Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers could hit the NBA rumor mill this offseason.
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers could hit the NBA rumor mill this offseason.
Coming out of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, there was no shortage of deals involving big names that went down, as teams sought financial flexibility as well, in some cases, the ability to begin turning a corner with a full-on rebuild. It was a satisfying week for NBA rumors.
But for those of us who love the NBA as much for its off-court transactions as its on-count action, one of the positives was that there was plenty of groundwork laid for future deals, with this summer expected to see many big names on the market.
And with the way things have–or could–unravel in the future for some teams, more names are hitting the list all the time. We’ve got some updates here.
Star Veterans at the Top of the Class
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks. Not much has changed when it comes to Antetokounmpo and the NBA rumor mill. He is still expected to dominate trade chatter once the offseason gets rolling in May. There will be interest from all over the NBA, but the whole thing will remain predicated on Antetokounmpo actually asking out–the Bucks won’t trade him before that.
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers. Assuming that the NBA, in making its decision on Leonard, the Clippers and the Aspiration contract scandal, does not invalidate the final year (at $50 million) of Leonard’s contract, expect the Clippers to seek to wash their hands of the whole affair by trading him. Leonard will be a player loaded with baggage at that point, but he is also loaded with talent, averaging 28.0 points on a nearly 50-40-90 shooting season (49.4%, 38.1%, 90.5%). “Even with all the negatives, he would generate a good bidding war,” one Eastern Conference GM said.
Ja Morant, Grizzlies. After Antetokounmpo, the trade chatter around Morant ahead of the 2026 deadline was the loudest. But he remains at rock-bottom in value and is still out, with only 20 games on his resume this season. His value has not exactly been blossoming.
New Big Men Hitting NBA Rumor Mill?
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers. Yes, it is typically Jarrett Allen who gets mentioned as potential trade bait if Cleveland comes up short this year and faces a contract crunch next offseason. But Mobley, who has not gotten much better during his NBA career and who has $270 million coming to him over the next five years, would be easier to move and give the Cavs move relief.
“That’s the thing you run into,” one GM said. “The NBA is very top-heavy in how you build your team. It’s hard to build a roster where the top of the payroll is not a guy who is getting 25 points a game. A team like Cleveland, they’re in the apron, they can’t afford to stay there. If the season unravels for them a little here, they have some hard questions, and they’d have to consider (trading Mobley).
Paolo Banchero, Magic. As Orlando continues to struggle and Banchero has plateaued–while struggling with injuries, questions about his availability in a trade going forward have cropped up, too. Banchero is on a five-year, $240 million contract.
“Eventually, you’ve got to trade one of those guys,” one NBA executive said. “Either Paolo or Franz Wagner, but you can’t have both. They occupy the same space too much–they can’t shoot from the arc, they aren’t going to wow you with athleticism and putting the ball on the floor. Both guys are nice players, but you can’t put both of them on the floor.”
Key Role Players back on the NBA Rumor Mill
Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the mysteries of the NBA trade rumor mill.
GettyMichael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the mysteries of the NBA trade rumor mill.
Trey Murphy, Pelicans. Rumors that a wide variety of teams–especially the Lakers and Warriors–across the league were hot on the trail of Murphy sprung up repeatedly over the winter. The Pelicans decided not to aggressively sell at the trade deadline, though, and Murphy stayed put. But around the NBA, the expectation is that teams will keep pushing for a deal. The hope is New Orleans will be more willing to actually make a move.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. The Nets held onto Porter in hopes that they’d get a better deal for him in the summer, and that could yet be the case–except that he has been slumping lately and playing through a knee injury. He is averaging 19.0 points on 40.5% shooting and 18.2% 3-point shooting in February. “I think you kind of know what he is at this point in his career,” one Western Conference executive said. “He is not going to tank his value by playing badly now. But he can hurt his value if he has a bad second half.”
Cam Johnson, Nuggets. Johnson came to Denver to replace Porter Jr. in last summer’s trade, and he has fit the bill completely, filling in for Porter’s shooting while playing better defense and doing so at a bargain price. But the Nuggets might not be able to afford him next year, at $23 million. “Something has to give,” the GM said. “They want to re-sign (Peyton) Watson and they want to keep that group together but someone’s got to fall off the roster to make that happen.”