Pistons gift Lakers perfect buyout target with latest move

In a predictable fashion, the NBA transaction log has really started to heat up on the day of the trade deadline. There were weeks of stagnation that proved to be the calm before the storm on Thursday. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers have not been a big part of that storm thus far.

At the time of writing this, the Lakers have not made a move at the deadline and it is growing increasingly unlikely that the team does anything substantial. Los Angeles has already missed out on great potential trade targets, which has made the inactivity look even worse by comparison.

Thankfully, making trades at the deadline is not the only way to obtain external help. The trade deadline also spruces up the buyout market and with the Lakers under the first tax apron, there are no restrictions on who the team can sign.

There will certainly be a list of potential buyout candidates once the dust settles after the deadline. But some teams are not even waiting for the dust to settle, as the Detroit Pistons have already waived what would be a slam-dunk buyout signing for the purple and gold.