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It’s the unofficial start of NBA trade season.
As of today — Monday, Dec. 15 — 79 players who signed or extended their contracts last summer became eligible to be traded. That means the options have greatly expanded for front offices trying to match salaries and develop trade packages that work for both sides.
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Who are the five players most likely to be on the move before the Feb. 5 trade deadline? Let’s break it down. [Note: This list does not include Giannis Antetokounmpo because there are so many rumors about him that he has his own story.]
Anthony Davis (Mavericks)
It’s no secret that the Mavericks are willing to listen to offers for Davis, something league sources have confirmed to NBC Sports and multiple other outlets have reported.
The more interesting question: How strong is the market for Davis?
This season is the perfect example of why some teams are hesitant to go all in on the 10-time All-Star and NBA champion. When he is on the court this season, Davis has looked like an All-NBA player, averaging 20 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while playing strong defense. The problem is that the 32-year-old has played in just 11 games due to injury. Add to that the fact that Davis, with agent Rich Paul leading the way, are expecting a massive contract extension from any team that trades for him, and a lot of teams are thinking twice about a deal.
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How many teams are willing to take that risk? In an NBA shifting towards deeper rosters of good players around one or two stars, a mid-30s Davis making 30% of the salary cap is a hard sell. Only a few teams might go all in. Keep an eye on Atlanta. If Kristaps Porzingis’ illness keeps him out for an extended time, the Hawks might be willing to bet on Davis as the defensive force in the paint and pick-and-roll partner with Trae Young they hoped KP would be.
Detroit and Toronto are also rumored to be interested. However, the Chicago Bulls reportedly do not want to bring Davis home, seeing him as not a fit with the timeline of their younger stars.
Jonathan Kuminga (Warriors)
It’s no secret that Kuminga is available in a trade: The Warriors played…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-nba-trade-deadline-five-233256876.html
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Publish date : 2025-12-15 23:32:00
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