The NBA playoffs have already seen some wild swings, significant injuries and shocking upsets in what has been a first round that has been much more competitive than anticipated. That’s made for entertaining basketball, though it is not exactly good news for some of the top teams in both conferences. It is good, however, for those of us who love NBA trade rumor season.
That’s because, if teams like the Cavaliers or Knicks, who entered with NBA Finals hopes, somehow flame out in the first round of the playoffs–both are tied with lower seeds at 2-2 in their series–there will need to be some major roster changes in both cases. In fact, the Cavs and Knicks likely need to get to the conference finals, at minimum, to avoid trade shake-ups this spring and summer.
What’s notable about both of those teams, and about the trade rumor mill in general, is that it is packed with big-name, big-salaried stars. That’s in large part because players have taken on the tactic of signing extensions and then demanding trades as their contracts near an end–which was wiped out free agency but will fuel what figures to be a wild offseason.
Let’s get into it.
NBA Trade Rumors: The Superstar Section
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks. (Remaining contract: two years, $120 million.) Yawn. Antetokounmpo trades have been headlining for more than a year now. It’s time for both sides to cave in and make a deal.
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: two years, $104 million, player option.) The Cavaliers do not want to trade Mitchell, but if he indicates he won’t sign an extension–and if Cleveland flops again in the playoffs–his name will hit the NBA trade rumor mill.
Ja Morant, Grizzlies. (Remaining contract: two years, $86 million.) Another yawn. The Grizzlies want a deal in which they do not have to give up draft picks to get another team to take Morant, and if they can find one, they’ll take it.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks. (Remaining contract: two years, $1118 million.) If the Knicks are to make a major move, it will be KAT who gets sent out of town because his $57 million contract for next season is easier to match.
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers. (Remaining contract: one year, $150 million.) The Clippers say they’re not trading him. But logic dictates they should consider it.
Jimmy Butler, Warriors. (Remaining contract: one years, $57 million.) The Dubs know it would be a cold move to trade Butler as he is rehabbing from an ACL tear, but moving Butler’s contract is their only path to a major trade addition.
Kevin Durant, Rockets. (Remaining contract: two years, $90 million, player option.) A report from The Ringer says he is on the market. But is there any team left in the NBA that wants to take on his drama?
Joel Embiid, Sixers. (Remaining contract: three years, $187 million.) Like Morant, the Sixers may need to give up draft picks to get off of the remaining $188 million on his contract.
Bam Adebayo, Heat. (Remaining contract: three years, $160 million.) He’s still the centerpiece in Miami, but this team has gone nowhere. Longshot that they’d trade him.
GettyKevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets is an offseason trade candidate.
Other Top Eastern Conference Possibilities
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: four years, $223 million.) He’s early on in a max deal and has underachieved in general. The Cavs still love him, but when it comes to overhauling the roster, he would bring back the most value.
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers. (Remaining contract: three years, $90 million.) It’s more likely that Allen gets traded than Mobley, and they could get a good package in return. Allen is a standard offensive center but is a valued rim-runner who can protect the paint.
Myles Turner, Bucks. (Remaining contract: three years, $80 million.) This was a disaster move for the Bucks, but teams still value Turner. There’s been talk that the Bucks will send out Antetokounmpo and Turner in a package deal.
Mikal Bridges, Knicks. (Remaining contract: four years, $150 million.) The five first-round picks the Knicks sent out for Bridges might be the only reason he does not move–it would be a horrible admission of failure on the team’s part to trade him. Some wonder whether the Knicks would even get one first-rounder in return.
Tyler Herro, Heat. (Remaining contract: one year, $33 million.) Injury woes crushed him this season after a very good 2024-25. But the time has come for Miami to move on from Herro, no matter what it does with Adebayo.
Paolo Banchero, Magic. (Remaining contract: five years, $240 million.) The Magic will fire their coach before they trade away their stars, but Banchero figures to come up if Orlando crashes out in the playoffs. (They’re not doing so thus far.) His contract likely means the Magic keep him around for a while, no matter what.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. (Remaining contract: one year, $40 million, partial guarantee.) The Nets thought they’d get better value for him in the summer than at the trade deadline, though they were not expecting the trade market to be this crowded.
NBA Trade Rumors, Western Conference
Zach LaVine, Kings. (Remaining contract: one year, $49 million, player option.) LaVine has the player option worth $49 million and almost certainly will pick it up. Does his expiring contract become easier to dump?
Domantas Sabonis, Kings. (Remaining contract: two years, $93 million.) The remaining money on his contract is not pretty, and he is coming off knee surgery, but he could be due for a bounce-back year. He’s likely to find a new home.
Klay Thompson, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: one year, $17 million.) Thompson does not fit Dallas’s timeline, and if the Mavs can get anything–youth, a few second-rounders–for him, they will. He’s still a 38% 3-point shooter.
Zion Williamson, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: two years, $87 million.) Williamson averaged 21.0 points in 62 games, and New Orleans will be tempted to keep him on board because of it–or, just as likely, they’ll be tempted to sell high.
Trey Murphy, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.) The Pelicans would not entertain trade offers for Murphy in February, but they’re expected to at least listen as they look to reshuffle this summer.
Cam Johnson, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: one year, $23 million.) Johnson has been a disaster in Denver, but he still has enough of a reputation around the league to warrant trade interest. He did not fit with the Nuggets, but he was a very good 3-and-D player before that.
Jerami Grant, Blazers. (Remaining contract: two years, $70 million.) A brutal postseason won’t do much for Grant’s value, but he is 32, averaged 18.6 points this year, and is a known commodity around the league. His absurd five-year, $160 million deal is down to two years, which makes it moveable.
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