NBA Trade season is almost upon all the forms and will come before Christmas as usual, as players who signed new contracts in the summer become eligible to be traded after December 15. This date marks the official beginning of the NBA trade season as 85 players can officially be included in deals.
Some of the names that have become eligible are top stars in the NBA. While most won’t be dealt, a lot of these names could prop up in trade rumors, including the biggest name of them all.
1. LeBron James – Los Angeles Lakers
2. James Harden – Los Angeles Clippers
3. Pascal Siakam – Indiana Pacers
4. DeMar DeRozan – Sacramento Kings
5. Klay Thompson – Dallas Mavericks
6. Isaiah Hartenstein – Oklahoma City Thunder
7. Norman Powell – Los Angeles Clippers
8. Tobias Harris – Detroit Pistons
9. Buddy Hield – Golden State Warriors
10. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Orlando Magic
11. Naji Marshall – Dallas Mavericks
12. Derrick Jones Jr. – Los Angeles Clippers
13. Caleb Martin – Philadelphia 76ers
14. Kelly Oubre – Philadelphia 76ers
15. Tyus Jones – Phoenix Suns
16. Jonas Valanciunas – Washington Wizards
17. Chris Paul – San Antonio Spurs
18. Eric Gordon – Philadelphia 76ers
19. Andre Drummond – Philadelphia 76ers
20. Taurean Prince – Milwaukee Bucks
In addition to these 20, NBA teams can start circling 65 other players as potential inclusions in deals.
The biggest name is easily LeBron James, who signed a two-year contract extension this summer with a player option, making him a potential free agent next season as well. James has a no-trade clause in his contract, so it’s impossible that he will get moved to any team that isn’t his own choice.
The Golden State Warriors might show interest in acquiring James mid-season again, but the odds of James staying a Laker are much higher than not.
James Harden is enjoying a resurgent season with the Los Angeles Clippers and likely won’t be moved given his playmaking has been carrying the team offensively, in tandem with another newly trade-eligible player Norman Powell. Both stars should be off-limits, though Derrick Jones Jr. could possibly be acquired for the right price.
Players like Pascal Siakam, Isaiah Hartenstein, DeMar DeRozan, Chris Paul, Taurean Prince, and Tyus Jones are likely as safe as possible given their value to their current team, with Jones in particular being arguably the player in the NBA on a minimum contract right now.
Dallas Mavericks stars Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall should be safe, but GM Nico Harrison has made an aggressive win-now trade every winter for the last three seasons, so it’s hard to rule them being moved for the right players if the Mavs deem it necessary. They’re likely safe given their strong impact on the franchise already.
The biggest candidate to get moved will likely be Jonas Valanciunas, who’s been linked to the Lakers since the minute he signed his contract this summer with the Washington Wizards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be a key piece in a major trade by the Magic which sees them acquire a star with his $22.7 million salary.
Depending on how the Philadelphia 76ers season transpires, all their rotational players signed in the summer could be available for the right price. Tobias Harris could be an interesting available player as a veteran, but his contract might be better suited to stay in Detroit unless the franchise moves it for a major splash.
The league will have 60 more players enter trade eligibility between now and the final week of January, by which point almost every player in the NBA will be eligible for trade except players who signed max contracts that kick in next season like Jamal Murray and Lauri Markkanen.
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