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As the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline approaches, chatter is growing around several high-profile players.
After stunning deals like last season's blockbuster that swapped Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, nothing seems off the table.
Teams on the brink of a rebuild are weighing offers for their stars, while contenders are eyeing potential additions for a title push.
Below, BasketNews breaks down the biggest names—from MVP-caliber superstars to impactful mid-tier talents—who are rumored to be on the move, why they might be dealt, and where they could land.
Biggest names to watch ahead of the NBA trade deadline
Giannis Antetokounmpo
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The two-time MVP's name has shockingly entered trade rumor discussions this season, a scenario almost unheard of for a superstar in his prime.
In early December, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks opened talks about his future.
With Milwaukee hovering around .500 despite Giannis averaging over 30 points, frustration has set in. This has led to speculation that the franchise could "explore moving on" from its franchise icon if the team can't right the ship.
Such a move would be seismic. Players of Antetokounmpo's caliber are rarely traded in their primes, but league insiders believe it's a matter of when, not if, he might change teams.
Milwaukee's front office is publicly maintaining confidence, yet suitors are already lining up in case Giannis signals he's available. Big-market teams like the New York Knicks have been stockpiling assets that could form the core of an offer.
It's still far from certain that Milwaukee actually trades Giannis. The Bucks could just as likely swing a trade for another star to placate him.
But the mere fact that the Greek Freak is part of deadline rumor conversations speaks to a crossroads in Milwaukee.
After 13 seasons, two MVPs, and a championship, the Bucks will have to decide whether to double down on building around Giannis or consider a franchise-altering trade.
If Antetokounmpo truly becomes available, he instantly becomes the most coveted trade target in years – the kind of superstar whose departure could reshape the league's balance of power overnight.
Anthony Davis
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A year ago, the idea of Dallas trading for Anthony Davis would've sounded like fantasy – until it actually happened.
In a blockbuster last season, the Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Davis as part of a franchise shake-up.
Fast forward to today, and Davis's time in Dallas may already be running out.
The Mavericks' direction changed dramatically when they lucked into drafting phenom Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall, signaling a youth-focused timeline.
Now the 32-year-old Davis, with his huge contract and injury history, is an awkward fit for a retooling team trying to build around a new young star.
Despite still being a dominant force when on the floor, Davis has struggled with more injuries this season, and Dallas has only been middling with him as the centerpiece.
League sources indicate the Mavericks have already started showing interest in shopping Davis and have received inquiries from multiple teams.
The Mavericks' asking price revolves around recouping draft capital and flexibility. After mortgaging their future in past deals, Dallas doesn't control its own first-round pick until 2031, making any Davis trade an opportunity to snag a first-rounder to build around Flagg.
Trae Young
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Trae Young's long-term status with the Hawks has grown frustrated as Atlanta's season disappoints.
Despite a busy offseason adding pieces like Kristaps Porzingis, the Hawks stumbled out of the gate.
The emergence of young wing Jalen Johnson in his fifth year, and the team's surprisingly decent performance in games Young missed, have management wondering if a retool is due.
Young is still one of the NBA's elite playmakers and a three-time All-Star, so plenty of teams would pounce if he's truly available.
His contract could be a factor: he's earning about $46 million this season and holds a $48.9M player option for 2026–27.
With free agency looming in 2027, any acquiring team would want confidence that Young would stick around.
The market for Trae is a bit murky – on one hand, dynamic point guards of his caliber are rare, but on the other, some executives have reportedly raised concerns about his defensive limitations and ball-dominant style.
Lauri Markkanen
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Lauri Markkanen has transformed into a star in Utah – and precisely because of that, he's become a prime trade asset for the Jazz.
Utah is flirting with playoff competitiveness, but doing so endangers its draft position.
Owing a top-8 protected first-round pick to Oklahoma City, the Jazz have a history of sticking their thumb on the tank scales in February to secure lottery odds.
The 28-year-old Finnish forward is posting superstar numbers on efficient shooting, putting him in All-NBA conversations.
He's also fresh off signing a four-year, $196 million extension in 2024, which locks him in at roughly $50M per year through 2029.
That hefty price tag, combined with Utah's likely lottery ambitions, means the Jazz would listen to offers. However, the front office won't let him go cheaply.
Publicly, the Jazz have sent mixed signals. Recent reports say Utah still views Markkanen as part of their long-term future, suggesting they aren't actively shopping him.
But rival teams interpret that as smart posturing. Utah's calculus is clear: if they can extract a package of high picks for Markkanen, they could accelerate their rebuild and improve lottery odds in one swoop.
Ja Morant
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Ja Morant's 2025–26 season has been tumultuous, marked by both injuries and internal drama.
The two-time All-Star missed significant time with a right calf strain in mid-November, and he was even suspended by the Grizzlies for one game after a heated postgame exchange with new head coach Tuomas Iisalo.
This came on the heels of a turbulent prior two years in which Morant was limited to just 59 games combined due to two league suspensions for off-court incidents and various injuries.
Upon returning from his team-imposed ban, Morant bluntly admitted he wasn't feeling his usual joy for the game.
His on-court production has also dipped well below his peak. Given this rocky context, Morant's name has surfaced in trade speculation ahead of the 2025–26 deadline.
Multiple NBA front offices are reportedly monitoring the situation in Memphis closely, in case Morant becomes available via trade.
The trade buzz gained further traction while Morant was sidelined – both due to injury and suspension – as observers wondered if a change of scenery might benefit both him and the team.
Morant's own candid remarks about lacking joy only intensified outside speculation that his long-term future in Memphis is uncertain.
It's worth noting that Memphis has kept any disciplinary issues in-house and publicly expressed a desire to move forward together, but league-wide, the situation is being watched closely as the deadline approaches.
Michael Porter Jr.
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Just months after being traded, Michael Porter Jr. finds himself right back in trade rumors. The 27-year-old forward was dealt from Denver to Brooklyn in the offseason.
In Brooklyn, Porter Jr. has thrived beyond expectations – he's having a career season and even garnered All-Star consideration as one of the Nets' lone bright spots.
He's averaging roughly 25+ points on nearly 50/40/90 shooting splits. In short, MPJ has rebuilt his value to the point that contenders are very interested.
The Nets, however, are floundering near the bottom of the standings despite Porter's heroics. That has other teams eyeing him as a classic sell-high opportunity for Brooklyn.
Porter is owed $38.3 million this year and $40.8M next year, a sizable commitment for a rebuilding club. If Brooklyn can flip their leading scorer for first-round picks or young talent, they likely will.
There are, of course, concerns: Porter has a well-documented injury history (multiple back surgeries) and until this season had never consistently performed at an All-Star level.
Domantas Sabonis
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Just a year removed from being the centerpiece of Sacramento's renaissance, Domantas Sabonis could be on the move as the Kings pivot direction.
The Kings' experiment of retooling around Sabonis after trading away De'Aaron Fox appears to have backfired – Sacramento is off to a miserable start, and the franchise has reportedly finally seen the light that their plan to remain competitive isn't working.
The 29-year-old Sabonis is a two-time All-Star and one of the league's premier passing big men, coming off an All-NBA Third Team nod in 2023.
But this season has been rough. He's having arguably the worst year of his recent career, looking deflated as the only star on a sinking team.
His limitations have also been magnified: in a league increasingly skeptical of centers who can't protect the rim, Sabonis' defensive shortcomings and reluctance to shoot from deep have hurt his stock.
Adding to the challenge is his contract. Sabonis is in the first year of a four-year max deal, with two and a half seasons remaining on it after this deadline.
Still, several teams would value Sabonis' skillset if Sacramento is realistic about the return.
Zion Williamson
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Not long ago, Zion Williamson was considered a franchise savior in New Orleans. Now, the 25-year-old's future with the Pelicans is very much in doubt.
New Orleans appears to be quietly preparing to move on from Zion as they hand the reins to rookie sensation Derik Queen (the No. 2 overall pick in 2025).
Between Williamson's persistent health issues and the team's desire to build around a new core, Zion's tenure in the Big Easy may be nearing an end.
The trade rumors around Williamson are more subdued only because his value has fallen compared to his peak. Once an All-Star starter and dubbed a generational talent, Zion has played sparingly due to injuries and reportedly lackluster conditioning.
What is clear is that Zion's time with the Pelicans is nearing its conclusion. That could mean a deadline deal if the Pelicans find any takers in February, or it could mean cutting losses in the offseason.
It's a sad and strange situation: a player with Zion's talent, potentially available for pennies. If any front office believes they can revive his career, we may yet see a blockbuster – albeit a highly risky one – involving Zion before the deadline buzzer sounds.
LaMelo Ball
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Few young stars have been as entwined in rumor and speculation this season as LaMelo Ball.
The rumor mill kicked into overdrive – until Ball himself poured cold water on it. In late November, LaMelo emphatically denied the report.
Even though Ball publicly committed to the Hornets, smoke often indicates fire. Charlotte is once again languishing near the bottom of the East.
There are whispers that some in the organization quietly wonder if they should consider a reset around rookie Kon Knueppel and others, given Ball's injuries and the Hornets' lack of progress.
Ball has missed significant time each year due to ankle problems. When he has played this season, his shooting has been off, perhaps a sign of rust.
If Charlotte doubts its ability to build a winner around LaMelo, the prudent move could be to listen to offers – especially if Ball's public comments were just to quell distraction and not a firm no-trade stance.
Realistically, a Ball trade by the deadline remains a long shot. The more likely outcome is that the Hornets give their former All-Star at least another season to see improvement.
However, the situation bears monitoring because once a whisper like that is out, opposing GMs will make their interest known.
Nojus Stankevičius
Nojus Stankevičius began his basketball writing journey in 2023, when he started studying Journalism at Vilnius University. In 2024, he participated in the BasketNews Academy. Then, a year later, in 2025, he officially joined BasketNews as a Daily Writer, marking the beginning of his professional career in sports journalism.
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