General Managers spent Thursday battling a spreadsheet, not each other. In previous years, the NBA Buyout Market 2026 would have opened with a frenzy of agent calls and impulsive signings. However, this deadline passed with a padlock clicking shut, not a bang. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement suffocated the usual chaos. Front offices from Boston to Oklahoma City stopped asking “Who can help us win?” and started calculating “Who are we legally allowed to sign?”
That financial paralysis has completely rewritten the rules for this February. New regulations bar teams operating above the second apron, a group that currently includes several title favorites, from signing expensive buyout players. If a player’s pre-waiver salary exceeded the mid-level exception, they are now off-limits to contenders like the Celtics and Suns. Suddenly, the talent pool has split in two. Scouts now describe the market in two distinct tiers: the “Forbidden Fruit,” attainable only by the league’s middle class, and the “Bargain Bin,” where the heavyweights must scavenge.
The Shifting Landscape
For a decade, the buyout market served as a playground for the elite. Super-teams historically grabbed veterans like Blake Griffin for pennies on the dollar. The new CBA slammed that door shut. Now, the power has shifted to franchises like the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers. These teams possess the financial flexibility to offer what the contenders cannot: eligibility.
Yet still, the talent is there. Rebuilding franchises like Washington and Portland have pivoted fully toward the 2026 Draft lottery. That shift unleashed a wave of high-level veterans onto the waiver wire. We ranked the top available players based on impact, contract status, and the constraints of this new financial reality.
10. Richaun Holmes
The Highlight: A buzzer-beating putback against the Sixers in early January that silenced his former home crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Data: Per Second Spectrum tracking, Holmes still ranks in the 83rd percentile for screen assist efficiency, a metric that contenders starving for offensive flow value highly.
The Legacy: Holmes embodies the “energy big” archetype squeezed out by the modern spacing revolution. For a team needing fifteen minutes of rim-running, perhaps the Mavericks or Grizzlies, he represents a low-risk, high-motor insurance policy.
9. Seth Curry
The Highlight: A 19-point explosion in the fourth quarter against Charlotte two weeks ago, proving the family shooting gene hasn’t faded with age.
The Data: Even at 35, Curry is shooting 41.2% on catch-and-shoot threes this season, a number that virtually guarantees him a roster spot on a playoff bench.
The Legacy: Spacing acts as the oxygen of the modern NBA, and Curry functions as a walking respirator. He doesn’t offer defense or playmaking anymore. However, in a seven-game series where a single zone defense can stall an offense, his gravity remains a legitimate weapon.
8. Kelly Olynyk
The Highlight: A no-look bounce pass that froze Mitchell Robinson and hit a cutting teammate for an easy layup, showcasing his unique playmaking chops.
The Data: Olynyk is one of only three centers this season to average at least 3.5 assists per 36 minutes while shooting above 36% from deep.
The Legacy: He operates as the ultimate connector. Olynyk greases the wheels of a stagnant second unit. While his defense remains a liability, his ability to pull opposing centers like Rudy Gobert out of the paint makes him a tactical nuke for a creative coach.
7. Larry Nance Jr.
The Highlight: A chase-down block on Jalen Green last week that looked like a highlight reel from his 2018 Cavaliers tenure.
The Data: The Hawks’ defense performed 4.8 points per 100 possessions better with Nance on the floor this season.
The Legacy: Nance fits the “switchability” mold perfectly. In an era where teams hunt mismatches relentlessly, a small-ball five who can survive on an island against a guard provides immense value. Rumors link him to the Lakers, who hope his defensive versatility can bolster their rotation.
6. Malcolm Brogdon
The Highlight: A steadying 10-point, 5-assist quarter to close out a rare Wizards win in December, displaying the calmness that won him Sixth Man of the Year.
The Data: Brogdon boasts a 4.1 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, the highest mark of any player on this list.
The Legacy: Injuries always appear as the asterisk next to his name. But when healthy, Brogdon performs as a starting-caliber guard. His contract situation in Washington made him a necessary casualty. Consequently, for a team like the Sixers needing a secondary ball-handler who doesn’t panic, he is a perfect fit.
5. Harrison Barnes
The Highlight: A clutch corner three to force overtime against the Pelicans, delivered with the stoic expression that has defined his fourteen-year career.
The Data: Barnes has played in 94% of his team’s games over the last three seasons, providing durability that is statistically anomalous for a veteran.
The Legacy: He is the professional’s professional. Barnes won’t win you a game single-handedly. On the other hand, he will never lose you one with a mental error. Contenders value his low-maintenance consistency; he is a plug-and-play wing who understands spacing perfectly.
4. Nikola Vucevic
The Highlight: A 24-rebound masterpiece against the Pistons in late December, a reminder that he remains one of the league’s premier glass-eaters.
The Data: Vucevic is averaging 16.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, making him the only player on the buyout market averaging a double-double.
The Legacy: The Bulls finally pulled the plug on an era defined by mediocrity. Vucevic shouldn’t be scapegoated. His defensive foot speed concerns playoff scouts, but his offensive skillset, post scoring, passing, and shooting, offers a different dimension for a team like the Thunder that lacks true size.
3. CJ McCollum
The Highlight: A 35-point barrage against his former team, Portland, where he scored from every level of the floor with ruthless efficiency.
The Data: McCollum is shooting a blistering 46% on mid-range pull-ups this season, a lost art that becomes crucial when playoff defenses run teams off the three-point line.
The Legacy: He ranks as one of the best scorers never to make an All-Star team. His exit from the Wizards feels like a mercy rule invocation. McCollum provides instant offense. Ultimately, for a team struggling to generate half-court points, look at the Orlando Magic, he could change the series.
2. Robert Williams III
The Highlight: A gravity-defying alley-oop finish followed immediately by a weak-side block that pinned the ball against the backboard, silencing the Moda Center.
The Data: When on the floor, Williams holds opponents to 48% shooting at the rim, an elite figure that rivals Victor Wembanyama.
The Legacy: The “Time Lord” remains one of the NBA’s great “what ifs.” His knees cause constant anxiety. Yet still, his ceiling sits higher than anyone else on this list. If a team can get 15 minutes of vintage Williams, vertical spacing and terrorizing rim protection, they change their defensive geometry.
1. Khris Middleton
The Highlight: A methodical 12-point sequence in the clutch against Boston, using his size to rise over smaller defenders in the mid-post.
The Data: Despite his age, Middleton is averaging 1.15 points per possession in isolation, ranking in the top 15% of the league.
The Legacy: He is the crown jewel of the NBA Buyout Market 2026. However, his $33 million salary makes him the ultimate “Second Apron Casualty.” Title favorites like Boston and Phoenix cannot sign him. This opens the door for a team like the Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat to add a legitimate third option. Middleton brings championship DNA and playmaking size that simply does not exist elsewhere.
The Playoff Picture
The NBA Buyout Market 2026 will be remembered for the distinct lines it drew in the sand. The second apron successfully legislated against the super-team accumulation of the past. It forced front offices to act smarter, not just richer. As we head toward the postseason, the teams that navigate these restrictions with creativity will succeed. They must find the specific skill set to unlock their rotation rather than chasing the biggest name. These aren’t stars in their prime. But one of them might hit the shot that decides the season.
READ ALSO:
NBA Minimum Salary Scale 2026-27: Vet vs Rookie War
FAQs
What is the NBA second apron rule?
The second apron is a strict salary cap threshold. Teams that spend above this limit face severe penalties, including being banned from signing buyout players who earned over $14.1 million.
Who is the best player in the NBA buyout market 2026?
Khris Middleton is widely considered the best available player. However, due to his high previous salary, he is ineligible to sign with top contenders like the Celtics or Suns.
Can the Lakers or Celtics sign buyout players?
It depends on the player’s salary. They cannot sign anyone whose previous contract was higher than the mid-level exception (approx. $14.1 million), which rules out expensive stars.
When is the deadline to sign a buyout player for the playoffs?
Players must be waived by their previous team and signed by March 1st to be eligible for the postseason roster.
Why are teams like the Magic and Pacers favored in the buyout market?
Unlike the contenders over the luxury tax, these teams have cap space and are below the “apron,” allowing them to sign any free agent regardless of their previous salary.
