NBA · 4 days ago

Ranking the 10 NBA Players Most Likely to be Traded in the 2026 Offseason

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us! Which Player is Moved 1st?
Join the NBA Offseason Trade Debate

The 2026 offseason is officially under high alert, and the names on the block are enough to change the entire hierarchy of the NBA.

Who is the Crown Jewel of this class?
- The Bucks' Gamble: Is it time for Milwaukee to pull the trigger on a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, or will they not get enough simply in return?
- The Morant Reset: Does a Ja Morant trade provide the clean slate Memphis needs, or is the organization making a mistake by dealing a 26-year-old superstar at his lowest value?
- The GSW Pivot: Did the Jimmy Butler experiment in the Bay Area fail, and which contender is most likely to gamble on his veteran leadership?
Drop your take in the comments: Which of these stars is most likely to be on a new team next year?
10 NBA Players Most Likely to be Traded in 2026
10 Biggest Names on the 2026 NBA Trade Block

With the lottery done and draft around the corner, the 2026 NBS offseason is shaping up to be a total reality check for franchises that have plateaued with their current cores. After a relatively quiet trade deadline in which stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant stayed put, the floodgates are expected to open this summer.

We are seeing a clear divide between teams looking to jumpstart a rebuild and contenders desperate for one final piece. Whether it’s moving a stable veteran anchor to free up cap space or cashing in on a hot shooter before their value dips, these 10 players are fueling the trade block rumor mill.

We’ve looked at team situations, the contract leverage, and the internal tension to rank the stars most likely to be wearing a new jersey by opening night.
10. Brook Lopez | Center
2025-26 Team: Los Angeles Clippers

As LA contemplates a broader reset, the 38-year-old Lopez is the most likely veteran to be moved for a younger asset. He remains a stable veteran anchor who provides rim protection and floor spacing, but his timeline no longer aligns with an LA team that might be heading toward a bit of a youth movement. For a contender needing a drop-coverage specialist who won't clog the paint on offense, Lopez is the ultimate plug-and-play target.

2025-26 Stats: 8.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG
8. Jerami Grant | Forward
2025-26 Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Portland is officially leaning into a full-scale youth movement around their backcourt, which makes Grant the most obvious trade chip left on the roster. At 32 years old, he remains a playmaking and scoring threat who can defend multiple positions and knock down the long ball at a clinical rate.

Grant's contract is hefty, but for a contender needing a stable veteran presence who doesn't need a high usage rate to be effective, Grant is the perfect missing piece to target this summer.

2025-26 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 3.5 REB, 38.9% 3PT
7. Julius Randle | Forward
2025-26 Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Randle has been a solid contributor in Minnesota since his move from New York, but the Timberwolves' looming cap crunch is making his status as a stable veteran anchor a luxury they might not be able to afford. While his regular seasons have been solid, his less-than-stellar play this postseason may sour the front office on Randle. Sometimes his fit with Anthony Edwards has had its moments of confusion in the half-court.

With Minnesota needing to find more defensive-minded players, Randle is the obvious piece to move for a package of depth and picks. After struggling against San Antonio in the WCF semis, the situation is eerily reminiscent of when New York shipped out Randle after a less-than-inspired postseason.

2025-26 Stats: 21.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5.0 APG
6. Michael Porter Jr. | Forward
2025-26 Team: Brooklyn Nets

Since arriving in Brooklyn, Porter Jr. has remained a physical presence with a shooting stroke that is tough to block. However, the Nets are sitting on a mountain of draft picks and are looking to clear the books for a total rebuild, making MPJ’s massive contract a prime candidate for relocation.

He offers top-tier ability as a floor spacer, but his health history and the pure volume of his deal make him a polarizing name in trade war rooms. It makes sense for the rebuilding Nets to scrape the sheet clean in this rebuild.

2025-26 Stats: 24.2 PPG, 7.1 REB, 3.4 3PG
5. Zion Williamson | Forward
2025-26 Team: New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans have been patient, but another season of mixed availability and fit issues alongside the rest of the New Orleans core has the front office listening. Zion is the ultimate physical anomaly, a 285-pound force of nature that creates chaos whenever he steps on the floor. However, the recurring injuries and questions about his long-term conditioning have made him a high-risk, high-reward candidate for a team willing to gamble their future on his health.

The Pels haven't made any strides with Zion, so if they can move his contract, it's certainly something to consider. He has mentioned he didn't see himself in the Big Easy long-term, so the decision shouldn't be so difficult.

2025-26 Stats: 21.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 60% FG%
4. Kyrie Irving | Guard
2025-26 Team: Dallas Mavericks

Despite a relatively stable stint in Dallas, the Mavericks' volatility and culture shift with a young core led by Cooper Flagg make Kyrie a logical trade candidate. He is still one of the most dangerous guards with the ball in his hands when healthy, but his age, sheer size of his contract, and injury history make him a polarizing name in front offices. It's tough to gauge the franchise when your starting point guard misses the entire 2025-26 campaign recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery.

If Dallas feels they can't get past the second round with the current backcourt, they may look to move Kyrie for a younger, more defensive-minded wing package. This is now Flagg's team, something Kyrie might take issue with, so before the drama begins, it makes sense to deal the veteran scorer

2024-25 Stats: 24.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.6 APG
3. Jimmy Butler | Forward
2025-26 Team: Golden State Warriors

The experiment of pairing Butler with the Warriors' aging core didn't result in the deep playoff run the Bay Area expected. Now, as a veteran anchor on a heavy contract, Butler is a prime candidate to be moved again as Golden State looks to slash its luxury tax bill and get younger.

Even with his scoring production dipping to 20.0 PPG in limited action after suffering a season-ending torn right ACL, his defensive intensity and offensive skills remain a high-value asset. Butler could be a fit for a contender looking for a one-year rental to get over the hump, or be part of a deal when our No. 1 selection is moved.

2025-26 Stats: 20.0 PPG, 4.9 APG, 5.6 RPG
2. Ja Morant | Guard
2025-26 Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Morant’s future in Memphis has reached a breaking point, with growing tension between the star guard and the organization making an offseason move feel more like a certainty than a possibility. The Grizzlies have already begun a broader roster shakeup, and while Morant's market value took a hit after missing time with an elbow injury and some off-court issues.

The 26-year-old is still dangerous in transition, constantly applying rim pressure at a high level. Ja can also run an offense and be a creative facilitator. Memphis is reportedly listening to offers involving picks and young players to officially kick off its next era.

2025-26 Stats: 19.5 PPG, 8.1 APG, 1.0 SPG
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo | Forward
2025-26 Team: Milwaukee Bucks

The rumors that swirled around the trade deadline haven't gone away; they’ve only intensified after a missed postseason for the Bucks. At 31 years old, Giannis remains one of the most dominant players in basketball. Still, Milwaukee’s inability to surround him with a championship-caliber rotation has led to heavy speculation about a mutual pivot, with the Bucks apparently listening to calls.

Giannis is still a physical freak capable of dropping 30.0 PPG and 12.0 RPG, but the Bucks' steep asking price, reportedly including elite young talent and multiple first-rounders, is the only thing keeping him in the 414 for now.

2025-26 Stats: 27.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 62.4% FG%
You Tell Us! Which Player is Moved 1st?
Join the NBA Offseason Trade Debate

The 2026 offseason is officially under high alert, and the names on the block are enough to change the entire hierarchy of the NBA.

Who is the Crown Jewel of this class?
- The Bucks' Gamble: Is it time for Milwaukee to pull the trigger on a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, or will they not get enough simply in return?
- The Morant Reset: Does a Ja Morant trade provide the clean slate Memphis needs, or is the organization making a mistake by dealing a 26-year-old superstar at his lowest value?
- The GSW Pivot: Did the Jimmy Butler experiment in the Bay Area fail, and which contender is most likely to gamble on his veteran leadership?
Drop your take in the comments: Which of these stars is most likely to be on a new team next year?
10 NBA Players Most Likely to be Traded in 2026
10 Biggest Names on the 2026 NBA Trade Block

With the lottery done and draft around the corner, the 2026 NBS offseason is shaping up to be a total reality check for franchises that have plateaued with their current cores. After a relatively quiet trade deadline in which stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant stayed put, the floodgates are expected to open this summer.

We are seeing a clear divide between teams looking to jumpstart a rebuild and contenders desperate for one final piece. Whether it’s moving a stable veteran anchor to free up cap space or cashing in on a hot shooter before their value dips, these 10 players are fueling the trade block rumor mill.

We’ve looked at team situations, the contract leverage, and the internal tension to rank the stars most likely to be wearing a new jersey by opening night.