Young NBA Players Who Need a Trade During 2026 Offseason
A change of scenery can be a good thing for young NBA players.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged just 10.8 points and 3.3 assists as a rookie with the Los Angeles Clippers before becoming an MVP and the league's leading scorer with the Oklahoma City Thunder. We saw Lauri Markkanen become a first-time All-Star at age 25 following a trade to the Utah Jazz, and Jonathan Kuminga is now thriving with the Atlanta Hawks.
We're certainly not saying the following five players will become the next SGA, though finding a new home with expanded opportunities would allow them to reach their potential.
These are the young NBA players who most need a trade this offseason.
Cody Williams, SF, Utah Jazz
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Cody Williams was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, selected by the Utah Jazz at a time when they were searching for franchise-building blocks.
Fast forward nearly two years later, and the makeup of the team looks quite different.
Utah took Ace Bailey at No. 5 in the 2025 draft, a player who's far ahead of Williams in his development right now and has a much higher overall ceiling. The Jazz also traded three-first-round picks in a package to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr., tying them to a frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen, Jackson, and Walker Kessler, a restricted free agent who Utah reportedly turned down two unprotected first-round picks for and obviously plans to keep.
With Keyonte George looking like a future star and Bailey as his backcourt running mate, there's no future with Williams as a starter if he stays with the Jazz.
Williams had a horrible rookie season, yet has improved this year by cutting down on his three-point attempts and improving his overall shot selection. He looks the part as a 6'8" wing and did shoot 41.5 percent from three in his lone college season at Colorado.
Perhaps a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder to become the long-term backup to brother Jalen, or to a Dallas Mavericks squad in need of young wings alongside Cooper Flagg, would make for better fits.
Tari Eason, F, Houston Rockets
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Tari Eason and the Houston Rockets failed to come to an agreement on an extension last offseason, despite the 24-year-old receiving an offer of over $100 million, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
The two sides could still come to a new agreement as he hits restricted free agency, although a sign-and-trade may be best for both parties, given Eason's ability to play a larger role and Houston's second apron concerns with a $122 million extension kicking in for Jabari Smith Jr. and a new deal owed to Amen Thompson in 2027.
Assuming Fred VanVleet makes a full recovery from a torn ACL and resumes his starting role, there's just no room in a lineup that already features Kevin Durant, Thompson, Alperen Şengün, and Smith. Eason clearly wants to be paid like a starter and deserves the chance to be one on a full-time basis, an opportunity he's never received in four years in Houston.
The 6'8" Eason has become one of the NBA's best three-point shooters (42.1 percent) and is a terrific defender with his size, athleticism, and wingspan. He's averaged 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per 36 minutes in his career.
We'd like to see Eason in an expanded offensive role, as much of his time with this Rockets squad is spent standing in the corner while waiting for the ball.
Eason would look great as the starting power forward with the Philadelphia 76ers between Joel Embiid and Paul George, or take over Jaren Jackson Jr.'s old spot with the Memphis Grizzlies. He'd be an immediate starter with the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, or Los Angeles Lakers if LeBron James leaves as a free agent as well.
Bub Carrington, G, Washington Wizards
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Had the Washington Wizards stood pat at the trade deadline, there was a runway for Bub Carrington to have a long and successful career with the franchise. With the additions of Trae Young and Anthony Davis and a desire to speed up the timeline towards being contenders, it's unclear where the 20-year-old now fits in.
The Wizards will enter the 2026-27 season with Young and Davis as the team's starting point guard and power forward. Last year's No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr will almost certainly start alongside Davis in the frontcourt, and the Wizards have leaned on Kyshawn George and Bilal Coulibaby as full-time starters this season. No. 6 overall pick Tre Johnson has started all of his games since late December as well.
This doesn't even factor in who the Wizards take in the 2027 draft, as they currently have a 48.1 percent chance of a top-4 pick in a top-heavy class.
There's a real chance that Carrington, a talented young guard who's averaging 9.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 39.0 percent from three, is buried on the Wizards' depth chart.
Young is going to be handed the keys to the offense next season, for better or for worse. He's likely to sign an extension with the Wizards, making Carrington the team's new backup point guard at best.
The former lottery pick could find a new home with Young's old squad, the Atlanta Hawks, or be an intriguing fit with the point guard-needy Sacramento Kings, assuming Russell Westbrook signs elsewhere or retires.
Yves Missi, C, New Orleans Pelicans
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Yves Missi was viewed as a project after being selected 21st overall in the 2024 draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, yet was forced into action immediately due to the team's lack of center options a season ago.
He's since become a far better overall player in Year 2, although his role and fit with the Pelicans are wonky at best.
Zion Williamson is still the franchise power forward for now, and Derik Queen is too talented to keep off the floor (even though James Borrego is starting 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan over him for some reason). This has led to just seven total starts for Missi this season, after opening 67 of his 73 games as a rookie.
If Williamson and Queen start together, there are defensive issues. If Williamson and Missi start, spacing is rough. Queen and Missi look like the best long-term fit, although the Pelicans have insisted on keeping Williamson.
Missi, 21, should get a look as another team's starting center.
The second-year big man has a swing rating of plus-9.7 (91st percentile, via Cleaning the Glass) and is averaging 5.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks on 53.4 percent shooting in just 18.9 minutes a game. With a 7'2" wingspan, Missi has all the tools to become a high-level rim protector.
Teams like the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers are all looking for a franchise center, someone who can put pressure on the rim on both ends. Missi can become a good starting center, although it won't be in New Orleans.
Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trail Blazers
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Selected at No. 3 overall in 2023 to be the heir to Damian Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson still has yet to earn the role of a full-time starter.
Injuries and poor shooting efficiency have held the 22-year-old back from becoming a franchise point guard, as he's averaged just 13.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and shot 40.0 percent overall in 138 games over three years.
Henderson is one of the most athletic point guards in the NBA. He has a chiseled, 6'3" frame that should be able to make a career of getting into the paint and to the free-throw line. He'll wow you at times with thunderous dunks and is growing as a playmaker, even if his turnovers are still too high.
How long can Portland stay patient with Henderson's development, especially as the team currently fights for a playoff spot in the West? The stakes will only get higher when Lillard returns from a torn Achilles next year, and Henderson's minutes will only go down in a backcourt that also features Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Caleb Love, and Vít Krejčí.
Next season will be the final year of Henderson's rookie deal, meaning contract extension talks will take place this summer/fall. There's no way the Trail Blazers will want to commit big money to Henderson unless they see more real progress over these next two months.
A trade could be best for all involved, as teams like the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves still need franchise point guards. Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks could emerge as suitors if they continue to rebuild and explore trades for Ja Morant and Kyrie Irving.
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