The 2026 NBA offseason showed us just how quickly everything can change. A crazy number of stars were traded during one of the most exciting summers we’ve seen in years. The Bucks moved Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Grizzlies finally sent Ja Morant away, the Celtics shocked the entire league by trading Jaylen Brown, and even Kawhi Leonard was dealt back to the Raptors.
Not all of them openly demanded to leave, but asking for a trade has become a pretty normal thing in the NBA. And after an offseason where literally nobody felt safe, it’s impossible to rule anything out moving forward. The second apron has caused complete chaos since it was implemented, but honestly, that worked out pretty well for us because it helped create all these massive moves.
Superstars are also usually much more willing to demand a trade when things start going badly. After seeing so many major names change teams in only one summer, these are the five players who could be next to ask out.
5. Stephen Curry Could Finally Force The Warriors To Choose
This would easily be the most shocking request on the list, mostly because Stephen Curry has never acted like a player who wants to leave. He built the Warriors, won four championships there, and turned the franchise into one of the biggest brands in basketball. Still, loyalty can only survive so many wasted seasons before some very uncomfortable conversations begin.
Golden State hasn’t added one outside player this offseason after missing on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James. Jimmy Butler will start the season recovering from a torn right ACL, while the biggest move was bringing Draymond Green back for one year and $27.7 million. Curry still produced 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 39.3% from three, but he only played 43 games and the Warriors finished 37-45. Marcus Thompson II also said he believes Curry could be growing tired of the front office constantly hunting stars without completing anything.
Curry will make $62.6 million in the final year of his contract and becomes eligible on August 29 for a two-year extension worth up to $136.7 million. There’s reportedly mutual interest in reaching a new deal, so a request obviously isn’t close right now. The real pressure point comes if Curry delays the extension and Golden State starts another season looking completely average.
I still can’t imagine Curry publicly demanding a trade. That isn’t his style. But if the Warriors remain bad, refuse to move their future first-round picks, and keep planning for the post-Curry era, a mutual separation could become possible. Golden State would receive a historic package, while Curry gets one final championship chance. Another empty offseason in 2027 could finally make that conversation feel less impossible.
4. Jalen Williams Could Eventually Want His Own Team
This one is easily the biggest projection because there’s no reporting that Jalen Williams is unhappy. He’s signed through 2030-31, plays for a contender, already won a championship, and remains a major part of everything the Thunder do. Requesting a trade anytime soon would honestly make very little sense.
The situation becomes interesting because Williams’ offensive role already dropped last season. He went from an All-NBA-level breakout to 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 48.4% from the field and 29.9% from three. Injuries affected his season, but Chet Holmgren also grew into a much larger player, finishing with 17.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 55.7% from the field. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander obviously remains the permanent first option.
That can eventually leave Williams in a strange position. He’s entering a five-year deal worth around $240.0 million, but money doesn’t always solve role questions. If Holmgren becomes the clear second option and Williams settles into a lower-usage third role, his scoring numbers, All-Star opportunities, and individual awards could all take a hit. The Thunder even discussed bringing him off the bench when he returned during the playoffs, although that was based on lineup balance and his recovery rather than a permanent demotion.
As long as Oklahoma City keeps winning, none of this should become a major issue. Players accept fewer shots when championships are coming. But two or three years from now, Williams could look around and realize he has the talent to average 25 points and run his own team. This isn’t based on current noise. It’s the kind of situation that could slowly develop when three max-level players share one offense.
3. Zion Williamson Could Finally Give Up On The Pelicans
For years, the Pelicans could blame their failure on Zion Williamson never staying healthy. But to be fair with Zion, he played 62 games last season, the second-highest total of his career, and finished with 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 60.0% from the field. New Orleans still went 26-56 and missed the Play-In Tournament without making the race remotely close.
Joe Dumars publicly said the Pelicans have no intention of trading Zion and confirmed that other teams contacted them about his availability. That gives New Orleans control for now, especially with Williamson owed $42.2 million in 2026-27 and potentially $44.9 million the following season. The organization clearly wants to see whether one healthier year can finally become two.
The problem is that the roster barely changed. Kobe Bufkin is currently the only outside addition, and a training camp guard isn’t fixing a 26-win team by himself. The Pelicans still have spacing issues, uncertain center depth, several players who need the ball, and a brutal Western Conference around them. Zion has now spent seven seasons with the franchise without even suiting up once in the postseason.
Getting a 30-win season could be the breaking point, because if Williamson stays healthy again and the Pelicans remain nowhere near the Play-In, he’d finally have a strong argument that the franchise failed him instead of the opposite. The Pelicans say they won’t trade him, but that position becomes much harder to maintain once the player asks directly.
2. Kevin Durant Is Already Closer To The Door Than It Looks
Kevin Durant requesting another trade would surprise basically nobody at this point. He has already changed teams several times, and he’s never been scared to leave once he believes a championship project has stopped working. At 37, he also has no time to wait for young players to become ready two years from now.
His first Rockets season was individually great. Durant played 78 games and delivered 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Houston remained competitive, but its season ended with another disappointing playoff result, and the offseason response was mostly Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and internal development. Those moves might help, but they aren’t exactly a giant second swing around an aging superstar.
More importantly, Durant reportedly wasn’t considered untouchable this summer. Brett Siegel reported that Houston would’ve been willing to include him if the right blockbuster opportunity appeared. That’s a pretty crazy position for a team that only acquired him one year earlier, and Durant definitely notices everything said about his status.
Then there’s the burner-account mess. A social media account allegedly connected to Durant criticized Rockets teammates, and subsequent reporting described the controversy as a significant internal distraction that was never fully resolved. Durant denied the claims behind the situation, so it can’t be presented as proof he wants out. Still, burner allegations plus reports that the organization would consider trading him aren’t exactly signs of a perfect relationship.
Durant is under contract for $43.9 million this season and $46.1 million in 2027-28. If the Rockets lose early again, either side could start the breakup. Durant may ask for one final move toward a stronger contender, or Houston could decide that trading him before his value collapses is smarter. Honestly, I think this feels less like a wild guess and more like a situation waiting to explode, knowing how KD manages these moments.
1. Anthony Davis Might Turn A Max Dispute Into A Trade Request
Anthony Davis is the easiest choice for No. 1 because the contract tension is already sitting there before he has even played one game for the Wizards. Washington acquired him at the deadline, but a hand injury ended his season before he could debut. Davis only appeared in 20 games overall, recording 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks.
Davis becomes extension-eligible in August and is reportedly expected to seek the full four-year, $275.0 million maximum contract. The Wizards want to discuss a long-term deal but reportedly aren’t interested in giving him the full max. That difference isn’t a little detail. Davis will make $58.5 million this season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, so he already has major financial security and enough leverage to create pressure.
Washington has publicly shut down trade interest and seems determined to start the season with Davis, Trae Young, AJ Dybantsa, and Alex Sarr. But projections still place the Wizards near the bottom of the East, with some rankings putting them 12th or 13th. The roster has talent, although it’s also young, oddly constructed, and full of frontcourt overlap. Davis didn’t land there to spend the end of his prime developing lottery picks.
There has already been outside speculation that Davis could request a trade if Washington starts poorly, although no direct report says he has threatened to do it. Right now, Davis hasn’t asked out, and the Wizards aren’t listening to offers after being connected to the Warriors in the LeBron sweepstakes. But imagine they begin 8-17, Davis still doesn’t have his max extension, and contenders start calling before the deadline. The entire situation could change for the worse.
To me, the contract is what pushes him above Durant. If Washington pays him, Davis probably stays and gives the project a chance. If the Wizards refuse the max and the team keeps losing, there’s almost no reason for him to remain patient. He’d be a 33-year-old superstar on a lottery team without the long-term money he wants. That’s basically the perfect formula for the NBA’s next major trade request.
