3 Trade Assets Every NBA GM Will Be Secretly Shopping This Offseason
It doesn't matter if your favorite NBA team is in the playoffs or watching from home right now, you can bet that the general manager (president, vice president of basketball operations, etc.) is already planning their summer trade ideas.
This includes players likely to hit the market (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Michael Porter Jr., etc.) but also some stars and role players that will raise some eyebrows.
Nikola Jokić is untouchable, but are we 100 percent sure Jamal Murray is safe if the Denver Nuggets lose in the first round? Would the Cleveland Cavaliers shop Evan Mobley for a win-now star after giving up Darius Garland? Which lottery teams will take calls on their picks before draft night?
These are the players and picks general managers will want to keep quiet during trade talks, yet should want to explore their value this offseason even if a deal ultimately doesn't take place.
Atlanta Hawks
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The Atlanta Hawks have a 29.3 percent chance at a top-4 pick in this loaded draft class thanks to a 2025 draft-day trade with the Pelicans. They also own the rights to the Cleveland Cavaliers' first rounder, giving them some additional trade ammo if needed.
The Pels' pick is perhaps the most valuable asset the franchise owns depending on where it lands. With the Hawks looking like they can build a contender around this core in the post Trae Young era, shopping the Pelicans' pick around the league could bring in another star.
Daniels took a step back offensively this season (11.9 points, 18.8 percent from three) after signing a four-year, $100 million extension. He's a terrific defender, but there's real shooting concerns if both Daniels and Jonathan Kuminga share a starting lineup together long-term.
Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, isn't even in the Hawks' playoff rotation right now. Atlanta may not want to take the time to develop the 21-year-old as they look to stay in the playoff picture for years to come.
Boston Celtics
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How far the Boston Celtics make it in the 2026 playoffs will ultimately decide just how safe veterans like Brown and White are.
An early playoff exit will undoubtedly have teams calling about both, and Boston should at least listen to offers given the season Brown is coming off of. His stock is at an all-time high after averaging a career-best 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists, primarily as a No. 1 option while Jayson Tatum worked his way back to the court. He's still owed a whopping $183.1 million over the next three years (over $61 million per season).
White will turn 32 this summer and is having a rough season shooting the ball (48.7 percent on twos, 32.7 percent on threes). Payton Pritchard proved he can be a full-time starter, making a White trade more digestible for the Celtics. We already saw them move on from another veteran guard in Jrue Holiday last offseason.
The Celtics have done an admirable job of holding on to future first-round picks while other contenders have emptied their wallets while chasing improvements. They currently owe just one selection (2029) and can trade up to three first-rounders this summer if the right star becomes available.
Brooklyn Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets own a whopping 14 first-round picks over the next seven drafts. Some of their own selections have swap rights attached from previous trades, although Brooklyn's 2026 first rounder and every other one in the near future should be off limits in any deals.
The good news? The Nets still own unprotected first-round picks from the Knicks in 2027, 2029 and 2031 from the Mikal Bridges trade that they can use as bait if they want.
Brooklyn took three ball-handling guards in the 2025 draft (Egor Dёmin, Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf) and almost certainly won't be able to develop all three as the team becomes more competitive. Dёmin, the No. 8 overall pick, is probably safe but the Nets could test the trade waters for one of their other guards.
Is Claxton, 27, too old for this Nets timeline? They need his interior defense and rebounding for now, although general manager Sean Marks should at least be assessing his value around the league.
Charlotte Hornets
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Did playing 72 games and helping lead the Charlotte Hornets to a 44-38 record make Ball untouchable? It shouldn't have, as Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller are the more important pieces here.
If anything, it may be time to sell high on Ball, as Charlotte has yet to make the playoffs in any of his six seasons.
Kalkbrenner was one of the best rookie surprises by averaging 1.5 blocks and shooting 75.3 percent overall. The Hornets really took off after they benched the 24-year-old for Moussa Diabaté, however, making Kalkbrenner the long-term backup center for this team. He could be worth a good first-round pick to a team who needs a cheap center option.
The Hornets have a golden egg in their nest with the Mavs' pick in 2027, a selection that's only top-2 protected. Dallas is retooling the roster around 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and almost certainly won't be a playoff team next year. This pick should have a ton of value.
Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls are currently searching for a new front office, as vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley were let go in early April. Because of this, no player on the roster should feel safe.
This means that even Giddey's future is up in the air. The 23-year-old will be entering season No. 2 of a four-year, $100 million extension and put up big numbers during his second year in Chicago (17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.1 assists).
There's way too many guards on this roster. One of Anfernee Simons or Collin Sexton could be brought back, although both seems redundant especially if the team plans to keep Giddey and give Rob Dillingham enough minutes to develop. Simons or Sexton could be a sign-and-trade candidate.
Thanks to the Portland Trail Blazers reaching the playoffs, the Bulls own both their own lottery pick and the No. 15 overall selection via Portland. Bringing in two rookies would be fine, although a new aggressive front office may want to use the team's cap space and multiple first-rounders to try and add veteran talent instead.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Mitchell makes this list only if the seven-time All-Star refuses to sign an extension this offseason, as he could leave Cleveland as a free agent in 2027. It's a difficult situation, yet one that the Cavaliers could be facing should they suffer another early playoff exit.
After averaging 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals this past season at age 29, Mitchell would arguably be the most sought after player on the market.
Mobley has been a disappointment this postseason. Now on a max contract that jumps to $50.1 million next season, he's given the Cavs just 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds thus far in the playoffs. The defense remains elite but his offensive flame continually goes out. Cleveland already swapped Darius Garland for James Harden in a desperate win-now attempt. Mobley may be next.
Mobley's three-point shot falling back to Earth (29.7 percent) may force the Cavs to re-examine the frontcourt pairing with Allen, who's made one total three the past three seasons. A new three-year, $90.7 million contract is kicking in for the only team currently above the second apron.
Dallas Mavericks
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Cooper Flagg and whoever the Dallas Mavericks select with their 2026 lottery pick are the only players who should be buying real estate in Northeast Texas this summer.
Irving's value will be tough to determine until the 34-year-old returns to the court. He missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL yet was brilliant (24.7 points on 40.1 percent from three) the year before while making his ninth All-Star game. He and the Mavs should agree to find a trade.
Thompson may not love the idea of being shopped around at this stage of his career, although the 36-year-old and the rebuilding Mavericks no longer make sense together. He could still help a contender as a floor-spacer off the bench.
Does Dallas give up on Lively already? Foot surgery limited the 22-year-old to just seven games last season and Lively has suited up in only 98 total contests over three years. He certainly still has value with a year left on his rookie contract, something the Mavs may secretly be exploring.
Denver Nuggets
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Murray may be the most controversial name in this exercise. The 29-year-old is coming off the best season of his career, was named an All-Star for the first time and put up 25.4 points and 7.1 assists a game. If the Denver Nuggets lose in the first (or second) round and waste another year of Nikola Jokić's prime, there's going to be some difficult conversations this summer, however.
Odds are that Murray will remain in Denver, although that won't stop the front office from eyeing potential upgrades this summer.
Braun has struggled through an injury-plagued season. His three-point shot fell off (30.1 percent) and a five-year, $125 million contract is about to kick in. For a Nuggets team that needs to re-sign Peyton Watson, Braun could be shopped.
Johnson was acquired as a bonus for salary dumping Michael Porter Jr. last offseason. He's a useful starter and floor spacer but isn't a core piece for the Nuggets who's struggled in the playoffs (11.6 points, 24.0 percent from three). Don't be surprised to see Denver flip him in another cost-cutting move.
Detroit Pistons
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Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson are still safe with the Detroit Pistons for now. Jalen Duren will be back with a hefty raise. If the Pistons fall in the first round to the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic? Everyone else is fair game.
In a perfect world, Detroit would have the time to help Holland develop into a star. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 draft has the size and defensive chops to mold over time, yet the Pistons have driven full speed into contention mode. They should be shopping the 20-year-old for win-now help.
Stewart is never going to be more than Duren's backup in Detroit despite his toughness, rim protection and floor-stretching. His salary ($15 million) could be used to help trade for a star.
The Pistons are one of the few NBA teams to actually own all of their first-round picks moving forward. They could trade up to four firsts this summer if the right player becomes available.
Golden State Warriors
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Everyone outside of Stephen Curry should have a price for the Golden State Warriors this offseason. The Warriors clearly don't mind sacrificing future draft capital for the right star, either, as they made an offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo that included four unprotected first-round picks, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Butler has played well alongside Curry, although the six-time All-Star will turn 37 this fall and is recovering from a torn ACL. Teams may have interest in a healthy Butler and his expiring $56.8 million contract.
As weird as it would be to see Green in another uniform, the nine-time All-Defensive team member is 36 and clearly on the downside of his career. His minus-4.3 swing rating this season was the worst since Green's rookie year.
Podziemski is eligible to sign an extension this offseason and averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a starter. He's likely the starting price in negotiations when trying to trade for a win-now star.
Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets are headed towards a long offseason should they indeed end up losing to the injury-bitten Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün are probably safe, although anything could theoretically be on the table. Swapping other pieces around to get a star point guard would still be the best thing for this roster, however.
Smith has been good in Houston but could truly become a star elsewhere in a bigger role. The 22-year-old has the size and athleticism to become a 20-plus point-per-game scorer.
Sheppard has stepped into a bigger role in Year 2 yet never seemed to earn the full trust of head coach Ime Udoka, even when the Rockets desperately needed ball-handling, passing and shooting in their starting five.
Houston could also shop their unprotected Suns pick in next year's draft. Phoenix wound up at No. 16 overall this season yet will once again face stiff competition in the West with lottery teams like the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans looking to make a playoff run.
Indiana Pacers
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A return to the playoffs with a healthy Tyrese Haliburton next season is the plan for the Indiana Pacers, as they've added Ivica Zubac as the team's newest starting center.
If Indiana lands a top-4 pick in this star-studded draft, would they listen to offers if it meant adding an All-Star that could help make another Finals run immediately?
On the flip side, Siakam is coming off another All-Star season yet turned 32 earlier this month. If the Pacers land at No. 3 overall in the draft lottery and Cameron Boozer is sitting there, does Indiana consider a younger pairing to go along with the 26-year-old Haliburton?
Walker had a breakout year and will be extension eligible this offseason. With a roster that already looks like it will cross into the luxury tax, however, shopping Walker before he gets paid may be inevitable for the notoriously cheap Pacers.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Injuries have made Leonard look untradeable at times. As painful as it may be, shopping the two-time Finals MVP now while his stock is high and before he hits free agency in 2027 is the right choice.
Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals this season, yet the Clippers went just 37-28 with him in 2025-26. A youth movement is underway as the franchise looks to restock its young talent and future draft picks.
If the market for Leonard isn't as fruitful as the Clippers would have hoped, they have some draft ammo to trade thanks to the Ivica Zubac deal with the Indiana Pacers. Los Angeles can shop an unprotected pick from the Pacers in 2027 and will either have Indiana's first-round pick this year (top-4 protected) or another unprotected selection in 2029. This gives them the potential to add a star next to Leonard, Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin.
Jones will be in high demand if the Clippers make him available this summer. The 29-year-old averaged 10.1 points, made 35.9 percent of his threes and played strong wing defense this season.
Los Angeles Lakers
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If LeBron James wants to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks or another high-priced contender next season while making more than the veteran minimum or non-taxpayer mid-level exception, a sign-and-trade will be his only option.
The Lakers should entertain the idea as well, especially if it means bringing in the right pieces around Luka Dončić.
Deandre Ayton holds a $8.1 million player option for next season. Even though he's spent the past four years on a max contract, are we sure he'd make more than this as a free agent? If Ayton picks the option up, the Lakers should have already checked on his value around the league.
Los Angeles can trade three first-round picks when the new league year begins (2026, 2031 and 2033) giving them some ammo to go get another star next to Dončić. Every season with him will be championship-or-bust.
Memphis Grizzlies
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A year ago, Cedric Coward wasn't even on the Memphis Grizzlies roster. Now, he's their only untouchable player. Ja Morant will be gone if the Grizzlies can find any respectable return.
Edey was having a monster season (13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 63.3 percent shooting in 25.8 minutes per game) before being sidelined with ankle surgery. His value is tough to determine given his age (23) and production vs. what should be a serious injury concern for someone his size (7'3", 305 pounds).
Jerome is a walking bucket who doesn't fit this rebuild at age 28. He averaged 31.3 points (!!!) and 9.0 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 42.0 percent from three.
Wells was the surprise rookie of the 2024 draft and once again a full-time starter for the Grizzlies in 2025-26. His ceiling is somewhat limited, however, and there was a lack of growth from Wells as a sophomore as his numbers and shooting marks remained consistent across the board. Memphis should consider selling high now while Wells is still on his second-round contract.
Miami Heat
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There's no way Pat Riley can make these comments about not trading Bam Adebyao and then actually shop him, right?
Assuming the NBA's second-highest single game scorer is safe, Herro should definitely be on the table (and has been in the past) if a brighter star is available. The 26-year-old is heading into the final year of his contract, one that Miami has been unwilling to extend at a high number.
Ware, 22, is the player opposing teams should covet the most. The 7-footer put up 12.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and made 40.9 percent of his threes in 34 starts.
Jaquez should have been the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year after posting 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and shooting 50.7 percent overall. He's eligible to sign a rookie extension this offseason and may have found his ideal role on a contending team.
Milwaukee Bucks
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It's no secret that trade talks will resume around Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. The two sides definitely look like they're heading towards a split.
Moving their next available future first-round pick in 2031 would be extremely risky for the Bucks but would carry a ton of value considering the uncertainty revolving around the two-time MVP. It's really Milwaukee's last hope at bringing in another star unless they move their 2026 lottery pick (which should be off limits). Are the Bucks desperate enough to trade a top-10 pick now if it means Antetokounmpo signs an extension?
Turner did not live up to his $100 million contract in Milwaukee in Year 1, putting up a measly 11.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. For comparison, guards Kon Knueppel and Stephon Castle pulled down the same number of boards as the 6'11" center.
Less than a year after he made the shocking move to sign with the Bucks, Turner could already be on the market depending on how the Antetokounmpo situation shakes out.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Anthony Edwards is the only safe member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, even though his teammates have performed well thus far in the playoffs.
The debate will continue if Randle can be the No. 2 option on a championship team or if the Wolves need a better running mate for Edwards.
Gobert has been awesome in the first round against the Denver Nuggets, yet will turn 34 this summer. Will Minnesota decide to sell high on the four-time Defensive Player of the Year?
McDaniels has shown some unusual feistiness in these playoffs and has backed up his words with strong play on the court. If the Wolves go looking for a starting point guard to place next to Edwards, McDaniels may be their best trade chip when acquiring one.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Now seven years into his career, Williamson has yet to play in a playoff game for the New Orleans Pelicans. The franchise should absolutely be shopping him this summer, especially coming off a season where Williamson was reasonably healthy (62 total games).
Murphy's value should be extremely high. The 25-year-old is on a great contract ($87 million over three seasons) and averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals a game in 2025-26.
Jones, 27, is coming off back-to-back injury-plagued seasons and should probably be retained at least until his stock rises once again. Still, plenty of contenders will be desperate for long wings who can defend at a high level. The Pelicans should be taking calls.
New York Knicks
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Anything short of a trip to the Finals could inspire change within the New York Knicks organization. Jalen Brunson is off limits, but he's the only one.
Towns' value will be fascinating to discover. The 30-year-old has the lowest scoring season since his rookie year and isn't a good defender. Few can rebound like the 7-footer, however, and Towns is a talented passer who teams can run an offense through. Owed $118 million over the next two years, the Knicks will need to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.
Bridges is actively killing his trade value in these playoffs and New York won't get anything close to the five first-round picks it gave up for him. He'll likely be back, although it would be interesting to know how other contenders view the 29-year-old wing.
Following a top-10 finish for Defensive Player of the Year, Anunoby would draw a ton of interest league wide even while playing on hefty contract. He could also be moved if the Knicks want to move Towns to a full-time power forward role and start a traditional center alongside him.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Fear of the second apron could lead to some tough decisions for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a franchise that's already begun the NBA's next dynasty.
The Thunder hold an $18.2 million team option on Dort. Even if they don't plan on keeping him, picking up the option on the first-team All-Defender and then trading him would at least fetch some sort of return.
Mitchell might be on the NBA's best contract, with just $2.9 million owed in each of the next two years. It's highly unlikely that OKC will be able to re-sign the 23-year-old to a big contract, and his trade value may never be higher coming off a breakout season (13.6 points, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals).
Caruso has over $60 million owed to him the next three years. Oklahoma City would certainly like to keep the veteran guard, although trading him would go a long way into getting this team under the second apron in 2026-27.
Orlando Magic
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Is anyone untouchable on the Orlando Magic roster? This is the most confusing team in the NBA right now, one that underachieved all year but now holds a 3-1 series lead against the No. 1 seeded Detroit Pistons.
Even if the Magic don't end up trading Banchero or Wagner, it would make sense to take the league's temperature when it comes to their two stars. This roster still needs a true pass-first point guard (no offense, Jalen Suggs). Flipping Wagner for an All-Star point guard if one becomes available should absolutely be considered.
If the Magic are healthy, Black is never going to be a starter on this current roster. He deserves a look somewhere, as the 22-year-old put up 16.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and made 35.3 percent of his threes in 40 starts this season. He's eligible to sign a rookie extension this offseason.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Paul George is probably untradeable when factoring in his age and contract vs. production and Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe should be untouchable.
What does Embiid's value look like?
The former MVP is keeping the Philadelphia 76ers alive in the playoffs against the Boston Celtics (33 points in a Game 5 win), although we're very familiar with his injury history.
The 76ers don't actually have a lot of players under contract for next year, meaning their future draft picks become even more interesting in trade talks. Philly can send out an unprotected first next summer and own the Clippers' unprotected first the year after when Kawhi Leonard will be 36.
Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns have a decision to make on Green, who played better as the season went along yet could become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The makeup of this roster has Green playing small forward for nearly half of his minutes, not an ideal defensive matchup for the 6'4", 186-pound guard.
Maluach looked pretty raw during his rookie season and won't sniff the starting lineup for years if Mark Williams ends up signing an extension. Dunn's outside shooting in the NBA has been better than expected and he has the defensive chops to become elite on that end of the floor. With Dillon Brooks locked in as the team's starting power forward, however, Dunn's value should be explored.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Going from 31 points in a playoff game to zero a few days later pretty much sums up the Henderson experience thus far for the Portland Trail Blazers. The talent is clearly there, although consistency has been an issue. Exploring his trade value now before getting locked into a long-term contract would be wise for the Blazers.
Could Holiday become the odd man out when Damian Lillard returns to the court next season? The veteran guard should still have value around the league but will turn 36 this summer and is owed $34.8 million and $36.4 million over the next two seasons.
Grant is no longer a starter when this Blazers team is healthy yet is coming off a strong season (18.6 points, 38.9 percent from three). He's still valuable to Portland but could be shopped as this team becomes more expensive.
Sacramento Kings
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The Sacramento Kings should be open for business this summer, with no player or picks deemed to be off limits.
Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are obvious trade candidates, although it's Sabonis who would actually get the Kings some good value in return. Few players can combine his rebounding, passing and offensive hub ability although past knee surgery and a 30th birthday next month should give teams some pause.
Murray, 25, looked untouchable a few years ago yet has been inconsistent with his three-point shot and finding a role in an ever-changing roster. His five-year, $140 million extension looks a little worrisome.
Trading for a veteran like Hunter while the team sat at the bottom of the West made no sense at the time for the Kings. Playing just two games before undergoing eye surgery certainly didn't increase his value, either. Contenders in need of a big wing could still come calling, though.
San Antonio Spurs
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How long will No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper be content with coming off the bench? That's the question Fox should want to know the answer to.
The elder statesmen of the backcourt at age 28, Fox doesn't sit on the same timeline as Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Harper. Coming off an All-Star season, could the Spurs secretly shop Fox now while preparing a starting job for Harper?
Vassell and his $27 million salary will likely be the first player thrown in to match money for a star if that's the route the San Antonio Spurs want to go this offseason. Vassell is good on both ends yet is probably never going to make an All-Star team.
San Antonio is going to be awesome for a long time, meaning their own first-round picks won't be that valuable moving forward. They do own the Hawks' unprotected first in 2027, however, a team that hasn't topped 48 wins in over a decade.
Toronto Raptors
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How far can a team that features Ingram as its primary scoring option really go? The 28-year-old looks more like Robin than Batman, which means asking Scottie Barnes to make another offensive leap.
Poeltl became less important this year thanks to the strong play of rookie Collin Murray-Boyles. The bad news is that the Raptors essentially sunk the trade value of Poeltl by giving him an unnecessary three-year, $84 million extension that takes the veteran center through 2030 when he'll be 34.
Dick has a breakout sophomore season (14.4 points in 29.4 minutes) yet was used far less in Year 3 (6.0 points in 14.0 minutes). A 6'7" wing who can shoot, it's time the Raptors shopped their lottery pick from 2023.
Utah Jazz
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The draft lottery could very well affect the plans of the Utah Jazz this summer. This franchise is invested in Ace Bailey, Jaren Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and (likely) Walker Kessler. Markkanen could be the odd man out, especially if the Jazz get the chance to draft a wing like AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.
Now would be the perfect time to trade the 28-year-old, as Markkanen averaged 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists this past season.
Williams was much better in Year 2 for Utah, although that's not saying much. His opportunity to win a starting job is all but gone, especially after the Jazz traded for Jackson.
Collier was starting over George for stretches in 2024-25, although the latter established himself as the team's best floor general this year. Collier's passing (7.9 assists in 65 career starts) should draw interest from both rebuilding and contending teams.
Washington Wizards
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Anthony Davis being traded to the 17-65 Washington Wizards was one of the weirdest parts of the 2025-26 season. Both parties should view this as a temporary arrangement and keep an open mind, especially if trade offers come through this offseason.
Davis is 33 and has 60 playoff games and a championship under his belt. The Wizards don't even look close to being a playoff team. Another Davis trade would be for the best.
Now with Tre Johnson in the fold and Kyshawn George enjoying a breakout season, can the Wizards really develop all of their guards and wings? Carrington and Coulibaly may not both survive the summer in DC, especially if the Wizards want to add more veterans alongside Davis and Trae Young.
