A too-early look at 2025-26 NBA trade candidates

The NBA season hasn’t even started yet, but one must already assume that big trades are on the horizon. Last season, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis in arguable the the most surprising trade in NBA history. The following offseason saw Kevin Durant signed with seven teams which involved more teams than any trade before it.

More wild trades are inevitable, but who will be on the trading block? Check out the gallery to see 10 big players who are either already trade candidates or could end up on the trade market during the 2025-26 season.

Austin Reaves

No one is sure when he shares a roster with LeBron James. Often nicknamed LeGM, James forces teams that hire him to constantly look to improve the roster. Austin Reaves is a really good player, but he’s not necessarily the best fit for a team that has both James and Luka Doncic.

Both James and Doncic are playmakers who need the ball in their hands, but the same could be said for Reaves. Luckily, the Los Angeles Lakers filled their biggest hole when they did added Deandre Aytonbut they are still thin in the center. Furthermore, they don’t have many great defenders for the point of attack, especially because Dorian Finney-Smith left for the Houston Rockets.

Reaves is getting better and better and is close to stardom, but the Lakers may end up in a position where they have to trade him to get players who can maximize James and Doncic’s time together before the former retires.

Nikola Vucevic

The Chicago Bulls already traded DeMar DeRozan before last season. Zach LaVine followed in the trade deadline deal during the season. Nikola Vucevic is probably next. The center from Montenegro is a fleet spacer who can hit the 3-point shot. As of now, the Bulls need him because they otherwise lack big man depth. However, blowing things up further and continuing the rebuild seems like a likely action the team could take at some point during the upcoming season.

Dalton Knecht

The Lakers have already agreed to trade Dalton Knecht. The team dealt him to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams in an attempt to fix the center problem that plagued them after trading for Luka Doncic. However, the Lakers voided the trade after Williams failed a physical. Knecht returned to the Lakers and played an important role as a shooter for James and Doncic to shoot the ball, but if the team was willing to trade him once, they could certainly look to deal him again.

Knecht is still young as he enters only his second season. The Lakers may want a more experienced veteran who can help win a title. Plus, even if it’s just in the back of his head, Knecht has to feel bad about the fact that the Lakers have proven they don’t want him.

Domantas Sabonis

The Sacramento Kings look like one of the teams most likely to blow things up this season. The Western Conference is full and it looks like the Kings won’t be able to compete. They have a number of veterans who could fetch a decent return on the trade market. However, previous deals involving LaVine and DeRozan have shown that those two no longer have much trade value.

However, the Kings could get a king’s buyout for Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis fills the statistics, as evidenced by the fact that he led the NBA double-double last season. Sabonis is an excellent rebounder, interior shooter and big playmaker. He was the top option in Sacramento, but could also operate as a second or third option on a contending team.

Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins, who participated in Jimmy Butler trades last seasonhe’s already heard his name included in trade rumors this year. Most importantly, the former No. 1 draft pick is viewed as a trade target for the Lakers. Wiggins was once seen as a prankster and a prankster. Now, while he never reached his potential, he thrived as a solid 3-and-D wing.

The Miami Heat have a ton of good players, but they’ve been missing a much-needed third star since Butler asked to leave town. A consolidated trade involving a number of players makes sense, and Wiggins is the most likely move.

Anfernee Simmons

The Boston Celtics went through a massive offseason selloff in an attempt to get their finances under control ahead of a season in which Jayson Tatum will be sidelined. With Tatum recovering from a torn Achilles tendon that will keep him out for the season, the Celtics decided to Kristaps Porzingis trade and Jrue Holiday.

Anfernee Simmons was brought in as part of the Holiday deal. However, reports suggest the Celtics are not opposed to a rematchknocking over the former Portland Trail Blazers guard. This may come as somewhat of a surprise. After all, Simmons is cheaper, younger and a better offensive player compared to Holiday, so he could help keep Boston afloat.

However, the Celtics clearly see the upcoming season as a gap year before they compete again in 2026-27. Simmons will be a free agent at the end of the season, and they may not want to pay him after working out the salary cap issues. Because of that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Celtics traded for bigger relievers and players who can help once Tatum returns from injury.

Walker Kessler

Walker Kessler and The Utah Jazz decided not to extend his contract for the center. Kessler is somewhat limited offensively, but is a solid rebounder and rim protector. The Jazz probably won’t want to lose Kessler for nothing, so they may consider trading him this year. After all, they are in the midst of a rebuild and will likely be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season.

The center position is thin around the league, so Kessler could likely fetch something on the market if the Jazz make him available. Lauri Markkanen is another member of the Jazz to keep an eye on as a potential trade candidate. Markkanen is on the wrong trend, and the Jazz could decide to trade him before his trade value evaporates.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo has remained loyal to the Milwaukee Bucks throughout his career. A trade involving a double MVP may be less likely now Bucks employs two of his brothersalso. Even so, Antetokounmpo has made it known that he needs players around him who can help him win another title, and it’s fair to question whether the Bucks have a championship roster.

They traded the injured Damian Lillard for Myles Turner, but the team may not be able to improve after three straight first-round exits. Antetokounmpo hasn’t ruled out a trade request in the offseason, and it could come true during the regular season.

Cam Thomas

The number one priority for the Brooklyn Nets should be the development of their youth. They drafted five rookies in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft. They also traded for Michael Porter Jr. to be the best option. There are only so many touches to be made as the team tries to develop its first-year talent, so the team could decide to trade Cam Thomas.

Thomas didn’t sign a qualifying offer until September. The team’s refusal to extend his long-term contract signals that they may not view him as part of their core going forward. Thomas has looked like a scorer at times, but in reality, he’s probably more of a sixth man spark plug.

Daniel Gafford

The Dallas Mavericks traded for Anthony Davis in one of the most shocking deals in NBA history, mostly because they wanted to get bigger and better on defense. However, they now have arguably too much frontcourt talent while being thin in the backcourt. In addition to Davis, the Mavericks have Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively taking center minutes. PJ Washington also needs minutes moving forward.

The Mavericks also drafted Cooper Flagg. While Dallas will allegedly experimenting with the first overall pick as a point guard, the Duke product is a power forward by trade. This glut of frontcourt talent could result in a trade, with Gafford looking like the favorite. Kyrie Irving will eventually return, but the team may need help at point guard until he is fully recovered, which may not be until next season.