This article is part of our NBA Waiver Wire series.
The "buyout" market got a lot more interesting this week, as the Nets cut ties with Joe Johnson. Johnson is now a free agent and likely to sign with a playoff contender for the stretch run and playoffs. And at just 64 percent owned, there's a very good chance he's available to help your team as well.
As with many other NBA players, assessments of Johnson's value is colored - unfairly and/or incorrectly - by his enormous contract. Sure, betting big on high-priced players like Johnson and Deron Williams and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett sank the Nets as effectively as that iceberg sank Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The fact remains, Johnson is still a quality player. For much of this season, especially since injuries sidelined Jarrett Jack, Johnson has been Brooklyn's only real threat on offense. Brook Lopez and Thad Young are nice players, but they need someone else to get them the ball. Johnson's iso-Joe nickname is well-earned. In fact, that isolation game is exactly what makes Johnson an interesting play for the remainder of this season. There's no need to worry about him learning some new system; every team in the league knows how to isolate and let a talented wing work one-on-one when need be.
The leading contender for Johnson's services seems to be Miami currently, but no deal can be finalized until Johnson clears waivers. He makes a lot of sense for the Heat, as someone who could fill some of the void created by Chris Bosh's absence or serve as a Dwyane Wade-style lead guard when Wade is off the court. (That said, there are reportedly major salary cap/luxury tax implications to any deal for Miami, so don't be surprised if Johnson lands somewhere else entirely.)
Minnesota has already released Andre Miller, and his ex-teammate Kevin Martin (41 percent) could be the next veteran scorer to hit free agency. Miller is a backup at best and probably won't figure in too many fantasy scenarios, but Martin could wind up with whichever team is runner-up in the Joe Johnson Derby.
Don't sleep on Michael Beasley or Jordan Crawford, who will be available as well after completing their seasons in China.
Picks for the Week:
Percent-owned stats are from Yahoo - all the usual caveats apply.
Derrick Rose (89 percent) - Let me pretend to be a financial advisor for a moment and ask, "what's your risk tolerance?" Rose has been putting up very good numbers since Jimmy Butler got hurt… but he's a 50/50 proposition to play in any given game.
Kyle Korver (86 percent) - Korver's season stats are fairly pedestrian - for him. But for the last month he's been producing at a level much closer to last season, when he was one of the best buys in any fantasy NBA format.
Eric Gordon (70 percent) - Expected back in the lineup this weekend, though he may be on a minutes restriction initially.
Darren Collison (63 percent) - Rajon Rondo is dealing with both turf toe and tendinitis in his thumb - injuries that typically require some rest. Figure Collison will get a week's worth of starts - if not more - at some point in the near future.
Mirza Teletovic (42 percent) - Exploded for 30 points against his ex-teammates in a loss to Brooklyn on Thursday. That performance may push Teletovic well ahead of Kris Humphries in the competition for power forward minutes in Phoenix.
Iman Shumpert (7 percent) - Could be back in the Cavs lineup for Friday's game.
JaMychal Green (4 percent) - Moved into the Grizzlies' starting lineup in Marc Gasol's absence.
