The most talked-about trade date in the NBA is the trade deadline. Last year, there were 16 deals agreed upon on just the last day to do business. This year, the trade deadline is still a ways out, as deadline day isn't until Feb. 5, 2026. There could very well be movement well before then, though. Ja Morant, Domantas Sabonis, and Anthony Davis are just a few of the players who have already been rumored as trade candidates.
A season after Luka Doncic was traded in arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history, it has to be assumed there will be some jaw-dropping deals this year. However, not everybody is eligible to be traded right away. A handful of players are ineligible to be dealt until Dec. 15. So, which players fit this description, and why can't they be traded quite yet?
Why can't certain players be traded until Dec. 15?
NBA players who sign a new contract in the offseason can't be traded until Dec. 15 or three months after they agreed to their new deal, whichever comes later. The rule is in place to prevent teams from signing players with the intention of trading them for capital as soon as possible. The recently signed trade rule applies to players signed before Sept. 15 in the offseason. If a player was signed after that, then they can't be traded for three months after they put pen to paper.
There is also a criterion preventing certain players from being traded until Jan. 15. That is a smaller list of players and only applies to players who re-signed with their previous team for a 20% raise using bird/early bird rights with teams over the cap.
NBA players eligible to be traded on Dec. 15 (Eastern Conference)
Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) dunks the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second half at Capital One Arena.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Atlanta Hawks:
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
N'Faly Dante
Luke Kennard
Boston Celtics:
Chris Boucher
Luka Garza
Josh Minott
Brooklyn Nets:
Cam Thomas
Day'Ron Sharpe
Ziaire Williams
Charlotte Hornets :
Mason Plumlee
Chicago Bulls:
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Larry Nance Jr.
Detroit Pistons:
Javonte Green
Caris LeVert
Duncan Robinson
Indiana Pacers:
No players
Miami Heat:
Milwaukee Bucks:
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Cole Anthony
Amir Coffey
Gary Harris
Kevin Porter Jr.
Bobby Portis
Taurean Prince
Jericho Sims
Gary Trent Jr.
Myles Turner
New York Knicks:
Jordan Clarkson
Landry Shamet
Guerschon Yabusele
Orlando Magic:
Tyus Jones
Mo Wagner
Philadelphia 76ers:
Justin Edwards
Eric Gordon
Toronto Raptors:
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Garrett Temple
Washington Wizards:
Marvin Bagley
Anthony Gil
NBA players eligible to be traded on Dec. 15 (Western Conference)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) gestures to his team during a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Paycom Center.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Dallas Mavericks:
Dante Exum
Kyrie Irving
D'Angelo Russell
Denver Nuggets:
Bruce Brown
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Golden State Warriors:
No players
Article Continues Below
Houston Rockets:
Clint Capela
Dorian Finney-Smith
Jeff Green
Aaron Holiday
Josh Okogie
Jae'Sean Tate
Fred VanVleet
Los Angeles Clippers:
Nic Batum
Bradley Beal
James Harden
Brook Lopez
Chris Paul
Los Angeles Lakers:
Deandre Ayton
Jaxson Hayes
Jake LaRavia
Marcus Smart
Memphis Grizzlies:
Ty Jerome
Jock Landale
Cam Spencer
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Bones Hyland
Joe Ingles
Julius Randle
New Orleans Pelicans:
Kevon Looney
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Ajay Mitchell
Phoenix Suns:
Collin Gillespie
Nigel Hayes-Davis
Portland Trail Blazers:
Damian Lillard
Blake Wesley
Sacramento Kings:
Drew Eubanks
Doug McDermott
Dennis Schroder
San Antonio Spurs:
Bismack Biyombo
Luke Kornett
Jordan McLaughlin
Lindy Waters
Utah Jazz:
No players
Newly signed player trade restriction takeaways
The NBA trade landscape is already changing, and trade action could get hot starting on Dec. 15. The Los Angeles Clippers, for example, have had a rough start to the year and may end up as trade sellers because of their aging core. They just so happen to have five players who become trade-eligible on Dec. 15.
James Harden is the biggest name of the bunch. The former MVP is no stranger to being traded, as he has asked out of a number of his previous homes. With the trajectory the Clippers are on, it would shock nobody if Harden requested a trade yet again. Brook Lopez, Chris Paul, and Nic Batum hold some value, too, as all three have experience competing in key roles for playoff teams.
The Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks have even more Dec. 15 trade-eligible players than the Clippers. The Rockets had arguably the best offseason in the NBA. It was highlighted by a trade for Kevin Durant in what was the biggest trade in NBA history, but the team did plenty of work in free agency, too. Most of their offseason business happened before Fred VanVleet tore his ACL. He is not only one of the players limited by the recently signed rule, but his injury could change how the Rockets operate ahead of the trade deadline. The team wants to contend this year, but they may have to get another point guard to replace VanVleet.
The Bucks have a whopping 10 players eligible to be traded on Dec. 15. The team underwent a massive roster reconstruction, as the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard pairing never worked out as planned. It isn't quite clear yet if the new look Bucks are also improved. Lillard happens to be a Dec. 15 trade rule player, too.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers are the three teams without any players becoming trade-eligible on Dec. 15. In addition to the aforementioned players, Deandre Ayton, Clint Capela, Kyrie Irving, D'Angelo Russell, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jordan Clarkson, Myles Turner, Tre Jones, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Tim Hardaway Jr. are some of the other big-name players handicapped by the rule.
Regardless, it is unlikely that many trades will happen at or around Dec. 15. Most of the magic in the NBA still happens around the NBA trade deadline. Even so, there is no predicting just what the NBA trade world holds in store a year after Doncic was dealt.