The Miami Heat got what they wanted. The Dallas Mavericks changed their stance on a Klay Thompson buyout, allowing the Heat to acquire the Golden State Warriors legend as a free agent rather than having to give up a player in a trade.
The Warriors are now waiting on a similar Hail Mary buyout move to save an underwhelming offseason. After what we've seen with Thompson on Friday, is there another big name player out there who could get a buyout and hit the market before the season gets underway?
Warriors waiting for their own Hail Mary buyout move
Golden State still have two roster spots available deep into August, suggesting they're at least leaving the flexibility to take advantage of a new and suprise name hitting the market. They've been linked to free agents like Kelly Olynyk, Georges Niang and Brandon Williams over recent weeks, yet no move has taken place, potentially because the Warriors are waiting to see if something else materializes.
The buyout market is even more important to Golden State right now because they essentially lose access to it once the season gets underway. CBA rules stipulate teams above the first apron can't sign players who previously made more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but that only applies to the middle of the season, leaving the Warriors able to sign anyone that becomes available during the offseason.
So, who could become available? Zach LaVine might be the biggest name that's generated murmurs of a buyout at the Sacramento Kings, but that would require a backflip that would be even bigger than what we just saw from the Mavericks.
Golden State couldn't pull off a reunion with Thompson, but what about his former championship teammate Jordan Poole? There's been no suggestion the New Orleans Pelicans are considering such a move, but it has been proposed by a couple of analysts.
Warriors may still struggle to entice buyout players
Just because the Warriors are still eligible to sign a player that gets a buyout and hits the market this offseason, doesn't mean they'll be able to entice said player. Golden State only have minimum contracts to offer as they round out their roster, as opposed to Miami who just gave Thompson a two-year, $13 million deal.
Beyond just the financial element, which veteran players would actually want to join the Warriors in their current state? They appear bound for the Play-In Tournament once again, and there's a lack of upside for them to contend for a deep playoff run.
Thompson prioritized the desire to win over a reunion in the Bay, and there's a chance that reasoning applies to another veteran player should they get a buyout and become available.
