Recently, ESPN’s Shams Charania appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and offered a bold prediction: “I believe this offseason could be the wildest ever.” When discussing the most chaotic offseasons in NBA history, we often think of years like 2010, 2016, and 2019. However, these past offseasons were primarily defined by free agency, with players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant changing teams during the 2010s.
Although free agency remains a tool for teams to enhance their rosters, its impact has diminished in the 2020s. Currently, only the Brooklyn Nets are projected to have substantial cap space in 2025, with a few other teams potentially able to create some space. However, teams are less focused on maintaining cap space now. Most elite players tend to sign contract extensions and defer discussions about their future.
Now, the time has come for several of the NBA’s top talents. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant are potential trade candidates. The trade market is likely to be extremely active with teams eager to strengthen their positions, especially considering the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s looming dynasty. This might lead to one of the most electrifying trading offseasons in NBA history.
As the trade market intensifies in the upcoming weeks, we should consider which players might actually be moved. The following is a list of the 100 most likely players to be traded this season, categorized into 11 tiers based on their expected 2025-26 salaries (via Spotrac). Notably, free agents are excluded from this list, as players attracting sign-and-trade interest are kept separate. Those with 2025 player options will be evaluated individually, as we presume they will utilize their options and not enter free agency this summer.
It’s crucial to remember that while these players are the most likely to be traded, unexpected moves can occur, such as a player like Luka Dončić being traded without warning. Nearly any player can be on the table, and considering the talent we’ll be discussing, other surprising players might need to be traded just to facilitate bigger moves. Thus, this list will focus on expected trades as the offseason unfolds.
Tier 1: The Stars
The players listed below are strong candidates for 2026 All-Star selections and are potentially available for trades.
