Buyout season is here. We've already had one buyout (Torrey Craig with the Bulls, signed in Boston) and another lined up — the Ben Simmons era with the Brooklyn Nets is about to come to an end, he is finalizing a buyout with the Nets and then will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jones seems more likely to be keeper for the Wizards through the rest of the season before they evaluate whether to pick up his guarantee for 2025-26. A second-round pick in 2023, Jones’ anemic offense prevented him from gaining traction in Sacramento, and he was thrown into a deadline deal for Memphis’ Jake LaRavia.

Based on the collective bargaining agreement, there are certain restrictions that will not allow teams above the first or second luxury tax apron to sign players who made more than the mid-level exception. Those teams are the Celtics, Nuggets, Lakers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Suns.