NBA · 8 hours ago

CBS Sports Top 18 NBA Trade Assets | 2026 Offseason Moveable Player Rankings

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

Have Your Say! Which Star Player(s) Gets Moved This Offseason?
Who Hijacks the NBA Offseason Board?

The 2026 NBA offseason transaction lines are officially open, and the pressure on front offices to respond to the Thunder and Spurs arms race is going to drive the market into absolute madness. From a pure asset and championship leverage standpoint, which blockbuster angle are you leaning into?
- The Antetokounmpo Ultimatum: Does Giannis actually force his way out of Milwaukee before the October deadline hits, and if he does, which franchise possesses the absolute best package to land him?
- The Eastern Conference Shocker: Will the Celtics genuinely consider liquidating Jaylen Brown to reconstruct their depth chart after that brutal first-round collapse?
- The Ultimate Health Gamble: Would your franchise comfortably absorb the final supermax years of an aging force like Joel Embiid, or is that an absolute salary cap trap under the new second-apron rules?
- The Wing Premium: How high is the bidding war going to climb for a lockdown, young two-way force like Jaden McDaniels if Minnesota puts him on the block?
Drop your takes in the comments section: Which player on this list is moving first, and which front office is about to make the most desperate move of the summer?
CBS Sports NBA Trade Market Mover Rankings
Top 18 Trade Assets for 2026 NBA Offseason

When the Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant to a 73-win squad back in 2016, conventional wisdom told rivals to duck for cover. Elite front offices flatly refused, aggressively swinging for the fences to spark an unprecedented golden era of league parity. Now in the summer of 2026, that familiar dread is back with a two-headed monster: the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs look poised to establish an inevitable dual dynasty.

But the rest of the league won't just fold. The Spurs and Thunder have ignited a high-stakes blockbuster arms race, and under the paralyzing restrictions of the second apron, teams are radically upping their risk profiles. In other words, you can expect a wildly active 2026 offseason trade market. Now that the playoffs have officially concluded, we can really start digging into who is actually available on the block.

Based on CBS Sports' Sam Quinn's rankings, below are the top 18 trade candidates for the summer of 2026. To be clear, these are not simply the players likeliest to be dealt. Rather, these are the heavy hitters who will completely define the market, the ones who can make a substantial difference for an acquiring franchise or serve as the necessary outgoing salary ballast for a contender looking to reload.

Divided by tiers and listed in order of salary, these are the foundational pieces to watch with the NBA offseason officially at hand.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks
Tier 1: Defining Stars of the Offseason

2026-27 Salary: $58,456,566

The clock has officially run out on the current iteration of the Bucks. With an October extension deadline looming over the franchise, Milwaukee has reached an absolute fork in the road where it must either secure a long-term commitment or aggressively move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo before the asset value shifts. Front offices around the league expect a decision to materialize rapidly to maximize the value of any incoming draft capital.

"Look, it's either happening now, or it's not happening at all. Antetokounmpo is extension-eligible in October. The Bucks have made it clear that Antetokounmpo will either be extended or traded this offseason"
2. Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics
2026-27 Salary: $57,078,728 | Tier 1

Despite a highly respectable 56-win regular season campaign, Boston's staggering collapse after holding a comfortable 3-1 first-round lead exposed massive foundational cracks under pressure. Jaylen Brown remains the most volatile, high-value asset on the Celtics' balance sheet if they decide a major identity shift is mandatory. His post-season media footprint has done little to calm speculation that a blockbuster relocation could be on the horizon.

"Brown is Boston's ticket to a significant addition, and some odd Twitch streams after the season didn't exactly scream harmony between player and team. If he's moved, it's likely for another All-Star with a different skill set or a bounty of cheaper assets."
3. Kawhi Leonard | LA Clippers
2026-27 Salary: $50,300,000 | Tier 1

The grand experiment in Southern California has effectively run its course after the front office opted to ship out veteran identity pieces in favor of younger developmental depth. Capitalizing on Kawhi Leonard's surprisingly durable and high-efficiency production from this past season represents the ideal opportunity for a clean break. Entering the final year of his contract, he holds significant leverage over his ultimate destination.

"They traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac for youth and flexibility, so cashing out on Leonard after an unusually healthy and productive season is the play. The partnership between Leonard and the Clippers has reached its logical endpoint."
4. Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers
2026-27 Salary: $50,105,628 | Tier

Donovan Mitchell’s maiden voyage to the Conference Finals was swiftly overshadowed by a completely uncompetitive, lopsided exit against the New York Knicks. Cleveland’s entire front-office structure has pushed all its chips into the center of the table, previously orchestrating a massive backcourt swap to accommodate his preferences. While public statements point to stability, the raw reality of his 2027 free-agent horizon means nothing is set in stone until ink hits paper.

"If Cleveland is less certain about its ability to contend with Mitchell, or if Mitchell sees a more desirable situation elsewhere, anything should be treated as possible."
5. Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers
Tier 2: Only for Giannis

2026-27 Salary: $50,105,628

Evan Mobley continues to display an elite defensive ceiling and an incredibly nuanced playmaking approach, but he has yet to assert himself as the true alpha scoring engine Cleveland internally projected. If the Cavaliers decide they need to pivot to a proven MVP-level force, Mobley represents the only legitimate blue-chip asset capable of headlining a superstar trade package.

"He hasn't grown into the sort of alpha superstar Cleveland hoped he'd be. Antetokounmpo is that player, and if the Cavaliers think they need one, Mobley is their only realistic path there."
6. Jaden McDaniels | Minnesota Timberwolves
2026-27 Salary: $26,200,000 | Tier 2

Jaden McDaniels completely altered his market valuation with a spectacular, breakout postseason run that solidified his status as one of the premier up-and-coming swingmen. While his defensive versatility is the perfect modern complement to Minnesota's core architecture, the front office has historically demonstrated an unhinged appetite for high-leverage blockbuster trades.

"Any hope Minnesota has (for Giannis) surely involves McDaniels, but letting him go would surely be gutting for a team that has watched him grow into one of the NBA's best two-way wings."
7. Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic
2026-27 Salary: $41,250,000 | Tier 2

The long-term operational harmony between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner remains highly questionable due to significant spacing constraints and perimeter efficiency deficits. Orlando’s recent leadership hires and deep-rooted front-office history share unmistakable ties to Milwaukee's foundational eras. If the Magic decide to fast-track their timeline, Banchero is the exact type of blue-chip cornerstone required to trigger a historic negotiation.

"The Magic just hired Sean Sweeney as their next head coach. He was an assistant in Milwaukee early in Antetokounmpo's career, and the two were reportedly close. Orlando's top decision-makers, John Hammond and Jeff Weltman, both worked in Milwaukee when Antetokounmpo was drafted in 2013. There are dots to be connected here if the Magic feel they are an Antetokounmpo away from contention."
8. Anthony Davis | Washington Wizards
Tier 3: Who Wants to Roll the Dice?

2026-27 Salary: $58,456,566

Anthony Davis has looked thoroughly uninspired since his mid-season relocation to Washington, and his public commentary has reflected a clear desire to escape a rebuilding timeline. Now that the Wizards command the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the incentive to build around an aging, maximum-salaried big man with a complex injury history has completely evaporated as they prioritize a long-term youth movement.

"They're less dependent on a splashy name like Davis to carry them next season. Davis seems to want to play for a win-now team. Few can deal with his contract, and his injury history remains a concern."
9. Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans
2026-27 Salary: $42,166,510 | Tier 3

Zion Williamson quieted a lot of critics by assembling a remarkably healthy and physically dominant macro-cycle on the block. However, the meteoric rise of explosive rookie Derik Queen has created a redundant positional overlap, making Williamson's max-contract slot expendable if a desperate suitor steps up with an absolute king's ransom.

" The Pelicans have signaled a desire to keep Williamson, but for the right offer, given Queen's presence, they'd be crazy not to consider a deal."
10. Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks
2026-27 Salary: $39,491,282 | Tier 3

Kyrie Irving is navigating the back half of his thirties and working his way back from a devastating torn ACL injury, but his legendary isolation scoring pedigree remains a premier luxury asset for a win-now roster. As the Mavs aggressively recalibrate their long-term timeline around incoming elite young talent, cashing out on Irving's remaining salary slot is a highly logical pivot.

"With Dallas operating on the Cooper Flagg timeline and short several draft picks, sending Irving to a win-now team makes plenty of sense.
11. Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies
2026-27 Salary: $42,166,510 | Tier 3

Memphis has quietly triggered an aggressive structural teardown over the past calendar year, systematically shipping away core defensive pieces to hoard future draft capital. Ja Morant’s immense downhill rim pressure is undeniable, but his prolonged injury absences, perimeter shooting limits, and off-court history have severely complicated his market value for franchises wary of maximum-salary liabilities.

"Some team is going to talk itself into the idea that if the front office builds an offense around him, he can recapture the rim-pressure that once made him a star. The numbers don't support that idea, but maybe a change of scenery could get him back on track."
12. Jalen Suggs | Orlando Magic
2026-27 Salary: $32,400,000 | Tier 3

The Magic are rapidly colliding with an immediate second-apron financial crunch as their young lottery talent approaches lucrative rookie-scale extensions. Jalen Suggs offers transcendent, world-class point-of-attack defensive metrics, but his highly erratic shooting splits and historical durability concerns make his descending contract structure a prime candidate to be moved to rebalance the depth chart.

"He's expensive, but his contract descends in annual value. If you can keep him healthy and get his shot right, he's still a very impactful player."
13. Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers
Tier 4: Take This Contract, Please?

2026-27 Salary: $57,985,752

The classic Joel Embiid paradox single-handedly dictated Philadelphia's postseason fortunes, oscillating between periods of pure unguardable brilliance and devastating injury setbacks. With three massive, highly restrictive supermax years left on his financial ledger, the 76ers appear increasingly motivated to clear out that extreme long-term exposure if a desperate suitor wants to gamble on his elite per-minute dominance.

"He's still capable of All-NBA-level play. He also has three supermax years left on his contract. The 76ers would presumably love to escape those years if anyone wants to take a swing at the things he's capable of when healthy."
14. Paul George | Philadelphia 76ers
2026-27 Salary: $54,126,380 | Tier 4

Similar to his high-salaried frontcourt counterpart, Paul George presents an identical risk profile: undeniable perimeter production, completely undermined by chronic durability issues and an advanced age profile. Because his wing geometry is infinitely easier to integrate into a standard half-court defense, PG could have more suitors.

"George has only two years left on his deal, and as a wing, he's much easier to fit onto most other rosters. It would still probably cost Philadelphia something to get off of him, but doing so would be easier than trading Embiid."
15. Domantas Sabonis | Sacramento Kings
2026-27 Salary: $45,472,000 | Tier 4

The modern postseason ecosystem has become an incredibly toxic environment for high-priced interior centers who fail to provide rim protection or perimeter spacing equity. With Sacramento hovering on the precipice of a full-scale organizational pivot, finding a highly specialized offensive system to hide Domantas Sabonis's defensive liabilities is an absolute priority.

"The Kings are presumably about to start a rebuild, so if a team with the shooting and defense to cover up his weaknesses wants him, he's probably pretty gettable."
16. DeMar DeRozan | Sacramento Kings
2026-27 Salary: $25,740,000 | Tier 4

DeMar DeRozan continues to convert tough midrange looks at a highly respectable clip, but entering his age-37 cycle completely desynchronizes him from a roster eager to hand usage volume to a younger developmental core. Because his current deal features a highly favorable $10 million partial guarantee, he is an incredibly attractive luxury target for salary-clearing frameworks.

"The Kings will want to give his minutes and shots to younger players. He'll likely be waived. It's just a matter of who's eating that $10 million guarantee before doing so."
17. Jakob Poeltl | Toronto Raptors
2026-27 Salary: $19,500,000 | Tier 4

Toronto’s decision to lock Jakob Poeltl into a substantial long-term extension has aged incredibly poorly, leaving them with an overpaid, non-spacing center who has completely lost his grip on a starting-caliber role. While the general trade market holds a highly pessimistic view of his remaining contract, the league-wide demand for baseline size means he can be moved if attached to an asset.

"He probably isn't a starter on a good team anymore, but centers are in demand right now, so with an asset attached or as part of something bigger, Poeltl is plausibly movable."
18. Jarred Vanderbilt | Los Angeles Lakers
2026-27 Salary: $12,428,571 | Tier 4

As one of the few mid-tier salary sheets remaining on the Lakers' books, Jarred Vanderbilt is almost mathematically guaranteed to be deployed as the primary salary-matching ballast in any high-stakes draft asset liquidation. While his defensive motor is undeniable, his complete lack of offensive utility makes him an active liability when spacing compresses in the postseason.

"If they try to trade one or more of their three available first-round picks, Vanderbilt's money will probably be in the deal. It's not a huge contract, but he's not offensively viable in the playoffs, so it will be treated as a clear negative."
Have Your Say! Which Star Player(s) Gets Moved This Offseason?
Who Hijacks the NBA Offseason Board?

The 2026 NBA offseason transaction lines are officially open, and the pressure on front offices to respond to the Thunder and Spurs arms race is going to drive the market into absolute madness. From a pure asset and championship leverage standpoint, which blockbuster angle are you leaning into?
- The Antetokounmpo Ultimatum: Does Giannis actually force his way out of Milwaukee before the October deadline hits, and if he does, which franchise possesses the absolute best package to land him?
- The Eastern Conference Shocker: Will the Celtics genuinely consider liquidating Jaylen Brown to reconstruct their depth chart after that brutal first-round collapse?
- The Ultimate Health Gamble: Would your franchise comfortably absorb the final supermax years of an aging force like Joel Embiid, or is that an absolute salary cap trap under the new second-apron rules?
- The Wing Premium: How high is the bidding war going to climb for a lockdown, young two-way force like Jaden McDaniels if Minnesota puts him on the block?
Drop your takes in the comments section: Which player on this list is moving first, and which front office is about to make the most desperate move of the summer?
CBS Sports NBA Trade Market Mover Rankings
Top 18 Trade Assets for 2026 NBA Offseason

When the Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant to a 73-win squad back in 2016, conventional wisdom told rivals to duck for cover. Elite front offices flatly refused, aggressively swinging for the fences to spark an unprecedented golden era of league parity. Now in the summer of 2026, that familiar dread is back with a two-headed monster: the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs look poised to establish an inevitable dual dynasty.

But the rest of the league won't just fold. The Spurs and Thunder have ignited a high-stakes blockbuster arms race, and under the paralyzing restrictions of the second apron, teams are radically upping their risk profiles. In other words, you can expect a wildly active 2026 offseason trade market. Now that the playoffs have officially concluded, we can really start digging into who is actually available on the block.

Based on CBS Sports' Sam Quinn's rankings, below are the top 18 trade candidates for the summer of 2026. To be clear, these are not simply the players likeliest to be dealt. Rather, these are the heavy hitters who will completely define the market, the ones who can make a substantial difference for an acquiring franchise or serve as the necessary outgoing salary ballast for a contender looking to reload.

Divided by tiers and listed in order of salary, these are the foundational pieces to watch with the NBA offseason officially at hand.