NBA Players Most Likely to Be Traded: Jonathan Kuminga, Kyle Kuzma, and Others

NBA trades span a wide spectrum of predictability. At one extreme are deals like the Luka Dončić blockbuster, which was so shocking that many initially thought Shams Charania`s phone had been hacked. Such monumental trades are rare, but surprising moves are not uncommon; other significant, unexpected trades have occurred within months of each other.

Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum are highly predictable transactions, such as Brooklyn`s trade of Dennis Schröder last season. After reacquiring its 2025 first-round pick from Houston, Brooklyn found itself winning too often early in the season. Eager to shed veteran players, the Nets offloaded Schröder to the Warriors on the very first day Golden State could legally match salaries – a move as predictable as they come.

Today, our focus will be on these more predictable types of trades. Before a season begins, a few players are typically considered highly likely trade candidates for various reasons. These individuals are rarely superstars. While a trade for a player of Lauri Markkanen`s caliber is plausible, the magnitude of such a deal prevents it from being an obvious pre-season prediction.

Instead, these are often role players caught in unfavorable circumstances. However, a change in environment can quickly transform their fortunes. Consider Schröder: his Golden State stint was unsuccessful, but he became a vital component of a second-half Pistons resurgence in Detroit. While their future destinations are uncertain, the following players are identified as the most probable trade candidates before the February 5, 2026 deadline.

NBA Players Most Likely to Be Traded

Jonathan Kuminga

Even before his contract is finalized, Jonathan Kuminga`s trade potential is clear. The Warriors seemingly have no long-term plans for him. Coach Steve Kerr has openly expressed concerns about his fit alongside Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. Furthermore, there have been extensive reports of the Warriors wanting Kuminga to waive a no-trade clause associated with certain contract offers. This isn`t a new strategy for the Warriors; recall their assurances about keeping D`Angelo Russell, which ultimately didn`t materialize.

If Kuminga signs his one-year qualifying offer, he gains the right to veto any trade. He would likely exercise this right, as a trade would cost him Bird Rights on a new team. However, unrestricted free agency isn`t an ideal outcome for either party. The Warriors would lose him without compensation unless they could orchestrate a complex sign-and-trade. Kuminga, on the other hand, would be relying on cap space that has been scarce in recent offseasons.

A contract compromise appears to be the most sensible solution, though its exact form remains unknown. Both sides would eagerly part ways today if it made financial sense. While it doesn`t at this moment, it almost certainly will once a substantial cap number comes into play during the season. If Kuminga signs any contract other than the qualifying offer, expect a trade. Once he`s under contract, the Warriors can leverage interest from teams like the Suns and Kings to secure a better mid-season deal. Currently, his free agent status and the complexities of a sign-and-trade make a move unfeasible.

Anfernee Simons

The Celtics achieved two key objectives with the Anfernee Simons-Jrue Holiday swap. Firstly, they saved several million dollars off their 2025-26 payroll, a significant relief given their looming second apron issues. Secondly, they eliminated two expensive years owed to Holiday by converting his contract into Simons` expiring deal. These were already considerable wins with minimal cost.

Surprisingly, Boston has another potential financial goal in sight. By offloading Georges Niang, they moved within $12 million of the luxury tax line. If they can avoid the tax this year and next, they completely reset their repeater tax clock. This is immensely important for a team not expected to contend this year but hoping for a long competitive window afterward. The new repeater tax is the most punitive financial measure the NBA has ever introduced. If they can get below the tax line, they will likely try. Various methods could be employed. For instance, if they revisit blockbuster discussions for Jaylen Brown or Derrick White, ducking the tax might be a prerequisite for future negotiations. They could also get most of the way there by trading Sam Hauser into someone`s mid-level exception.

However, the cost-cutting measure they`re probably most keen on is moving Simons. While he is young and a capable player, with White and Payton Pritchard already on the roster, there isn`t much room for another guard commanding starter-level money long-term. Reports suggest they remain open to trading him. If they can do so without taking on any longer-term money, such a move is very much in play.

Kyle Kuzma

The Bucks are in a desperate situation. Waiving Damian Lillard for over $100 million in dead money indicates a belief that it’s the only viable way to persuade Giannis Antetokounmpo to remain in Milwaukee. Myles Turner is a good start, but he serves as a Brook Lopez replacement, perhaps an improvement, but does little to fill the void left by Lillard. Despite Milwaukee’s struggles last year, they had an All-Star-caliber guard generating offense. This year, their best shot-creating guards are Kevin Porter Jr. or Cole Anthony? Even in a weaker Eastern Conference, the Bucks are not yet good enough. They likely need at least one more significant move to be considered a sure-fire playoff team.

Where will that move come from? The Bucks have four players earning more than $5.2 million. One is Antetokounmpo, who is, for now, untouchable. They just signed Turner and won`t trade him. Bobby Portis isn`t completely off-limits, but he`s a fan favorite on a reasonable contract and remains productive; it`s hard to imagine the Bucks finding a better replacement in that slot. This leaves Kuzma as their only substantial cap figure at $22.4 million. If they aim to add a notable player, it will likely involve moving his salary.

Interest in Kuzma, the player, won`t be high unless he significantly bounces back early in the season. His contract`s value decreases over time but isn`t expiring. Realistically, any major addition will need to include draft capital. The Bucks can trade a first-round pick in either 2031 or 2032. Given the general skepticism surrounding Antetokounmpo`s future, such a pick would generate considerable league-wide interest. It could provide the Bucks with the upgrade needed to remain competitive. Giving up such a pick would be an enormous risk considering the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo`s future, but if they are fully committed to convincing him to stay, it’s arguably their last remaining asset.

Maxi Kleber

The Lakers are navigating a delicate balance. It`s widely known they plan to pursue All-Stars over the next two offseasons, making cap flexibility a priority. Yet, according to The Athletic`s Dan Woike, Luka Dončić`s extension and his strong Eurobasket performance have spurred the Lakers to act more aggressively in the present. With Dončić and LeBron James currently on the roster, their championship window is open now.

This doesn`t mean the Lakers will indiscriminately take on long-term deals, but it does suggest they will seek reinforcements on the fringes. It makes little sense for a team of this caliber to carry an $11 million contract for a player they likely won`t utilize extensively. This isn`t to say Maxi Kleber is a poor player; he is simply an older player whose body struggles with health. The Lakers might use Kleber early in the season, but relying on him for 82 games and four playoff rounds would be unwise.

The Lakers often use the early season to evaluate their roster and frequently make trades in December and January. This is likely how the Kleber situation will unfold. Whether it`s for perimeter defense, shooting, or a better backup center, expect the Lakers to be active shoppers mid-season, using Kleber`s contract as their primary salary-matching tool.

Terry Rozier

The Heat currently find themselves in a state of uncertainty. They traded Jimmy Butler without a clear plan to either replace him or undertake a full organizational rebuild. The latter isn`t imminent, as the Heat typically avoid tanking. However, they are proactive in seeking even modest improvements, which is what initially led them to trade a first-round pick for Rozier.

Now, Rozier is on an expiring contract, and he is coming off not only the worst season of his career but also one of the poorest offensive performances by a guard of his reputation in recent memory. It’s hard to envision him playing a meaningful role in Miami`s rotation, especially once Tyler Herro returns from injury. The Heat could let his contract expire and aim to build around 2026 cap space, but Andrew Wiggins` player option significantly reduces that flexibility. Like many other teams, they are likely targeting 2027 as the summer to save money.

They are unlikely to be content treading water in the interim. The straightforward solution would be to use Rozier`s cap figure to acquire a better player whose contract extends for an additional year. Draft compensation might be involved depending on the player, but the Heat have limited tools for improvement. If they are unwilling to take on more salary, their alternatives for upgrading the roster are few.

The Assorted Tax Dumps

We`ve already discussed Boston`s tax situation, with the Celtics being $12 million above the line. For them, ducking the tax would be beneficial, but it might not be a realistic goal. However, several other teams are closer to the tax line and could realistically fall below it. Here`s a look at some of those teams and the players they might use to avoid the tax:

• Phoenix is only about $300,000 over the tax line. The Suns are expected to get below it by the end of the season, a primary motivation behind waiving and stretching Bradley Beal. Nick Richards and his $5 million salary are obvious candidates for a move. He is now the No. 4 center in Phoenix, behind Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, and rookie Khaman Maluach.
• Similar to the Suns, the Nuggets are very close to the line, needing to shed only around $400,000. Denver is a contender, so they could plausibly add money for the right deal. Still, with massive tax bills projected for the 2026-27 season and beyond, the Nuggets would likely prefer to avoid the tax if possible. They would ideally move Zeke Nnaji for a slightly cheaper player, but his long-term contract makes this difficult. More likely, they will observe which young players don`t make the rotation. If, for instance, Jalen Pickett or Hunter Tyson aren`t getting playing time by February, they could be traded, and the Nuggets could replace them with a pro-rated minimum contract and 10-day deals to get under the line.
• Toronto is approximately $3 million above the tax line, but paying the tax with their current roster has no reasonable justification. Their cost-cutting move will essentially depend on who they can trade. They would be keen to save money in an RJ Barrett trade, but if there was significant interest, a deal would likely have happened by now. More probably, it will be someone like Ochai Agbaji or Ka`Kobe Walter who is moved – a promising young prospect who could thrive elsewhere but is too expensive for this oddly-constructed team.
• Orlando is just under $6 million above the line. The Clippers, Rockets, and Lakers are in a similar range but lack easily expendable salaries. However, the Magic do. They are paying Jett Howard $5.5 million without utilizing him. They also have significant center depth, so they could theoretically trade Goga Bitadze and his $8.3 million salary when Mo Wagner returns from his torn ACL mid-season. The Magic might be good enough to justify paying the tax, but with Paolo Banchero`s max extension kicking in next summer, it would benefit them to delay their repeater clock as long as possible, as they are expected to be expensive for a long time.

Generally speaking, hovering just above the tax line isn`t ideal. Teams typically either stay below to receive a payout or go significantly above to maximize their chances of winning. These teams are in a middle ground where avoiding the tax is a desirable and attainable goal. Even competitive teams often make such moves. Ironically, the 2021 Bucks ducked the tax line at the deadline and proceeded to win the championship. However, Jrue Holiday`s championship incentive in his contract pushed them back above it. No team has ever been more justified in exceeding the tax line. In a perfect world, most teams near the line would operate this way. But it’s rarely that simple. Usually, teams face difficult decisions about who to keep, but if they are close to the line and not clear championship contenders, they will take the necessary steps to get back under.