If last year's Luka Doncic trade taught us anything, it's that no player is untradeable. Giannis Antetokounmpo stands out as the biggest target to grab, and there could be several other All-Star talents that are moved once that domino falls. This could be a very fun trade deadline, which ends Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
Speculation has been ramping up all week (and we have you covered with the latest rumors). Determining how credible those rumors are and who is actually likely to get moved always requires some reading of the tea leaves. Those reports have their own language. "Rival executives expect" means nothing. "Is ready for a new home" translates to "is making a trade request."
When you take into consideration team needs, long-term projection, and salary cap minutiae (oftentimes the most important factor), a clearer picture begins to emerge of what will actually happen. Here are the most likely players to get moved.
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Players most likely to be traded at the 2026 deadline
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
Best fits:Hawks, Heat, Knicks, Warriors, Thunder
Giannis is probably getting traded. ESPN's Shams Charania reported that he is ready for a new home. The question is if it happens this week, or if the Bucks wait until the summer.
Every team should make a bid at Giannis, who is a top-three player in the league and still a force on both ends of the floor. He's extension-eligible this summer, which gives him some leverage in where he lands. If a team gives up everything they have, which is what it's going to cost to get him, then they must ensure that he wants to stay there long-term.
There are a couple of front-runners based on different factors. Giannis' preferred destination seems to be the Knicks. The team with the most attractive offer is the Hawks. And the most intriguing one might be the Warriors. It's still wide open though as to who actually gets a deal across the finish line.
MORE:Heat, Hawks, Knicks among most likely landing spots for Giannis
2. Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors
Best fits:Kings, Bulls
Kuminga is a talented player who has never fit in Steve Kerr's offensive system. He made the least surprising trade request of the season back on Jan. 15. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy laid out with brutal bluntness why a trade hasn't happened yet.
"When you make a demand, there needs to be a demand," Dunleavy told reporters back in January.
Kuminga was signed to a trade-friendly contract specifically to bring in extra help with his $22.5 million salary slot. He's a talented scorer who averaged 24.3 points per game when he finally got playing time in the Warriors' last four playoff games of 2025. His lack of overall feel has depressed his value though.
The Kings are the only team that has shown any interest thus far. If the Warriors lower their asking price, that could change and he could be outgoing salary in a trade to bring some help for Stephen Curry.
MORE:Jimmy Butler ACL injury: Trade deadline impact, next steps for Warriors
3. Anthony Davis, Mavericks
Best fits: Hawks, Raptors, Celtics
The Mavericks are going nowhere this year, and it's clear that they need to rebuild around Cooper Flagg. They control their draft pick in 2026 but won't for several years after that, so a one-year tank during this loaded upcoming draft is in their best interest.
Davis can still bring back some positive value. That won't be the case in a few years where his contract bloats to $63 million. It makes sense to trade him now, and Dallas is open to moving him according to ESPN's Shams Charania. He is out indefinitely with a left hand injury, but teams could still be interested in him for next season.
4. Coby White, Bulls
Best fits: Wolves, Rockets, Mavericks
The Bulls have a surplus of quality guards. One of them is probably going to get moved.
That player could be White, who is on an expiring $12.9 million contract that makes him one of the best values in the league. He's a career 37 percent 3-point shooter that can get them up in a hurry, and he's an improved facilitator that has a good first step to get into the lane. A lot of teams are searching for the type of offense that he can bring.
The Bulls have had teams expressing interest in White, according to The Stein Line's Marc Stein. He's been tied to the Wolves by several reports, including from the Sun Times' Joe Cowley. The Rockets, Magic, Pistons, and others could also use his scoring. He should bring back a first-round pick.
5. Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
Best fits: Bucks, Warriors, Magic
Towns has scored a lot of points and made his second All-Star game for the Knicks. That hasn't stopped him from being dangled in seemingly every single trade rumor involving the team. His defense has been an issue, and he hasn't played quite as well as last season.
The Knicks don't have any significant draft assets to offer in a trade. Moving Towns is their best avenue towards meaningfully changing the composition of their team. He can still bring back a good player, although his $53.1 million salary makes him overpaid.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant
David Richard-Imagn Images
6. Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Best fits: Wolves, Heat, Raptors, Kings
During Morant's peak, the Grizzlies were willing to live with some of the headaches that came along with him. He hasn't been close to that same All-NBA player in a while though, and they are expected to explore the trade market for him per ESPN's Tim Bontemps.
He may not have that much value. He can't string together two weeks of healthy play and his jump shot has evaporated this season. Some teams could still try to buy low on him. The Heat are rumored to be interested, according to Jake Fischer. The Wolves are another team that has called about him, per Mike Scotto.
MORE: Ja Morant trade destinations: Ranking every team's chances
7. Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls
Best fits: Wolves, Rockets, Pistons, Lakers
Dosunmu isn't the biggest name on this list, but he could swing a playoff series with the scoring he provides.
Dosunmu is one of the fastest transition players in the league. He will regularly streak down the floor for one or two baskets off opponent makes by simply outrunning everyone else on the floor. He's also become a vastly-improved 3-point shooter, nailing 45 percent of his attempts this season. And he is a point-of-attack menace defensively, where he brings toughness.
Dosunmu is part of the Bulls' glut of guards. Like White, he's on a value expiring contract that pays him only $7.5 million this season. That makes him an easy player to get for contending teams.
8. Kristaps Porzingis, Hawks
Best fit: Mavericks
The Hawks badly need Porzingis, and he has played well for them. The issue is that he hasn't been able to stay on the floor due to a POTS diagnosis and minor injuries.
Teams who trade for Porzingis know that he probably isn't going to play much either. The appeal for them would be in adding his expiring $30.7 million salary in order to free up cap space for the summer.
The Hawks have already shown themselves to be aggressive under new lead executive Onsi Saleh, trading Trae Young and Vit Krejci in-season. Porzingis was also acquired via trade over the summer. He could be moved for some help, and the Hawks have draft picks and young prospects to go for a big target if they so choose.
9. Michael Porter Jr., Nets
Best fits: Warriors, Magic, Pistons, Bucks
Porter was robbed of his first All-Star appearance this season. He's played extremely well as the lead guy for a bad Nets team, averaging a career-high 26 points per game on great efficiency. He is one of the few stars in the league who has proven that he is just as effective playing on or off the ball.
The Nets are trying to tank for one of the top players in this draft, and Porter is putting that plan at risk. They won't trade him away for peanuts, but he's the type of player that contenders will pay a premium to add.
10. Zion Williamson, Pelicans
Best fits: Bulls, Kings, Grizzlies
The Pels are miles away from true contention. The silver lining is the emergence of rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, both of whom have shown enough flashes to be considered new cornerstones of the franchise.
That youth movement puts Zion's future in doubt. His fit with Queen is awkward, making him potentially expendable. Several teams might be desperate enough to take the gamble on Williamson's contract, which is non-guaranteed and offers protection against his continued injury issues.