NBA Waived Players – Who Will Stand Out?
Contents
- NBA players that were recently waived
- Why these players were waived
- How these players can make an impact
- What teams these players could potentially sign with
- What kind of role these players will have
- How these players will fit in with their new team
- What their stats were last season
- What their stats could be next season
- If they will be an All-Star
- How long their careers will last
As the NBA season comes to an end, many players are waived by their teams. Here are some of the players who will stand out and find new homes.
NBA players that were recently waived
Many NBA players were recently waived due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of these players will be picked up by other teams, but many will become free agents Here is a list of some of the most notable players that were waived:
– Cameron Payne: A former first-round pick, Payne has shown some promise but has never been able to stick with a team. He was waived by the Phoenix Suns
– Tyler Ulis: Another former first-round pick, Ulis has also bounced around the league without finding a home. He was recently waived by the Golden State Warriors
– Wayne Ellington: A journeyman who has played for eight different teams in his 11-year career, Ellington was waived by the Detroit Pistons
– Derrick Rose The former MVP has had a rough few years, bouncing around from team to team. He was most recently waived by the New York Knicks
Why these players were waived
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional men’s Basketball League in North America composed of 30 teams. The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, which also include Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL). NBA players are the world’s best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per player.
In the NBA, teams can waive players for various reasons. Some players are waived because they are not meeting expectations, while others are waived to make room for new signings or trade acquisitions. In some cases, players are waived because they have been involved in off-court legal trouble.
Here are some recently waived NBA players who could stand out elsewhere:
--Isaiah Thomas Thomas was recently waived by the Denver Nuggets after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers He had been struggling with injuries and inconsistency, but he is still just 28 years old and is a two-time All-Star. Thomas could be a valuable scoring option for a team in need of backcourt help.
-Greg Monroe: Monroe was waived by the Phoenix Suns after signing as a free agent this offseason. He averaged 9.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 19 games for the Suns, but he appeared to be out of favor with Head Coach Igor Kokoskov. Monroe is just 28 years old and should be able to find another opportunity with another team.
-Marquese Chriss: Chriss was recently waived by the Golden State Warriors after being acquired in a trade with the Houston Rockets He has struggled mightily this season, averaging just 4.5 points and 3 rebounds in limited playing time However, Chriss is still just 21 years old and has shown flashes of potential during his career. He could be worth taking a flier on by another team looking for frontcourt help.
How these players can make an impact
Many NBA teams have made roster changes this offseason, including waiving players. Some of these players may have been viewed as disappointing or simply not a fit for their team, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make an impact on another squad. Here are some waived players who could stand out elsewhere in the league:
Isaiah Thomas
Thomas was a two-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics but he struggled last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers averaging just 14.7 points and 4.5 assists per game He was waived by the Cavs in February and sat out the rest of the season.
Despite his down year, Thomas is still just 29 years old and has shown that he can be a dynamic scorer when healthy. He could be a valuable bench piece for a team in need of scoring punch, and he’s already stated that he’s open to coming off the bench.
Joe Johnson
Johnson was one of the best players in the NBA during his prime, but he’s now 37 years old and his best days are behind him. He appeared in just 29 games for the Houston Rockets last season, averaging 6.9 points per game
The Rockets waived Johnson in February, and he eventually signed with the Kings. He didn’t make much of an impact in Sacramento, appearing in just six games before being waived again.
Johnson isn’t likely to be a major contributor at this stage of his career, but he could be a solid veteran presence on a young team. He’s also proven that he can still knock down Big Shots so he could be valuable in end-of-game situations.
What teams these players could potentially sign with
Many NBA fans were shocked when a number of big-name players were waived by their teams this past week. With the season right around the corner, there’s a lot of speculation about where these players will end up. Here’s a look at some of the most notable waived players and what teams they could potentially sign with.
Player: Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony was waived by the Houston Rockets after playing just 10 games with the team. The 10-time All-Star is one of the most accomplished scorers in NBA history but he struggled mightily with the Rockets last season. At 35 years old, it’s uncertain if Anthony will get another chance to play in the NBA. However, he has reportedly been working out and staying in shape, so there might be a team out there that takes a chance on him. Some possible destinations for Anthony include the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or even his former team, the New York Knicks
Player: Marvin Williams
Marvin Williams was waived by the Charlotte Hornets after spending the past six seasons with the team. The 32-year-old forward is a solid veteran presence who can provide leadership and scoring off the bench. He’s not going to be a star player at this stage of his career, but he could be a valuable role player for a contending team. Some potential landing spots for Williams include the Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Lakers or Milwaukee Bucks
Player: Darren Collison
Darren Collison surprisingly announced his retirement from the NBA this offseason, but he has since decided to un-retire and is now looking for a new team. The 30-year-old point guard is a solid floor leader and shooter who would be an excellent addition to any team in need of help at point guard Possible destinations for Collison include the Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
What kind of role these players will have
There are many talented NBA players that get waived by their teams every year. While some of them will quickly find a new home, others will struggle to get picked up by another team. For the players that do end up getting picked up by another team, it is important to know what kind of role they will have on their new team. Here is a look at some of the NBA’s waived players and what kind of role they will have on their new team.
Dwyane Wade – SG/SF, Miami Heat
Wade was one of the best players in the league for many years, but he is now past his prime. He will likely be a reserve player on his new team, but he could still be a solid contributor.
Mario Chalmers – PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Chalmers is a veteran point guard who has been a starter for most of his career. However, he will likely be a backup on his new team as he is no longer one of the best point guards in the league.
Kris Humphries – PF/C, Atlanta Hawks
Humphries is a versatile big man who can play both Power Forward and center. He signed with the Hawks after being waived by the Washington Wizards and will likely see minutes as a backup center behind Dwight Howard
How these players will fit in with their new team
The wing players were waived by their teams on Monday:
Tyler Ulis – Phoenix Suns
Darius Miller – New Orleans Pelicans
Cameron Payne – Chicago Bulls
Kay Felder – Atlanta Hawks
All four players will be looking for new homes, but who will stand out the most with their new team? Let’s take a look.
Tyler Ulis was the Suns’ backup point guard behind Eric Bledsoe. He appeared in 61 games last season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. He shot 39 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range
With Bledsoe being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks Ulis will have a chance to compete for the starting point guard spot on his new team. He has shown flashes of being a good player in his two NBA seasons but he will need to be more consistent if he wants to win a starting job. He will also need to improve his Three-point shooting if he wants to stay on the court in today’s NBA.
Darius Miller was drafted by the Pelicans in 2012 and has played his entire career with them. He has been a solid role player for them, averaging 6.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 20 minutes per game while shooting 37 percent from three-point range over his six NBA seasons. However, he has never been a full-time starter and is unlikely to get that opportunity with his new team.
Cameron Payne was the Bulls’ backup point guard behind Kris Dunn last season. He appeared in 47 games, averaging 5 points, 1.9 assists and 1 rebound in 11 minutes per game while shooting 36 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range. He is a good shooter and has some playmaking ability, but he is not an elite level player at either skill.
Payne will have a chance to compete for a starting spot on his new team if they don’t already have one established. If he can show that he can be more consistent than he was last season, he could win a starting job outright or at least split time with whoever else is competing for the spot (assuming there is someone). Either way, he should see an increase in playing time with his new team which could lead to an increase in production as well.
Kay Felder was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2016 but only appeared in 14 games for them before being waived earlier this month. He spent most of last season playing for their G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, where he averaged 19 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range . . . .
What their stats were last season
Players that were waived by their teams during the NBA’s offseason usually have something in common – their production from the previous season wasn’t up to par with their salary. While some may have been waived due to roster space or because their skill set didn’t fit with their new team, most of them have one thing in common – they underperformed.
So, who will stand out amongst this group of waived players? Here are a few players that may catch on with a new team and excel next season:
Jordan Clarkson was recently waived by the Jazz after just one season with the team. In his final season with the Cavaliers, Clarkson averaged 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 45% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Those numbers dipped slightly last season with the Jazz, but Clarkson is still just 27 years old and has shown he can be a productive scoring guard in this league.
Ersan Ilyasova was another casualty of the NBA’s offseason as he was waived by the Hawks after two seasons with the team. In his final season with Atlanta, Ilyasova averaged 10.9 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field and 35% from three-point range. At 33 years old, Ilyasova may not be able to contribute at the same level he did earlier in his career, but he’s still a capable shooter and rebounder that could help a team looking for some frontcourt depth.
Tyler Johnson was yet another player that found himself without a team this offseason as he was waived by the Suns following just one year with the franchise. In his final season with Miami, Johnson averaged 10 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 42% from the field and 34% from three-point range. Johnson’s numbers took a bit of a hit last season with Phoenix, but he’s still just 27 years old and has shown he can be a productive player when given minutes.
What their stats could be next season
When a player is waived by an NBA team it’s usually for a couple of reasons. They could be too expensive for what the team needs, they might not fit the system, or their production might have simply fallen off. Regardless of the reason, it’s often an opportunity for that player to go to a new team and start fresh. For many players, this can be a new lease on life and they often play with a chip on their shoulder, knowing that they need to prove themselves all over again. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top NBA players who were waived this offseason and see how they might fare next season with their new teams.
1. Jamal Crawford
jamal crawford was waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves after just one season with the team. Crawford didn’t fit well with the young Wolves core and was never really able to find his rhythm, averaging just 10.3 points per game However, Crawford is still one of the best pure scorers in the league and he should be able to put up big numbers next season if given the chance. At 37 years old, Crawford isn’t getting any younger but he can still provide instant offense off the bench and should be able to put up solid production next season.
2. Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja was drafted 5th overall by the Orlando Magic in 2015 but he never really lived up to expectations with the team. Hezonja was waived by the Magic this offseason after they decided to move in another direction. Hezonja has always been a talented player but he’s never been able to put it all together. However, at just 23 years old, Hezonja still has time to develop and he could surprise some people next season if given the opportunity.
3. David Nwaba
David Nwaba was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers after two seasons with the team. Nwaba was a solid role player for the Lakers but they decided to go in another direction this offseason. Nwaba is a good defender and an underrated athlete who can finish well around the rim. He’s not going to light up the scoreboard but he could be a solid contributor next season for whichever team decides to give him a chance
If they will be an All-Star
The NBA waived players are bought out by their teams every year. Some of the bigger names this year are Carmelo Anthony Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng. These players will be able to sign with any team starting December 15th.
The thing to keep in mind with these guys is that they might not be all-stars anymore but they can still contribute to a team. Melo can still score the basketball but his defense has never been good. Joakim Noah is a great defender and rebounder but he has no offensive game whatsoever. Luol Deng is a good all-around player that can do a little bit of everything but isn’t elite in any one particular area.
Out of these three guys, I think Melo will have the best chance of being an all-star again. He will most likely sign with either the Houston Rockets or the Miami Heat Both teams have plenty of offensive firepower and I think Melo would excel in either system. Noah might be able to make an All-Star team if he signs with the right team but his days of being an elite player are over. Deng is probably going to end up signing with a contender like the Golden State Warriors or the Boston Celtics He won’t be an all-star on either of those teams but he could potentially make it as a reserve player.
How long their careers will last
How long their careers will last is the key question when it comes to NBA waived players. There are a lot of variables that go into whether or not a player will be successful after being waived. The most important factor is usually the reason why they were waived in the first place. If a player was waived because of poor performance, then it is likely that their career will not last very long. However, if a player was waived due to an injury or other factor beyond their control, then they may have a longer career.
Other factors that can influence how long an NBA waived player’s career will last include their age, the league they are in, and the type of contract they have. Players who are young and in good shape are more likely to have longer careers than older players. Similarly, players who are in leagues with less competitive games are more likely to last longer than those in more competitive leagues. Finally, players with guaranteed contracts are more likely to have longer careers than those with non-guaranteed contracts