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Who's left on buyout market able to help teams after Dinwiddie, Lowry?

CGTN

Kyle Lowry (#7) of the Miami Heat looks on in the game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, January 17, 2024. /CFP
Kyle Lowry (#7) of the Miami Heat looks on in the game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, January 17, 2024. /CFP

Kyle Lowry (#7) of the Miami Heat looks on in the game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, January 17, 2024. /CFP

Kyle Lowry, 37, has agreed to join the Philadelphia 76ers until the end of the 2023-24 season after reaching a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets. His agency, Priority Sports, posted a video on X on Sunday to announce his decision.

As a player who was born in Philadelphia and went to Villanova University, Lowry is returning home by joining the 76ers. He averaged 8.2 points, four assists and 1.7 triples at 38.5 percent per game in the Heat before he was traded to the Hornets. Though he is no longer the six-time All-Star point guard, his experience is still there.

Moreover, the 76ers don't need Lowry to handle all of the playmaking duties many of which go to Tyrese Maxey. The 37-year-old veteran's role will be more about calming the team down without falling into the opponents' rhythm. He worked with the team's head coach Nick Nurse to win the title in the Toronto Raptors in 2019, so they should know well how to give full play to his talents.

Spencer Dinwiddie (#26) of the Brooklyn Nets shoots in the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 6, 2024. /CFP
Spencer Dinwiddie (#26) of the Brooklyn Nets shoots in the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 6, 2024. /CFP

Spencer Dinwiddie (#26) of the Brooklyn Nets shoots in the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, February 6, 2024. /CFP

Lowry joining the 76ers was only one of the latest deals on the buyout market after the NBA trade deadline day on February 8. Though no blockbuster transaction was made, many veterans who still have ambitions and gas in their tanks as well as role players who have specialties were sent to teams that didn't need them. Some teams that didn't make any move in trading, have been waiting to sign these players once they are released.

Spencer Dinwiddie was waived by the Raptors after he was traded there by the Brooklyn Nets and he has decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 12.6 points, six assists and 1.9 triples at 32 percent per game in the Nets this season. Though he has never been known as an efficient attacker or a solid playmaker, Dinwiddie can do a bit of everything. Such comprehensiveness is exactly what the purple and gold needs in the point guard position off the bench.

Evan Fournier (#13) of the New York Knicks shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden in New York City, October 14, 2023. /CFP
Evan Fournier (#13) of the New York Knicks shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden in New York City, October 14, 2023. /CFP

Evan Fournier (#13) of the New York Knicks shoots in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden in New York City, October 14, 2023. /CFP

Other "big fish" on the buyout market include Evan Fournier, who was sent to the Detroit Pistons by the New York Knicks. Fournier has played only 30 games in the past two seasons and averaged no longer than 17 minutes per appearance, partly because of injury and part because the Knicks gave his role to the younger generation.

The Pistons got rid of a lot of old faces from their roster this season and are likely to focus on helping Cade Cunningham grow, therefore, it was unlikely that would have a big role for Fournier. Though it feels like Fournier has been in the NBA for a long time, he is only 31. As for his form, he averaged 14 points per game for France at the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year.

As a swingman who averaged 13.9 points and two triples at 37.8 percent per game through his career, Fournier should be able to help a playoff team.

Otto Porter Jr. of the Toronto Raptors receives his NBA Championship ring from the Golden State Warriors ahead of the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, January 7, 2024. /CFP
Otto Porter Jr. of the Toronto Raptors receives his NBA Championship ring from the Golden State Warriors ahead of the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, January 7, 2024. /CFP

Otto Porter Jr. of the Toronto Raptors receives his NBA Championship ring from the Golden State Warriors ahead of the game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, January 7, 2024. /CFP

Otto Porter Jr. was sent to the Utah Jazz by the Raptors. His health has been a potential risk since he joined the NBA, but a big-size forward who can stretch the floor is a tempting prospect for teams that want to improve their spacing and size. For example, the Golden State Warriors, which worked with Porter Jr. to win the title in 2022, may be interested in signing him if he is waived by the Jazz.

Thaddeus Young of the Toronto Raptors dunks in the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, January 28, 2024. /CFP
Thaddeus Young of the Toronto Raptors dunks in the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, January 28, 2024. /CFP

Thaddeus Young of the Toronto Raptors dunks in the game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, January 28, 2024. /CFP

Thaddeus Young was waived by the Nets after he was traded there by the Raptors. He has been a particular player these years. On one hand, he has been seen as a classical small-ball center who has some highlights on both offense and defense in isolation with a certain level of passing skills; on the other hand, he doesn't shoot 3-pointers at all.

Young's style of playing will draw attention from the teams that search for a backup big man. If they don't have high expectations from him in the first place, he may bear some happy surprises from time to time.

There are other players with something to contribute if they join the right teams, like Marcus Morris, Bismack Biyombo and Danilo Gallinari. But before any general manager makes a decision, they know well that these players were traded or waived for a reason. When they can provide help, they can also cause problems.

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