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          Projecting the impactful NBA buyout market

          David Zalubowski/AP Photo

          The second transaction season started when the trade deadline expired at 3:01 p.m. ET on Thursday.

          As we saw last year in Philadelphia, the buyout market can change the course of a team's season. The additions of Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli cemented the Philadelphia 76ers' rotation for the 2018 playoffs.

          Before taking a look at the teams with roster spots, what players could be become available and the best free agents not in the NBA, we first need to explain the exact science of the buyout.

          The buyout

          Several factors can lead to a player reducing his salary for the opportunity to sign with a new team, including playing time and leaving a rebuilding team for a contender. The key to any buyout is making sure there is a landing spot for your client. A player should never leave significant money on the table without a team waiting on deck to sign him.

          For a player to be eligible for the playoffs, the waiver must take place by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 1. Players signed to a 10-day contract also are playoff eligible, even if the contract expires after March 1.

          Buyout and free-agent options

          Robin Lopez (Chicago)

          What happens with DeAndre Jordan in New York could dictate if Lopez's representatives approach the Bulls management about a buyout. If Jordan is on the open market, that means one fewer team -- like the Golden State Warriors -- will need a center.

          Despite Chicago being in another rebuilding season, Lopez will not take a buyout unless he has a roster spot secured. Lopez has $4.9 million left on his contract.

          Markieff Morris

          Morris would be the top name on the buyout list, had he not suffered a neck injury in December. The timeline for his recovery was set at six weeks, which means he would be cleared to return to full basketball activities after the All-Star break.

          While there is interest among playoff teams, there will be a two-step process before a team signs him. First, he will need full medical clearance. Second, a team probably will put him through a workout to check his physical condition.

          Morris has appeared in 19 playoff games, averaging 11.4 PPG.

          Zach Randolph

          The veteran was waived by Dallas after being acquired in a trade. Because Randolph has not played since March 19, there is no guarantee a team would sign him without a workout.

          Signed to a two-year, $24 million contract in 2017, the 37-year-old had averaged 14.5 points with a PER of 17.4 before the Kings shifted gears to focus on their young players.

          Randolph has played in 70 postseason games in his career.

          Carmelo Anthony

          We are in uncharted territory when a future Basketball Hall of Famer and 24-PPG career scorer is looking for employment in mid-February. Waived by the Bulls on Feb. 1, Anthony will be on his fifth team in seven months when he signs a new contract. The logical choice is the Lakers, now that they have created a roster spot.

          Because of a clause in his buyout with Atlanta, any additional salary earned with a new team will be deducted from the $25.5 million owed by the Hawks.

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          Free agents broken down by position

          Point guards

          • Ron Baker

          • Wade Baldwin IV

          • Lorenzo Brown

          • Michael Carter-Williams

          • Mario Chalmers

          • Walt Lemon Jr.

          • Andrew Harrison

          • Milos Teodosic

          Wings

          • Arron Afflalo

          • Darius Johnson-Odom

          • Ben McLemore

          • Jodie Meeks

          • Daniel Hamilton

          • Kendrick Nunn

          • Brandon Paul

          • Cam Reynolds

          • Nick Young

          • Zach Lofton

          Power forward

          • Quincy Acy

          • Tyler Davis

          • Terrence Jones

          • Jameel Warney

          • Okaro White

          • Derrick Williams

          • Henry Ellenson

          Centers

          • Marcin Gortat

          • Dakari Johnson

          • Eric Moreland

          • Brandan Wright

          • Tyler Zeller

          On the fence

          DeAndre Jordan (New York)

          There is some financial irony to Jordan opting out of his contract with the Clippers, signing with the Mavericks in July and eventually getting traded to New York. On the surface, opting out of $24.1 million to sign a $22.9 million contract makes little sense. However, because there's no state taxes in Texas, the lost $1.2 million could be earned back. Now, Jordan is in New York with $8.9 million left on his contract, facing one of the higher state tax rates.

          Despite the Knicks having little interest right now in a buyout, the former All-Star is the best available if circumstances change in the next three weeks. Jordan ranks No. 2 in defensive real plus-minus among centers.

          Unlikely to get bought out

          Dewayne Dedmon and Vince Carter (Atlanta)

          The Hawks surprised many when they agreed to a buyout with point guard Jeremy Lin. Lin was expected to be on the roster past the March 1 deadline and continue to serve as a mentor to rookie Trae Young. Now with Lin off to Toronto, Atlanta will fill his spot with a player in the G League or one recently waived at the trade deadline (think Wade Baldwin).

          While Lin was waived, don't expect the same for Dedmon and Carter. Carter, has served as an extension of rookie head coach Lloyd Pierce on a roster featuring recent first-round picks. Dedmon is on pace to start 100 games in his two seasons in Atlanta, and he could be back as a free agent.

          JR Smith (Cleveland)

          A change in the 2017 collective bargaining agreement has left Cleveland with a valuable asset in Smith. Because his full 2019-20 salary ($15.7 million) can be used in a trade until July 1, Smith probably will be on the roster past March 1. Only $3.7 million of Smith's contract is protected if he is waived before his deal becomes fully guaranteed in July.

          For example. Smith can be traded to Brooklyn after the season for Allen Crabbe and a first-round pick (via Denver). The move would help Brooklyn clear $18.5 million in room and allow the Cavaliers to receive draft compensation. Under the old rules, only the protected salary total would have counted for matching purposes in trades.

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          Teams with an open roster spot

          Out of the currently projected playoff teams, 11 have available roster spots to chase key rotation players such as DeAndre Jordan. Then there are lottery-bound teams -- like the New York Knicks -- who will be scouring the G League, using their open roster spots for long-term additions.

          Teams can sign a player to a salary greater than the minimum exception if they have other exceptions available, which are listed below. The Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards also have the disabled player exception (DPE) to sign or claim a player who has one year left on his contract. The exception expires on March 11. Starting Jan. 10, each available exception (except for the DPE) began to prorate.

          The current playoff teams

          • BKN (1 spot; minimum exception)

          • BOS (1 spot; minimum exception; signing a player would cost Boston $1.50 for every $1 spent)

          • GSW (1 spot; minimum exception; signing a player would cost Golden State $3.75 for every $1 spent)

          • HOU (3 spots; minimum, taxpayer midlevel and trade exceptions; the Rockets are $635K below the luxury tax)

          • LAC (1 spot, biannual and minimum exceptions)

          • MIA (2 spots; minimum exception and taxpayer midlevel; signing a player would cost Miami $1.50 for every $1 spent)

          • MIL (1 spot; minimum exception; the Bucks are $965K below the luxury tax)

          • OKC (3 spots, minimum, taxpayer midlevel and trade exception; signing a player would cost OKC $4.25 for every $1 spent)

          • PHI (0 spots, room midlevel and minimum exception; Philadelphia would need to waive a player to create a roster spot)

          • TOR (2 spots; taxpayer midlevel, trade and minimum exceptions; signing a player would cost Toronto $2.50 for every $1 spent; has one active 10-day contract)

          On the outside of the top eight

          • ATL (2 spots; minimum exception)

          • CHI (1 spot; room midlevel and minimum exception)

          • DAL (1 spot; room midlevel and minimum exception)

          • LAL (1 spot; partial room midlevel and minimum exception)

          • MIN (1 spot; partial midlevel, bi-annual, minimum and trade exceptions)

          • NYK (3 spots; partial midlevel and minimum exception; has one active 10-day contract)

          • PHX (1 spot; partial room midlevel and minimum exception; has one active 10-day contract)

          • SAC (1 spot; room midlevel and minimum exception; has one active 10-day contract)

          • WAS (1 spot; room midlevel and minimum exception; has one active 10-day contract)

          Signed with a new team