NBA Trade Deadline: 10 Teams to Watch

Although last week’s Trae Young deal was the first trade of this NBA season, Thursday marked an important ⁣milestone on the ⁤league’s calendar. That’s when nearly ‌every ‍player — Bradley Beal and LeBron James, who have​ no-trade clauses, are two notable exceptions — became trade-eligible.

The⁤ league’s three-week sprint to the Feb. 5 trade deadline is here,⁤ with front ⁢offices making calls, discussing trade scenarios and crunching numbers on salary cap aprons. But plenty of contenders⁤ are still deciding on a⁣ direction.

Our⁤ weekly‍ trip around The Association focuses on those ‌teams‌ trying to ​add ‍to their rosters, those looking to subtract⁢ and, perhaps​ moast impactful, those still pondering.

Jump to a team:
Bucks | Sacramento Kings.That’s ⁤why⁤ the Bucks remain ⁢hopeful for a deep playoff run in the wide-open ​East.

Despite the⁤ team’s struggles, ​including Wednesday’s blowout loss to the short-handed Timberwolves, during ‍which the⁢ home fans booed and Antetokounmpo booed back, the expectation from ​a wide range of sources is⁤ that Milwaukee remains far more likely to add‍ than to entertain trading‍ the best player in franchise history.

What we’re watching:‍ The end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga

The twists and ‌turns, which have lasted nearly provided⁢ that the forward’s four-plus-season career, seem to be nearing a conclusion. Kuminga’s $22.5 million deal this season with a $24 million team option for 2026-27 was designed to be‌ moved, but the front⁣ office faces a challenge: With the Warriors just $264,000 under the second apron, they can’t⁤ take on any additional salary in a‌ kuminga‌ trade.

“For a while there was an uncertainty of what it⁣ woudl take to get [Kuminga] ⁢ under contract,and ​now there’s clarity there for next season,”‍ a Western Conference executive said. “The negative is ‌neither the team or the player have done a good job of increasing his value.” The Warriors also have four tradable first-round picks.

“It’s no secret they’d be⁣ aggressive ⁤with the picks to ⁢maximize the Steph [Curry] ‍window,” one executive⁣ said, “but they ​have to ‌have something to ⁣want to spend them on.”

between Jimmy butler III,Draymond Green and Kuminga, the Warriors could ⁤theoretically have more than $100 million ⁤in expiring contracts ‍this summer to remake the roster ​around Curry. Golden​ State’s ⁣current eight-game homestand could be a key barometer to how the team approaches the deadline.

What we’re watching: Whether they go all-in for ‍a⁤ star

After ⁤three⁢ straight ‍missed postseasons, ​and with new ‌governor Edward Rogers ready to take full control of the franchise later this year, there is⁢ a sense of urgency in Toronto. The Raptors have been on the phones in recent weeks gauging the trade value of some of their players, including RJ Barrett ‍and Which teams will ‌look to ⁣subtract?

What we’re watching: Whether the AD saga spills into summer

Even‍ though the biggest allure in trading for davis, ⁤per multiple⁤ rival executives, ⁢is the ⁢potential to have⁣ him for the playoffs, several other​ sources tell ‌ESPN they believe​ the best course of action for Dallas would be‌ to wait until the summer.

“This should allow ‍them to sit ‌back and be patient and see what happens,” one⁣ eastern Conference executive said.

Part of​ the reason a Davis trade has generated so‍ much discussion is the fact the‌ Mavericks are currently ⁣slated ⁣to be‌ nearly ‍a $400 million team in combined payroll ​and luxury taxes in the 2026-27‍ season — a figure⁤ no one​ around the league expects⁤ them to pay.

But Dallas‍ has said it will continue ⁤to take calls leading up to‍ the deadline, and ‍could perhaps look at other ways to cut future money and lower those bills beyond a davis deal.

that would allow the Mavericks‍ to then decide who is⁤ going to run ⁤their⁢ front​ office, and‍ then decide on a‌ direction for not only Davis⁢ but also Kyrie Irving, as⁣ they build⁢ around Cooper ‍Flagg.