The trading window for the 2022-23 NBA season has come and go, and it was very interesting to say the least. The final days featured separate blockbuster deals involving Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Russell Westbrook, and a few hours before the deadline passed, more than a dozen other trades were added.

As always, what follows after is identifying who’s available in the buyout market. The incoming batch should is bound to be a wildcard yet again as it may be headlined by trade fillers and suddenly released players, most of which can be serviceable to various teams.

With that, let’s now proceed and see the best of the best in the pool. Do note that these players’ waivers are not yet official.

Honorable mention:

• Serge Ibaka
• Derrick Rose
• Nerlens Noel
• Corey Joseph
• Alec Burks
• Danny Green
• Rudy Gay
• George Hill
• DeWayne Dedmon

The list has veterans on veterans, all capable of being a role player, providing quality minutes whenever, so at least a big majority will have offers waiting for them should they get bounced. Though not as headlining as the guys in the list below, no one should be surprised if some end up getting minutes on a team who’s on a deep run come May or June.

Top choices:

Russell Westbrook – Utah Jazz

Westbrook was included in a three-team trade involving the Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves. It is still unclear if the draft pick-collecting, semi-rebuilding Jazz will play him or buyout his enormous contract. He can surely aid certain contending teams, though, as he was actually a competitive candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award despite the Los Angeles Lakers having a losing record.

Interested teams were said to the LA Clippers, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat.

John Wall – Houston Rockets

Wall had an uneventful tenure with the LA Clippers and was subsequently shuttled to the Rockets. He has been slowed down by injuries but he should still attract a handful of believers or teams looking for depth.

Patrick Beverley – Orlando Magic

The Lakers sent the mighty pest to Orlando to acquire big man Mo Bamba. He’ll very likely to be waived given that the rebuilding Magic are banking on youth as of the moment. Like Wall and Westbrook, he’ll have a bunch of suitors as he is a defensive hound that playoff contenders would love to have.

Terrence Ross – Orlando Magic

The athletic, sweet-shooting swingman has been in Orlando since 2017, and he’s long been rumoured to be traded elsewhere. It didn’t materialize yet again but this time, he may finally be sent packing as the young guns are taking over the Magic squad. Ross is an inside-out thread and should receive a number of offers.

Will Barton – Washington Wizards

Though known to be a jolt in the scoring department, Barton failed to live-up to his role in DC. He was then slowly pushed out of the main rotation as other Wizards showed better potential, like their 2020 lottery pick Deni Avdija. Microwave guard Kendrick Nunn was also picked up via trade, signalling that it’s time to go. Like Ross, Barton should be able to a find a new team given his ability to score in good spurts.

Who are the likely takers?

The top contenders, like the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, or the defending champion Golden State Warriors, may have a hand on some. They can attract easily so free agents understandably flock. Rounding out the list are of course the two LA teams, Clippers and Lakers, as both are always aggressive.