggets, and he’s likely to clear.

He’ll draw a ton of interest despite having a down season, scoring three points and grabbing eight rebounds per game in just 26 appearances.

There is no frontrunner for his talents, but thanks to a loophole in the CBA, the Golden State Warriors could reach out to him. By rule, a player isn’t allowed to sign with the last team to trade or waive him for a calendar year, but because Bogut was traded, now the Mavericks are the last team to do so, not the Warriors. The Warriors will weigh their options, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, but are likely to keep Briante Weber, or look for another guard.

The Rockets and Cavaliers are said to be pursuing Bogut, according to Stein.

The Pelicans announced they waived Jones on Thursday. There was no room left for him in their frontcourt behind newly acquired DeMarcus Cousins.

Any of the aforementioned teams are able to claim the forward off waivers due to his low $1.1 million contract. Jones would be a quality pickup for any team, as he’s averaging 12 points on 47 percent shooting and six rebounds. He still hasn’t developed into a three-point threat, but he can add depth to any frontcourt.