Examining Latest NBA Trade Rumors Following 2026 NBA Draft Results

The 2026 NBA draft is in the books, which means the basketball world can turn its collective attention toward free agency and the offseason trade market.

The trade market has already been active, with several draft-day deals shaking up the landscape and a massive blockbuster preceding them. On the eve of the draft, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to send Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in exchange for a haul of players and picks.

Miami's package included three first-round picks, Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and more.

While we may not see another deal on the level of the Giannis trade, we will likely see many more trades before we're deep into the new league year. There has certainly been no shortage of trade rumors to this point. Here, we'll dive into some of the latest.

Draft Results

Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

Celtics Still Open to Trading Jaylen Brown

Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Boston Celtics made a run at Antetokounmpo and reportedly made Jaylen Brown the centerpiece of their trade offer. According to Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic, the Bucks were interested but were also afraid that "history might repeat itself" and that Brown could soon ask for a trade just as Giannis did.

In other words, Milwaukee didn't want to trade one superstar who wants a change of scenery for another. Therefore, it settled on Miami's package of picks and players.

The potential problem for Boston is that it essentially told Brown that he is expendable by offering him up to Milwaukee—though the Celtics certainly tried to put the proverbial toothpaste back into the tube after failing to land Antetokounmpo.

"The one thing I want to make very clear is how valued he's always been," Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said, per Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston. "He's been amazing. He's been an amazing teammate and a great person to be around.

However, this doesn't mean that the Celtics are determined to keep Brown as their 1A option next to Jayson Tatum.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Celtics are "actively engaged" in trade talks to move Brown, and "multiple" teams are interested.

With Antetokounmpo off the board, Brown has become the top prize on the trade market.

Kawhi Leonard Could Also Be on the Move

Soobum Im/Getty Images

While Brown may be the new top trade target of the offseason, he isn't the only notable star who could be available.

According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Clippers could look to trade Kawhi Leonard if they're unable to secure a new contract with the soon-to-be 35-year-old.

The Clippers would reportedly like to keep Leonard, but only at their price. ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast last week (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells) that Leonard "will have to take a pay cut" to stay in Los Angeles on an extension.

If Leonard does become available via a trade, he'll reportedly have suitors.

"There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard here over the next few weeks," Charania reported Tuesday (h/t RealGM).

While it's unclear which teams could be the most eager to add Leonard this offseason, ESPN's Brian Windhorst mentioned the Detroit Pistons as a logical suitor during ESPN's draft show.

"What if they go big-game hunting? What if they check on the availability of Kawhi Leonard, who we're not quite sure if he's going to extend his contract in LA or be traded?" Windhorst said (h/t Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters).

Expect things to get very interesting with Leonard in the coming days.

Don't Expect Kyrie Irving to be Available

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks have seemingly spent the past year turning the page on the remnants of the Luka Dončić era. They dealt Anthony Davis during the season, fired coach Jason Kidd after it, and they recently hired Dusty May to help guide the early Cooper Flagg era.

It would probably shock few to see Dallas move off of Kyrie Irving this offseason as well. However, early offseason reports suggest that the Mavs would prefer to get a look at Irving and Flagg together this season—Irving missed all of Flagg's rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons are among the teams that have expressed interest in Irving and have been told no.

"The Pistons have expressed interest in Kyrie Irving. Dallas is telling teams Kyrie Irving is not available," Stein said on the All NBA Podcast.

According to Christian Clark of The Athletic, Flagg was the selling point during Dallas' coaching search, but Irving is considered part of the big picture.

"In coaching circles, the Mavericks' job was considered appealing because of Flagg's presence. The Mavericks are expected to go into next season with Flagg and Kyrie Irving as cornerstones."

Does this mean that Irving will finish his career with the Mavericks? Not necessarily. However, if he's made available at all in the next year, it'll probably be at the trade deadline after the Mavs get a look at his rapport with Flagg.