NBA trade deadline: Future prospects for Giannis, Ja, and LeBron discussed by league insiders.
The 2026 NBA trade deadline has officially concluded, resulting in a series of transactions that have altered the dynamics of both conferences with only a few months remaining in the regular season.
This week saw the movement of superstars, with James Harden being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland, prompting fans to question the departure of the 11-time All-Star from the rising LA Clippers.
After extensive speculation regarding the destination of one of the most prominent figures in this trade season, Giannis Antetokounmpo ultimately remained with the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls, who had been relatively quiet during the previous two trade seasons, executed multiple trades in an effort to advance the franchise.
Our NBA insiders address nine of the most urgent inquiries arising from the trade deadline, including whether the Los Angeles Lakers took sufficient steps to support Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and what the future may hold for Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies.
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This season’s trade deadline was ______?
Bobby Marks: Free agency in February. Rather than waiting until the summer, teams with anticipated cap space and limited spending capabilities enhanced their rosters five months ahead of time.
The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired the expiring contract of Ayo Dosunmu, allowing them to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. Without this trade, Minnesota would have only had access to the $6 million tax midlevel exception.
The Pacers, needing a center after losing Myles Turner last July, traded for Ivica Zubac from the Clippers. The Washington Wizards transformed their projected $80 million in cap space into Trae Young and subsequently Anthony Davis. The Utah Jazz added former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies, but this came at the expense of three first-round picks.
The Clippers, the oldest team in the NBA, could have revamped their roster in July by waiving 36-year-old Harden. Instead, Harden was traded to Cleveland for former All-Star Garland.
At one point, nearly a third of teams were expected to have cap space. That number has now dwindled to four: the Brooklyn Nets, Bulls, Lakers, and Grizzlies.
Tim Bontemps: All about 2027. Antetokounmpo was not traded, and Milwaukee will attempt to convince him to remain or deal him this summer.
Cleveland acquired Harden in hopes of making a deep playoff run and persuading Donovan Mitchell to extend his contract this summer. The Lakers traded a second-round pick for Luke Kennard to enhance their shooting, while keeping their financials clear and retaining picks to potentially reshape the roster around Doncic this summer.
As Bobby noted, the Wizards (Davis and Young) and Jazz (Jackson) made moves aimed at competing next season. Despite the significant activity around the league, it is intriguing that very little of it was directed at teams looking to be competitive immediately.
What should we be monitoring as the Giannis trade saga unfolds?
Bontemps: The entire league. Yes, the teams Giannis was associated with over the past few weeks — the Knicks, Warriors, Heat, and Timberwolves — will remain in those trade discussions.
None of them took any action to remove themselves from a potential Giannis deal in the future. However, keep an eye on the Davis and Jackson trades this week — neither the Wizards nor the Jazz were expected to be in the mix for a star this week, yet both made moves. Mitchell is another instance of a previous star trade that occurred unexpectedly when he was sent to the Cavaliers, similar to Rudy Gobert’s trade to the Timberwolves or the Doncic trade to the Lakers last year.
Therefore, when a player like Giannis becomes available, anticipate that most, if not all, teams will explore the opportunity — especially when they have the summer to restructure their roster around one of the league’s premier stars.
What lies ahead for the Warriors after they parted ways with Jonathan Kuminga?
Anthony Slater: Nothing significant. The Warriors believe Kristaps Porzingis will return soon, providing them with a fresh option at the center position.
They may gain some late-season momentum with Porzingis alongside Draymond Green. However, with Jimmy Butler III sidelined, this iteration of the Warriors appears to be merely a play-in team and first-round playoff target.
They will retain salary flexibility and draft assets to make a substantial move in the summer, but Stephen Curry will turn 38 next month, and the Kuminga trade signifies a notable organizational setback. Despite his potential and skills, they were unable to develop or maximize Kuminga, damaging the relationship and ultimately receiving little in return for the 2021 No. 7 pick.
As Memphis undergoes a rebuild, are we witnessing the final months of Ja Morant’s tenure with the Grizzlies?
Michael C. Wright: That seems to be the case.
While it is unlikely, Morant might be able to present a strong case to remain with the Grizzlies beyond the summer by demonstrating the production and explosive playmaking abilities that made him one of the NBA’s most popular players during the latter part of the season. Remember, Morant expressed a desire earlier in January to continue with the Grizzlies, stating, “representing Memphis is what it’s all about.”
However, moving forward, general manager Zach Kleiman and the Grizzlies management will want to evaluate how Morant represents the franchise — both on and off the court, given his troubled history marked by injuries and suspensions.
It is noteworthy that Memphis attempted to trade Morant at the deadline, but it did not align with the two-time All-Star and his camp to secure a deal at his preferred destination. The Grizzlies sought to acquire the best package for the franchise, but nothing significant came to fruition.
Memphis’ decision to trade Jackson, along with Jock Landale, John Konchar, and Vince Williams Jr., to Utah on Wednesday netted the Grizzlies three first-round picks in addition to Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, and Georges Niang. This transaction created a $28.8 million trade exception, which is the largest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Most importantly, this move set the groundwork for a roster overhaul and subsequent rebuild, with Morant, 26, remaining as the last significant piece to initiate that process.
With no serious contenders emerging, Morant remains in Memphis with two years left on his contract after this season. Interestingly, he could be eligible to sign a three-year extension following the season.
Once Morant recovers from a left elbow injury that has kept him out for the last seven games, the remainder of the 2025-26 season may serve as an audition for the seventh-year veteran to remain with the Grizzlies beyond the summer. At the very least, it presents an opportunity for Morant to enhance his value for a potential trade to one of his desired destinations.
Which of the Bulls’ trades at the deadline is most crucial for their future?
Jamal Collier: The trade of Coby White to the Charlotte Hornets could prove to be the most significant move moving forward, not due to the return it provided the team but for the lessons that the franchise has yet to learn. White, whose contract was expiring, would have likely held greater trade value a year or two ago, but the Bulls opted to move on after White’s peak trade value had passed.
This marked a shift from the usual approach for the Bulls; they were among the most active teams leading up to Thursday’s deadline, but it remains uncertain how impactful any of their transactions will ultimately be.
Chicago acquired second-round picks (nine in the past week) and smaller guards (four players under 6-foot-3) in exchange for veterans not part of their future plans or expiring contracts that were not intended for renewal.
If the Bulls are opting for a younger roster to focus on accumulating assets and draft picks, they are doing so at a time when the upcoming draft classes, in 2027 and 2028, are perceived to be weaker.
Similar to the White trade, the Bulls may have delayed too long in determining a direction.
How much does Luke Kennard address the Lakers’ ongoing ‘lasers’ issue?
Dave McMenamin: Kennard, with a shooting percentage of 44.2%, ranks as the second-most efficient 3-point shooter in NBA history, trailing only Steve Kerr’s 45.4%. He has been enjoying one of the best seasons of his career from beyond the arc, hitting 49.7% from 3 in 46 games off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks.
Acquiring a player with such a proven skill set, given the limited assets the Lakers had available this week, is a positive outcome. However, expecting him to resolve the Lakers’ 3-point shooting challenges single-handedly places a heavy burden on the nine-year veteran.
The Lakers currently rank 22nd in 3-point percentage (34.8%) and 23rd in 3-pointers made per game (11.9). Kennard will certainly contribute, but he averaged only 1.6 made 3s for Atlanta this season.
Nonetheless, Kennard serves as a 6-5 target for Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves to create opportunities when they penetrate opposing defenses.
The challenge for Lakers coach JJ Redick in finding minutes for his fellow Duke alumnus will be to devise strategies in which Kennard can contribute as a team defender without becoming a target for opposing offenses to exploit one-on-one.
Why did the East-leading Pistons make moves while being one of the top teams in the league?
Vincent Goodwill: The Pistons have been pleased with their young core throughout the season and have not wanted to stray from their long-term plan of assessing how their collection of draft picks performs under the pressure of the playoffs.
Accelerating their strategy by making an all-in move is not something the front office is inclined to pursue at this time.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes he can find adequate shooting in the postseason while placing significant emphasis on the Pistons’ second-ranked defense. Acquiring Kevin Huerter in a deal for Jaden Ivey aids their low-volume shooting in the interim and keeps their financials manageable for this summer.
Why did the Mavs opt to trade AD now instead of waiting until the summer?
Tim MacMahon: The simplest explanation is that they identified a trade that made sense, primarily due to the financial savings and the flexibility that cost-cutting offers as the franchise concentrates on a long-term rebuild centered around rookie standout Cooper Flagg.
If Dallas had waited, no deal would have emerged over the summer that would have alleviated the Luka Doncic trade of last season. The Mavs’ interim front office wisely advised governor Patrick Dumont to regard last year’s blockbuster failure as a sunk cost and to evaluate this transaction solely through the lens of the 19-year-old Flagg’s future.
The Mavs needed to part ways with Davis, who will soon be 33 and seeking a lucrative contract extension this summer, sooner rather than later. Dallas also succeeded in offloading the contracts of Jaden Hardy and D’Angelo Russell in the trade, reducing their payroll from the fourth-highest in the NBA to below the luxury tax this season. This allows the Mavs to be agile heading into the summer rather than scrambling to avoid what would have been a significant luxury tax bill.
Dallas aimed to secure three outcomes from the trade involving Davis: financial relief/flexibility, draft assets, and young talent. Given Davis’ contract and durability issues, it was unrealistic for the Mavs to achieve their goals in all three areas. They settled for substantial financial relief, some draft capital, but no premium pick and a gamble on guard AJ Johnson, a late first-round pick in 2024 who has already been traded twice.
Most importantly, the Mavs turned the page, making it clear that the franchise’s primary focus is on building around Flagg.
Which offseason/free agent move should we monitor closely?
Marks: Giannis — and extensions. For the second consecutive offseason, the focus is on the future of Antetokounmpo, as he enters the final year of his contract (he has a player option in 2027-28).
Will the Bucks finally trade their franchise star, or will Antetokounmpo once again commit long-term to the only franchise he has known?
He becomes eligible on Oct. 1 to sign a four-year $275M extension. If he hesitates to sign a new deal, the Bucks will be compelled to trade him.
Regarding extensions, there is an All-NBA lineup of eligible players: Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Draymond Green, Pascal Siakam, Kawhi Leonard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ja Morant.
Bontemps: While Giannis will undoubtedly be the main attraction, another significant topic that will loom over the league is the status of LeBron James. There is a possibility that James will remain in Los Angeles, where he has been a member of the Lakers for the past seven seasons, but circumstances have clearly changed since the trade for Luka Doncic a year ago.
So, if not LA, where? Could James join Stephen Curry, a few hours north in San Francisco? Might he return to Cleveland for a celebratory farewell tour back home in his final journey through the league? What about finally playing at Madison Square Garden, or teaming up with Nikola Jokic in Denver, or with rising star Cooper Flagg — and Kyrie Irving — in Dallas?
It is safe to assert that until James’ intentions are clear, his future will remain a significant topic of discussion throughout the league.
