Who could be moved before 2026 NBA trade deadline?
The NBA trade deadline is three weeks away, leaving plenty of time for movement and speculation among the 30 teams in the league.
The trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks served as the biggest trade in the days leading up to the 2025 deadline. While 2026 has already seen the Atlanta Hawks trade away Trae Young, both were drafted early in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft before being traded for each other.
Guard Trae Young may not be the only point guard moved before the deadline. Here’s who else could be on the move.
Point guard market
Ja Morant could be on the move from Memphis, with his career stalling in recent years. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported that the Sacramento Kings could be a team to watch, as long as it doesn’t ‘involve giving the Grizzlies any significant draft capital.’
The Minnesota Timberwolves could be in the market to add a point guard, according to an ESPN report, but it remains to be seen if that happens and who those potential candidates could be.
The Timberwolves would be expected to move on from one of their key players to make a notable trade happen due to the lack of “tradable first-round picks” available for the franchise.
What could the Warriors do?
Jonathan Kuminga made his intentions clear earlier this week with his demand for a trade. The Golden State Warriors make the most of the situation and bring in a player who may be better suited for them in the process.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton believes Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. could be a player Golden State could consider. Porter has a $38 million salary, but would add another long-range shooter with size to the lineup. The Warriors would likely have to send a player over, such as Moses Moody, to make that deal come together.
Who else is in the market for Porter? ESPN’s Zach Kram believes Porter could also be a major upgrade for the Detroit Pistons, who remain a contender at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Will Giannis Antetokounmpo be traded?
There will always be the consideration of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded away by the Milwaukee Bucks. Whether it will actually happen remains to be seen.
‘I’m just not sure who the team is that would be willing to go all-in right now for him,’ a scout told ESPN’s Jamal Collier regarding Antetokounmpo. ‘Teams are looking to hold onto their cards until the summer.’
