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The NBA offseason is a time for teams to make moves and acquire key players to strengthen their rosters. That also often means that other players have to be moved or cut to make space for new arrivals.
Trade scenarios often see a large chunk of players leave teams, such as the LA Lakers moving multiple pieces to acquire Russell Westbrook. There are also scenarios where players are cut from rosters.
Once waived from a franchise, players have the freedom to talk to other teams in the hope of joining their roster. These players often feature in training camps ahead of the season, which helps teams determine whether the said players are worth adding to their rosters or not.
Ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, many players were cut from the rosters of several teams. On that note, here's a look at three recently waived players who could be signed by other teams during the 2021-22 NBA season.
#1 Avery Bradley
One of the most surprising names in the list of players waived ahead of the 2021-22 regular season is Avery Bradley. He played for the Miami Heat in the 2020-21 season and won a championship as the starting point guard for the LA Lakers the year before. Bradley was with the Golden State Warriors on a training camp invite in the 2021 offseason.
While he is not a solid playmaker, Bradley is one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. His ability to lock down and track point guards is an impressive trait that has benefitted both the Lakers and the Heat.
He shot a career-best 42.1% from beyond the arc during his time with the Miami Heat His game also features reliable finishing at the rim and shooting off the pick.
Bradley was packaged to the Houston Rockets in the 2020-21 season by the Heat to acquire Victor Oladipo. After the team refused to pick up his player option, he ended up as a free agent, and played for the Golden State Warriors in the preseason.
Considering his availability, Bradley could be a great addition to any NBA team looking to make a playoff run. The defense and shooting he offers could help add depth to a team's roster and add an experienced veteran presence in their ranks.
#2 Stanley Johnson
Stanley Johnson was drafted into the NBA as the eighth overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2015. With the prototypical build for a shooting guard, Johnson also has an upside as a defensive player, thanks to his long wingspan.
Having had most of his success during his time with the Pistons, Johnson spent the next few seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors. While he did not receive too many minutes, Johnson showed that he could rebound and score while on the drive.
His most recent stint saw him play for the Chicago Bulls. With the Bulls' lineup experiencing a dynamic change in the 2021 offseason, many of their players were waived.
Stanley Johnson could be a good pick-up for a team looking to add depth to their guard-forward rotation. As a third stringer, Johnson still has a major upside.
#3 Gary Payton II
Gary Payton II is the son of NBA legend Gary Payton. Payton II went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft before joining the Rio Grande Vipers, where he dropped 51 points in a game.
After bouncing around several teams and back-and-forth trips to the G-League, Payton II re-entered the G-League via the draft, where he was selected as the 15th overall. Following an impressive 2021 season with the Raptors 905, Payton II was given multiple 10-day contracts with the Golden State Warriors before he signed for the rest of the 2020-21 season.
Although he re-signed with the team, Payton II was cut from the team after the preseason ended. Given his availability in the market, Payton II would be a great addition to any roster.
He is a great defensive presence, and shows a lot of hustle when he plays. As an athletic guard, Payton II is very mobile on the floor. He has also shown consistency in shooting from distance. He averaged 50% from beyond the arc in the 2020-21 season with the Warriors.
He barely saw any playing time with the Warriors, but Gary Payton II can contribute to any team if he is given minutes. Even as a player in deep rotation, Payton II could bring great energy and hustle to teams.
Guess the Lakers players!
