NBA Players Eligible for Trade on December 15, 2025

The most talked about trade date in the NBA is the trade deadline. Last year, 16 deals were arranged on the last day of business alone. This year, the trade deadline is still a way out, as the deadline isn’t until February 5, 2026. However, there could be a move well before then. I Morant, Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis are just some of the players who have already been rumored to be trade candidates.

The season after Luka Dončić was traded in arguable the the most shocking trade in NBA historyone must assume that there will be some stunning deals this year. However, not everyone is eligible to trade immediately. Several players are not eligible to be traded until December 15th. So which players fit this description, and why are they still untradeable?

Why can’t certain players be traded until December 15th?

NBA players who sign a new contract in the offseason it can’t be traded until December 15 or three months after accepting their new job, 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 is signed after that, then he cannot be traded for three months after putting pen to paper.

There is also a criterion that prevents certain players from being traded until January 15th. It is a smaller list of players and only applies to players who re-signed with their previous team for a 20% increase using bird/early bird rights with teams over the cap.

NBA Players Eligible for Trade Dec. 15 (Eastern Conference)

Atlanta Hawks:

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• Happy Dante
• Luke Kennard

Boston Celtics:

• Chris Boucher
• Luka Garza
• Josh Minott

Brooklyn Nets:

• Cam Thomas
• Dai’Ron Sharpe
• Zaire Williams

Charlotte Hornets:

Chicago Bulls:

Cleveland Cavaliers:

Detroit Pistons:

• Javonte Green
• Caris LeVert
• Duncan Robinson

Indiana Pacers:

Miami Heat:

Milwaukee Bucks:

• Thanasis Antetokounmpo
• Cole Anthony
• Amir Coffey
• Gary Harris
• Kevin Porter Jr.
• Bobby Portis
• Taurean Prince
• Jericho Sims
• Gary Trent Jr.
• Miles Turner

New York Knicks:

• Jordan Clarkson
• Landry Shamet
• Guerschon Yabusele

Orlando Magic:

Philadelphia 76ers:

• Justin Edwards
• Eric Gordon

Toronto Raptors:

• Sandro Mamukelasvili
• Garrett Temple

Washington Wizards:

• Marvin Bagley
• Anthony Gill

NBA Players Eligible for Trade Dec. 15 (Western Conference)

Dallas Mavericks:

• Dante Ecum
• Kyrie Irving
• D’Angelo Russell

Denver Nuggets:

• Bruce Brown
• Tim Hardaway Jr.

Golden State Warriors:

Houston Rockets:

• Clint Capela
• Dorian Finney-Smith
• Jeff Green
• Aaron Holliday
• Josh Okogie
• Jae’Sean Tate
• Fred VanVleet

Los Angeles Clippers:

• Nic Batum
• Bradley Beal
• James Harden
• Brooke Lopez
• Chris Paul

Los Angeles Lakers:

• Deandre Ayton
• Jackson Hayes
• Jake LaRavia
• Marcus Smart

Memphis Grizzlies:

• You Jerome
• Jock Landale
• Cam Spencer

Minnesota Timberwolves:

• Bones Hyland
• Joe Ingles
• Julius Randle

New Orleans Pelicans:

Oklahoma City Thunder:

Phoenix Suns:

• Collin Gillespie
• Nigel Hayes-Davies

Portland Trail Blazers:

• Damian Lillard
• Blake Wesley

Sacramento Kings:

• Drew Eubanks
• Doug McDermott
• Dennis Schroder

San Antonio Spurs:

• Bismack Biyombo
• Luke Cornett
• Jordan McLaughlin
• Lindy Waters

Utah Jazz:

Newly signed player trade restriction data

The NBA trade landscape is already changing, and trade stocks could get hot on December 15th. The Los Angeles Clippers, for example, have had a rough start to the year and could end up as trade sellers due to their aging core. They happen to have five players who are eligible for a trade on December 15th.

James Harden is the biggest name in the group. The the former MVP is no stranger to change, as he requested from a number of his previous homes. With the trajectory the Clippers are on, it wouldn’t shock anyone if Harden asks for a trade again. Brook Lopez, Chris Paul and Nick Batum also have some value, as all three have experience competing in key roles for playoff teams.

The Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks have even more players eligible on Dec. 15 than the Clippers. The Rockets probably had the best offseason in the NBA. He emphasized a trade for Kevin Durant in what was the biggest trade in NBA history, but the team did plenty of work in free agency as well. Most of their offseason work happened earlier Fred VanVleet tore his ACL. He’s not just one of the players restricted by the recently signed rule, but his injury could change the way the Rockets operate before the trade deadline. The team wants to compete this year, but may have to bring in another point guard to replace VanVleet.

The Bucks have a whopping 10 players eligible for a trade on December 15th. The team went through a massive roster overhaul, as the Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard pairing never worked out as planned. It’s not entirely clear yet whether the Bucks’ new look is also improved. Lillard is also a trade rule player as of Dec. 15.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers are the three teams without any players who did not become trade-eligible on December 15th. In addition to the aforementioned players, Deandre Ayton, Clint Capela, Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Finney Russell, D’Angelo Finney Russell, D’Angelo Finney Russell, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan, Jordan. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Tim Hardaway Jr. are some of the other major players handicapped by the rule.

Regardless, it’s unlikely that many trades will happen around December 15th. Most of the magic in the NBA still happens around NBA trade deadline. Even so, one cannot predict exactly what the world of NBA trading will have in store a year after Doncic was defeated.