Buyout additions are generally over-romanticized in today's NBA. For every Kevin Love to the Miami Heat and Russell Westbrook to the L.A. Clippers, there are many, many more post-trade-deadline pickups who never do more than occupy space on a contender's bench or underwhelm in miniaturized roles.

Still, the exceptions underscore why buyout signings matter. It is a chance, however slight, to flesh out rotations with meaningful difference-makers who maybe, just maybe, might become longer-term mainstays.

That opportunity to get your foot in the door with someone who can contribute in some form beyond this season is likewise an undervalued part of the got-him-for-nothing lottery. Westbrook remains with the Clippers. Love is still on the Heat. Reggie Jackson didn't add much to the Denver Nuggets' championship run last year, but he's playing a more pivotal part of the rotation now. Teams and fans will always be suckers for buyout possibilities on the outside shot it leads to their own short- and/or long-term success story.

Identifying candidates who might be the next late-season-for-free gems ahead of the trade deadline is a difficult venture. The new collective bargaining agreement only complicates the process. Teams $7 million or more into the luxury tax cannot sign players off the buyout wire if their original salary exceeds the current non-taxpayer mid-level exception (in this case $12.4 million). That may winnow down the list of names who actively seek post-deadline exits if they can't latch on to an expensive contender.

We are nevertheless going on the early buyout prowl anyway.

This list will be limited to players who are making more than the minimum, who aren't guaranteed any money beyond this season and who could be bought out—which entails them conceding some of their salary—rather than outright waived. Finally, and most importantly, be sure to keep your expectations in check.

Guys closing out their first contracts don't typically stumble into buyout territory. If you want your team to take a flier on Precious Achiuwa, Killian Hayes, Tre Mann, Alexsej Pokuševski or someone else, please email your lead basketball executive. Players who have value beyond this season or as summer sign-and-trade candidates won't appear here, either. Maybe the Washington Wizards don't trade Tyus Jones. That doesn't mean they'll just give him away after Feb. 8.