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NEWS
© USA Today Sports
The 2026 NBA trade deadline is a week-and-a-half away. The trade market has been slow to get started this season. We’ve seen only Trae Young traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards for C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert. There have been other reports of trade talks, but nothing else has gotten done as of this writing.
Two weeks or so out from deadline day is when things usually start to pick up, so we’re now well within that window. Teams that insisted on multiple first-round picks for their players come down to a single first-round pick, while their partners in trades come up from offering a couple of second-rounders to offering that single first-rounder. As desperation increases, so does reasonability in trade talks.
Here’s where each of the Eastern Conference teams sits ahead of the deadline. We’ll be looking at the following:
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How much space the team has under the cap or luxury tax. And for the apron-impacted teams, we’ll call out how much room they have under the first or second apron.
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What usable Traded Player Exceptions (TPEs) they have. This will also include any money left in the Non-Taxpayer, Room or Bi-Annual Exception that can be used as a TPE. Reminder: TPEs can’t be aggregated together or with outgoing salary!
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What tradable draft picks teams have to offer. We’ll run through the first-round picks, while giving a count of tradable second-round picks.
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If the team is expected to be a Buyer, Seller, Either or Neither at the deadline. Everyone has different goals and we’ll analyze where each team stands.
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Which player is most likely to be traded. Some might be stars, some might be salary dumps, most will fall in between. We’ll pick someone from every team.
Atlanta Hawks
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $6.8 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $13.1 million (Bogdan Bogdanovic), $6.7 million (Clint Capela), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception), $4.5 million (Kobe Bufkin)
Draft Pick Situation: Atlanta owes a future first in 2027 to the Spurs, as well as a swap in 2026. The Hawks own the best of the Pelicans and Bucks first-round pick in 2026. They also have a more-favorable swap in 2028 and own all of their own first-round picks from 2029-2032.
The Hawks have five tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers. Let’s term this as tepid buyers. Atlanta could move Kristaps Porzingis’ expiring salary. But they aren’t looking to go all-in ahead of the deadline, because they’ve kept that Pelicans/Bucks pick off the table, as well as Zaccharie Risacher.
Most Likely to be Traded: Luke Kennard. It’s more fun to think about what Atlanta could get with Kristaps Porzingis’ expiring $30.7 million salary or C.J. McCollum’s expiring $30.6 million salary (Note: McCollum can’t be aggregated with other outgoing salary), but Kennard’s expiring $11 million salary is more likely to be moved in a smaller deal to round out the rotation.
Boston Celtics
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $12.1 million over the luxury tax, $4 million over the first apron, $7.8 million under second apron
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $22.5 million (Kristaps Porzingis), $8.2 million (Georges Niang), $4.7 million (Jrue Holiday), $4 million (Jaden Springer)
Draft Pick Situation: The Celtics have their own first-round picks in 2026, 2027 and 2030 and 2031. Boston’s 2032 first-round pick is frozen and can’t be traded. The Celtics own a top-1 protected swap with the Spurs in 2028 and owe a 2029 pick to the Trail Blazers or Wizards.
The Celtics have five tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers. Boston has transitioned from sellers to buyers. However, they aren’t likely to do anything too big. They’ve got some large TPEs which can help facilitate deals. But the Celtics aren’t going to push close to the second apron this year, nor are they likely to take on too much money that goes beyond this season.
Most Likely to be Traded: Chris Boucher. Most are focused on Anfernee Simons or Sam Hauser as the outgoing salary to bring back a big-name player, primarily in the frontcourt. That could happen, but trading Simons or Hauser would create other holes on the roster. That leaves Boucher getting moved as a likely salary-dump to bring down the tax bill some.
Brooklyn Nets
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $15.3 million under the cap
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $8.8 million (Room Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: The Nets own their own first in 2026. They also own their own first-round pick from 2029-2032. They have the Knicks first-round picks in 2027, 2029 and 2031. Brooklyn also owns Denver’s 2032 first-round pick. The Rockets have swap rights for the Nets pick in 2027. Finally, Brooklyn has complicated swap rights that will see them have at least one pick in 2028 and possibly a second.
The Nets have at least 17 tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers, but not in the traditional sense. The Nets will buy at the trade deadline, but they’ll buy by taking on unwanted contracts in exchange for young talent or draft assets. Brooklyn will use up their cap space to accomplish this, but don’t hold your breath waiting on the Nets to sell off their veterans. They intend to take steps forward next season, and may want those vets to be a part of that.
Most Likely to be Traded: Cam Thomas. Things seem to be coming to an end for Thomas in Brooklyn. He’ll lose his Bird rights if he’s traded, so he has a no-trade clause. But if Thomas can land with a team that could re-sign him without needing his Bird rights, he’d probably approve the trade.
Charlotte Hornets
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $14.4 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Charlotte has all of their own first-round picks. They also have three or four future first-rounders coming in from other teams, pending protections.
The Hornets have at least 13 tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither Buyers nor Sellers. Charlotte isn’t ready to make a big move yet, despite notable improvement this season. That improvement is also why they aren’t likely to trade away anyone of consequence either.
Most Likely to be Traded: Pat Connaughton. This is a $9.4 million salary slot that could be attached to other outgoing salary. If the Hornets do get involved in something big, Connaughton’s expiring deal will likely be a part of it.
Chicago Bulls
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $13.6 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $6.2 million (Zach LaVine), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Chicago has all of their own first-round picks. They also have a lottery-protected first-round pick coming from Portland, if it conveys sometime between 2026 and 2028.
The Bulls have at least five tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Sellers. Chicago is reportedly open to moving any of their veterans, especially those on expiring contracts. This includes Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter. The Bulls look to be building around Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, along with cap flexibility.
Most Likely to be Traded: Dalen Terry. Not as juicy or fun as any of the vets mentioned above, but Terry isn’t part of the future for the Bulls and his contract is small enough to be moved in any number of trade constructions.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $21.9 million over the second apron
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $8.5 million (Georges Niang)
Draft Pick Situation: The Cavaliers have least-favorable first-round picks in 2026 and 2028. They owe their first-round picks out in 2027 and 2029. Cleveland owns all of their own first-round picks from 2030-2032.
The Cavs have at four tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither. As a second-apron team, it’s hard for the Cavs to make deals. They don’t seem likely to move off any of their big salaries…yet. Another failed playoff run, and that’ll change this summer.
Most Likely to be Traded: Lonzo Ball. If the Cavs can get off Ball’s $10 million contract, that would save them a ton in luxury tax payments. Ball isn’t a regular rotation guy anymore, and an acquiring team can decline Ball’s team option for next season to get out of contract entirely.
Detroit Pistons
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $19.1 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Dennis Schroder), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: The Pistons have all of their own first-round picks and no additional first-round picks incoming.
Detroit has at least 12 tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers. The Pistons are really good. They should be considered the Eastern Conference favorites heading into the deadline. They’ve got plenty of room under the luxury tax to add an impact player, and they have a good-sized trade exception to work with. Look for Detroit to add at least one rotation player.
Most Likely to be Traded: Paul Reed. If Detroit is doing something big, it will include at least one of the Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert, Jaden Ivey trio. But the Pistons don’t really need to move those guys to make an impact move. That leaves Reed and his pseudo-expiring $5.3 million salary as the most likely to move.
Indiana Pacers
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $5.5 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $14.1 million (Disabled Player Exception - Tyrese Haliburton), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Indiana has all of their own first-round picks and no additional first-round picks incoming.
The Pacers have at least seven tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Either Buyers or Sellers. The Pacers could move a veteran or two, but it won’t be one of their better players. They could also be somewhat aggressive and make a “pre-agency” move to upgrade the roster for next season, when Tyrese Haliburton will be back.
Most Likely to be Traded: Bennedict Mathurin. Instead of being boring here and going with Jay Huff or Isaiah Jackson, we’re going with Mathurin. The Pacers are starting to get a little expensive long-term. That makes re-signing Mathurin tricky, as Indiana has depth at the guard position. If they do a pre-agency move, look for Mathurin to be part of it.
Miami Heat
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $1.6 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $16.8 million (Duncan Robinson), $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $7.8 million (Jimmy Butler), $5.6 million (Haywood Highsmith), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Miami owns their own first-round pick in 2026. They owe a lottery-protected pick to the Hornets in 2027, which will roll over to an unprotected first-rounder in 2028 if not conveyed in 2027. The Heat then own all of their own first-round picks from 2029-2032.
The Heat have one tradable second-round pick without protections attached to it.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither Buyers nor Sellers. Miami is generally fairly aggressive about making in-season upgrades. However, this year’s team doesn’t seem quite at the level to justify that. If the Heat can make a move to bring in a long-term player, they’ll look at it. Otherwise, this feels like a quiet deadline, as Miami conserves future cap flexibility.
Most Likely to be Traded: Simone Fontecchio. Moving Fontecchio could create further wiggle room under the tax for the Heat, and it wouldn’t be a major impact to their rotation. If a big trade is going down, keep an eye on Terry Rozier’s expiring $26.6 million deal, but there’s still no resolution on if Miami can even trade him, although most expect the NBA to allow a deal, should one materialize.
Milwaukee Bucks
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $11.5 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $3.6 million (remaining Room Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: The Bucks have the least favorable of their own pick and the Pelicans in 2026. They also have least favorable first-round picks in 2028 and 2030 from swaps with Portland. Milwaukee outright owes their 2027 and 2029 first-rounders to other teams. They own their own 2031 and 2032 first-round picks.
The Bucks have no tradable second-round picks without protections attached.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Either Buyers or Sellers. Milwaukee was making noise about being buyers to build around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, with Antetokounmpo out for several weeks, and the team continuing to struggle with or without their star player, the Bucks could move some vets and pivot towards ping pong balls.
Most Likely to be Traded: Cole Anthony or Amir Coffey. Not the guy you were probably expecting. We'll see if Giannis Antetokounmpo is traded at the deadline. It's still complicated to move a player of his stature and salary. This summer? That's a lot more likely, so fire up the trade machine! Moving Anthony or Coffey would save the Bucks a little money and allow them to open up a roster spot for flexibility the rest of this season.
New York Knicks
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $148,358 under second apron
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None
Draft Pick Situation: The Knicks have their own first-round pick in 2026, 2030 and 2032. They have a least-favorable first-round pick in 2028. In 2027, 2029 and 2031 New York owes their first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Knicks have at least seven tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers. The Knicks are title contenders and that makes them buyers. However, being so tight to their second-apron hard cap means that they’ll be limited buyers. Unless they get crazy with a Karl-Anthony Towns trade, look for moves around the edges for New York.
Most Likely to be Traded: Guerschon Yabusele. This signing hasn’t worked out and it seems like Yabusele will be elsewhere by the deadline. That’ll either bring the Knicks back a different rotation player, or if Yabusele is salary-dumped with some second-round picks, it’ll give New York some much needed flexibility under their second-apron hard cap.
Orlando Magic
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $5.6 million over luxury tax, $1.2 million under first apron
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $7.1 million (remaining Non-Taxpayer MLE), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Orlando has their own first-round picks in 2027, 2031 and 2032. They have a top-2 protected swap with the Grizzlies in 2029. Orlando owes first-round picks in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
The Magic have at least eight tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither Buyers nor Sellers. Orlando is probably going to move to get under the tax. They have a number of pathways to get there. Some may even include rebalancing the rotation by bringing a player in. But in terms of a major addition, the Magic aren’t really set up do so after locking into so much long-term money of the last two years.
Most Likely to be Traded: Tyus Jones. This is the easiest path for Orlando to get under the tax line, while creating enough room to fill out their roster with veteran minimum signings. Jones hasn’t worked out for the Magic and he’s fallen out of the rotation when the backcourt is healthy.
Philadelphia 76ers
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $7 million over the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $7.9 million (KJ Martin), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception), $3.8 million (Caleb Martin)
Draft Pick Situation: Philadelphia has their own first-round pick in either 2026 or 2027 (pending protections). They have their own top-8 protected pick in 2028. In addition, the 76ers own the Clippers pick outright in 2028. They also own the better of their pick or the Clippers pick in 2029. The Sixers then own all of their own first-round picks from 2030-2032.
The 76ers have at least seven tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither Buyers nor Sellers. The Sixers could be buyers, but that doesn’t seem overly likely. Recent reports have the team looking at ways to get under the luxury tax by shedding some non-regular rotation players. Daryl Morey tends to tinker at the deadline and is pretty savvy while working under tight restrictions. This could be one where Philadelphia clears out some salary, while still adding to the roster.
Most Likely to be Traded: Eric Gordon. The 76ers are very likely to reduce their tax bill and Gordon doesn’t play for them. This would also clear an additional roster space, as Philadelphia looks likely to convert both Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker from their two-way contracts.
Toronto Raptors
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $967,269 over the luxury tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $5.1 million (Bi-Annual Exception)
Draft Pick Situation: Toronto has all of their own first-round picks and no additional first-round picks incoming.
The Raptors have at least six tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Buyers. Toronto is a good team, but needs more to go from good to being a real contender. They’ve got a lot of big-money contracts that they could move. If the big move doesn’t come at the deadline, keep an eye on this offseason. At the very least, expect the Raptors to get out of the luxury tax to keep the repeater clock from starting.
Most Likely to be Traded: Ochai Agbaji. This could be Garrett Temple, who could be salary-dumped and get the Raptors out of the luxury tax. But Agbaji seems out of the long-term plans in a crowded wing rotation for Toronto. And he could return a small positive asset in return, as opposed to spending something to move off Temple.
Washington Wizards
Cap/Tax/Apron Picture: $30 million under the tax
Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $14.1 million (Non-Taxpayer MLE), $13.4 million (Kelly Olynyk), $9.9 million (Jonas Valanciunas)
Draft Pick Situation: The Wizards have their own first-round picks 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2032. They have top-8 protected pick in 2026, in addition to a least-favorable first-round pick. Washington owns most-favorable swap rights in 2028 and 2030. The Wizards also have additional picks in 2029 and 2030 (pending protections).
Washington has at least 14 tradable second-round picks.
Trade Deadline Strategy: Neither Buyers nor Sellers. This one is a little complicated. The Wizards already bought with the Trae Young acquisition. But they aren’t likely to do another deal like that…unless they are taking on future salary in exchange for expiring salary. Keep an eye on a deal where Washington eats a long-term contract or two while picking up additional draft capital.
Most Likely to be Traded: Marvin Bagley III. Khris Middleton’s $33.3 million expiring contract could be on the move, but that’s a lot of money to shuffle around. That means Bagley is more likely to be moved. Almost any team in the league could acquire Bagley on his veteran minimum deal for some additional frontcourt depth.
© USA Today Sports
© USA Today Sports
© USA Today Sports
© USA Today Sports
© USA Today Sports
© USA Today Sports