NBA Preview 2026-27: Seven players most likely to be traded this season

The NBA trade deadline is four months away. That may feel like a lifetime on the NBA calendar — teams will be more than 50 games into the season, and many franchises’ fortunes will look different — but it doesn’t slow the NBA rumor mill.

Which players might be available is already a talking point, and those conversations are only going to get louder. Here are seven names to watch, seven players most likely to be traded before the February deadline.

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Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)

“I think it was Kevin Durant that said it best: There’s only one Kyrie walking around in the world… Kyrie, as a player, we truly believe in him. We truly believe that he can succeed on our team.”

Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri keeps saying things like the quote above, trying to throw cold water on the idea that the Mavericks are going to trade the nine-time All-Star point guard. Ujiri and Mavericks fans — and basketball fans everywhere — want to see what Irving and his legendary handles look like next to the fast-rising Cooper Flagg. Ujiri keeps talking up Irving’s fit in Dallas and how the point guard can lift this team to new heights.

It’s not working. League sources tell NBC Sports that a number of teams are monitoring the situation, waiting to see how Irving looks coming off missing all of last season due to a torn ACL, but those teams are interested in a trade. Those teams will be calling. The reality is the 34-year-old Irving, who can be a free agent this summer, is not on the same timeline as the 19-year-old Flagg, and ultimately the Mavericks are going to want to build out a roster closer to Flagg’s timeline. Ujiri can say whatever he wants, but teams around the league believe if the right offer comes his way at the deadline, Irving will be on the move.

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Anthony Davis (Wizards)

The Wizards drafted forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick, locked up Trae Young with a massive overpay new four-year contract, and have the big man of the future in the promising Alex Sarr.

Then there is Anthony Davis, the 33-year-old NBA champion and 10-time All-Star who remains one of the best big men in the game when…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-preview-2026-27-seven-164358628.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-16 16:43:00

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