Top 10 NBA Trade Candidates Before the 2026 Deadline

In the modern NBA, the trade deadline is absolute chaos. Every yearalmost every team gets in on the act. With such a large volume of deals being made, some of the deals negotiated are relatively low. The deals that really get fans excited are the ones involving the stars.

Superstars are also being shared more often than ever before. Just last year, Luka Dončić was traded in the preceding days NBA trade deadline. That move probably was most shocking trade everas well as the one that almost everyone agrees was one of the worst trade ever. Kevin Durant was also traded in the offseason. While it wasn’t a deadline deal, it was a move that included one of the the best NBA players everand trade that included a seven record-breaking teams.

A lot of superstars are on the trading block heading into the 2026 NBA trade deadline, and history suggests that more of them will, in fact, end up on the move. So who are the top 10 NBA trade candidates?

Michael Porter Jr. was traded from the Denver Nuggets to the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason. He could be on the move again. Porter has long been one of the best shooters in the NBA, but he was only the third or fourth option on a championship-contending Nuggets team. The Nets, in the midst of a rebuild, were optimistic that Porter could be much more when given a bigger role.

Porter defied Brooklyn’s wildest expectations. With the ultimate green light, Porter is averaging 25.8 points per game. Despite this stellar jump, Porter could still be the trade candidate the Nets deliver. Brooklyn’s number one priority is developing their young talent. The Nets have five first-round rookies on their roster, but only Egor Demin ranks in the top eight on the team in minutes per game.

Trading Porter would help open up some playing time for a team that should still be thinking primarily about the future. Porter’s stellar play boosted his draft stock, and the Nets likely remain interested in adding even more draft capital.

The New Orleans Pelicans are in an interesting spot heading into the 2026 NBA trade deadline. They are in last place in the Western Conference, so at first glance they should be first. trade term sellers and a team that is ready to tank. However, the Pelicans do not have their first-round pick in 2026. That selection goes to Atlanta Hawksso the Pelicans have no reason to compete for a draft position.

Still, the team may have to make moves that bring in future assets. Zion Williamson used to be one of the the most highly touted prospect in NBA historybut injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. At some point, the Pelicans may decide to cut their losses and see what they can get in the market for the former number one pick.

Williamson was destined to become a perennial 25-plus point scorer and one of the most explosive rebounders in NBA history. Perhaps a change of scenery is the spark the Duke product needs to turn his career around. The problem for the Pelicans is that teams would likely be hesitant to trade for such an oft-injured player, meaning he could provide the Pelicans with more value than he does on the trade market.

8. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz

For years, Lauri Markkanen made sense as a potential trade candidate. He is an All-Star caliber player who plays for one of the worst teams in the NBA: the Utah Jazz. However, the Jazz refused to trade him, despite numerous teams reporting interest.

Maybe this is the year that will finally change. The Jazz have failed to break into true contention in a stacked Western Conference, and turbo-boosting their rebuild may be the direction they need to go. Markkanen is listed at 7-foot-1 and can shoot the 3-pointer. That alone is worth it, and he would succeed in the role of shooting the candidate.

However, Markkanen has proven during his time with the Jazz that he can step up and be much more than just a scorer. The Finnish forward is averaging 27.9 points per game. With Markkanen’s trade value potentially at an all-time high, now would be the time for the Jazz to cash in and trade him.

Last year, Anthony Davis was traded for Luka Doncic in one of the most shocking trades ever. From the start, fans labeled the deal as one of the worst in NBA history for the Dallas Mavericks. Davis deserved a chance to prove himself and his compatibility with his new team, but alas all-time great power hitter he did nothing to prove the skeptics wrong.

The injury bug continues to ravage Davis’ career. He played only 27 games for the Mavericks. The Mavericks were so bad after the Davis trade last year that they ended up with the number one pick and the chance to draft Cooper Flagg. Dallas doesn’t have enough cap space on the roster, and now there’s a logjam in the frontcourt, especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined with a torn ACL.

Davis is already hearing his name in trade rumors again, as the Mavericks appear poised to go through with the worst decision in franchise history. Unfortunately, Davis’ injury history and big contract mean they probably won’t be able to get a great return for him. However, Davis still has value. When healthy, he is an elite rim protector who can defend all the way to the perimeter. Davis is also a versatile offensive player, as he can score inside or outside and has the ability to put the ball on the floor.

James Harden is no stranger to being involved in trade rumors. He requested an exchange away from a number of his previous homes, and could very well deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are just 12-22 despite being the oldest team in the NBA, so they might have to blow things up.

Kawhi Leonard’s injury history and constant allegations of salary cap fraud make it unlikely that he will be dealt. Harden, meanwhile, has plenty of experience finding success quickly with a new team after being traded. Harden has led the NBA in points and assists before, and he’s still going strong.

Even at 36 years old, Harden is still a tough player to guard because of his stepback jumper and ability to draw contact from inside. A team interested in trading for Harden would certainly have championship aspirations, but Harden has also had several major playoff misses throughout his career.

I Morant was once considered one of the future faces of the NBA. He burst onto the scene in his early days with the Memphis Grizzlies, and his team quickly found considerable success in his career. However, the last few years have been disappointing.

The guard has been suspended several times, and this year he clashed with the organization. His 3-point shooting deficiencies and defensive deficiencies have also hurt his production on the court. Morant is currently having the worst season of his career by far. If the Grizzlies are tired of Morant’s antics, they could look to trade him.

After all, the Grizzlies have succeeded in recent years without Morant on the floor. Morant is an amazing slasher that plays without fear. He’s still young enough to turn things around and return to the form of his All-Star days.

Meniscus injury of Domantas Sabonis puts a wrinkle in potential trade plans for the Sacramento Kings. The former double-double leader will certainly have the highest trade value on the team upon his return, however, much more than Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

Sabonis is an elite jumper. He also has playmaking ability and can facilitate from a high position. Last season, Sabonis even shot 41.7% from deep. Sabonis is an offensive engine who thrived as the Kings’ top option, but could take his game to the next level with more offensive threats around him. Sabonis is expected to return in January or around the All-Star break, so it will be interesting to see if any team takes a chance on him before the trade deadline.

Trae Young is clearly one of the most talented offensive players in the NBA. Young has range that extends well beyond the 3-point line, and he’s year after year in the game as an assist champion. Still, Young’s defense, or lack thereof, has become too much of an obstacle for the Atlanta Hawks to overcome in the minds of some.

The Atlanta Hawks might be wiser to add talent this year rather than get rid of it. After all, the Eastern Conference is wide open with Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum out for the year. The Hawks are coming off one of the best off-season performance in the league as well. However, young people could still be trafficked.

In the right system where his weaknesses are masked, Young could really shine. He recently returned from a sprained MCL, but Atlanta has struggled with him in the lineup.

Along with Morant and Young, LaMelo Ball is another extremely talented point guard who is hearing his name in trade rumors because some think he doesn’t play a winning style of basketball. Young and Morant are short, and many of their flaws stem from that.

However, Ball is 6-foot-7. His jumbo facilitator skill set gives him more trade value than Young or Morant. Ball makes top plays on a nightly basis; he just needs to fight the injury bug. Injuries are the biggest thing holding him and his Charlotte Hornets back.

The Hornets shouldn’t turn the ball over, but considering reports suggest he is on the trading blockit must be included near the top of this list.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the NBA and, therefore, the first name on the trading block. He was involved in trade rumors in the offseason, and before suffering a calf injury, trade negotiations were returning. Antetokounmpo is likely the best player in Milwaukee Bucks history. He won two MVPs and a championship with the team.

Because of this, reports suggest the Bucks will do right by their star and trade him to a preferred destination. Antetokounmpo is rumored to be most interested in playing in New York. He is such an unstoppable player that every team should call the Bucks about his availability.

Antetokounmpo is a physical specimen who is impossible to stop in the paint. He is also an elite defensive player who has a Defensive Player of the Year award. The only concern is that Antetokounmpo is dealing with that calf injury, and the NBA has never been more aware of the dangers of calf problems, given how many star players have torn Achilles tendons recently.