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As we inch closer and closer to the 2025-26 NBA trade deadline, the amount of trade scuttle we have to talk about will only continue to increase. As such, today, we’re going to talk about the six players who have appeared most often in trade rumors over the previous week, as opposed to our usual five.
The list is headlined by a former MVP winner, but features various high-level players in their primes.
6. Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento)
When Domantas Sabonis last came up in trade rumors last week, it was said that he was being patient with the 6-20 Kings. That hasn’t stopped more scuttle from coming out on the Sabonis trade front, though. Just today, Jake Fischer reported that the Toronto Raptors could be interested in the All-Star big man:
The business Toronto is ultimately willing to conduct before the February trade buzzer will likely come down to how good the 16-11 Raptors still are as that deadline draws closer. Toronto, though, has sent out some early signals that it hopes to upgrade its frontcourt. Sources with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking have identified them as a team with interest in Domantas Sabonis as well as Davis.
Andscape reported that the Kings are expected to explore trades for their veteran players, including Sabonis. While the New York Times reported the Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns have shown interest in Sabonis, though while also mentioning that the Lithuanian big man is ready to remain in Sacramento for the foreseeable future.
Sabonis’ trade value is difficult to surmise. On the one hand, his numbers are elite, but on the other, his impact on winning is highly questionable, due to his total lack of a defensive presence down low or on switches. After all, the Kings have made the playoffs just once during Sabonis’ time there. Still, in the right situation, he has the talent to make a contender better, at least if he has the right pieces around him.
For the latest Domantas Sabonis rumors, click here.
5. Zach LaVine (Sacramento)
Kings 2-guard Zach LaVine also came up in trade rumors today, in relation to the Milwaukee Bucks:
That’s the second time in the past week that LaVine and the Bucks have been attached in trade rumors, with the first coming courtesy of the New York Times:
Yet as is the case with so many other teams, the realities of the market might provide a sobering dose of reality once we get closer to dealing time. The Kings’ Zach LaVine, for starters, could certainly help several contending teams. To that point, league sources confirmed that Milwaukee has done recent due diligence on the 30-year-old guard (and has shown interest in the past). But his exorbitant salary — $47.4 million this season and a player option for $48.9 million next season — makes it nearly impossible to move him without attaching some sort of sweetener (draft assets) in return. And therein lies the challenge for first-year Kings general manager Scott Perry.
ESPN also reported that the Kings are open-minded about their roster:
The Kings and first-year general manager Scott Perry are using this season as a patient evaluation campaign, trying to build a gritty culture. They are open-minded about trade talks throughout the roster, sources said. Teams are monitoring veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, along with 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis.
LaVine is having a solid season, averaging 20.2 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 38.5 percent from three. He also recently blew up for 42 points in a Kings win over the Miami Heat. After the game, LaVine said he could do that all the time if he got the “damn ball” enough, so maybe a change of scenery might be best for both parties.
For the latest Zach LaVine rumors, click here.
4. Coby White (Chicago)
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White has been a popular name in trade rumors this season, especially with the Bulls struggling in the win department lately.
On his end, White said recently that he loves being in Chicago, but that he understands the business aspect of the NBA:
After White was mentioned alongside the Minnesota Timberwolves in trade scuttle…
A Wolves source confirmed that there is legitimate interest in White, but the 25-year-old’s looming free agency appears to be a significant hindrance to a possible trade. He’s making $12.8 million in the final year of his deal and is widely expected to seek a major raise this summer. But the fear of that unknown, it seems, means this is the kind of “rental” situation that drops the price point precipitously and creates a negotiating gap between the two sides.
…Wolves beat writer Jon Krawczynski said that there’s nothing imminent on that front:
Finally, veteran Bulls beat writer KC Johnson reported that although teams are interested in White, engagement on the Bulls’ end remains limited:
For now, it looks like White will be staying put in Chicago, although that could very well change by the trade deadline.
For the latest Coby White rumors, click here.
3. Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State)
With the Golden State Warriors toiling away at 13-14, head coach Steve Kerr has once again scapegoated young swingman Jonathan Kuminga, as the 23-year-old hasn’t seen the floor in any of the Warriors’ last three outings.
It might not be a great time for the Warriors to move Kuminga, however, as his trade value has cratered over recent weeks:
For quite some time now, the Warriors have been open about their desire to acquire the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III. But if they’re going to use Kuminga to do that, then it would be helpful to know how, if at all, the Pelicans value the Warriors’ 23-year-old forward. For the time being, the feedback is mixed on that front. ’Tis the season for smokescreens, after all. Yet this part is indisputable when it comes to the Warriors’ side of the equation: These past six weeks have not been kind when it comes to Kuminga’s value. After the first six games of the season when Kuminga was receiving rave reviews, he has returned to the rollercoaster existence that embodied the vast majority of his first four seasons.
Regardless, according to the same report, the Kings are “widely expected” to revisit their offseason interest in Kuminga. The New Orleans Pelicans could also be a potential suitor, according to the report, as Golden State is very interested in Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.
Per Marc Stein, the Bulls are another team that might have interest in the former G League Ignite standout:
The Warriors are increasingly expected to trade Kuminga between Jan. 15 — who is not trade-eligible this season until that date — and the Feb. 5 trade deadline. And Chicago has certainly registered trade interest in Kuminga in the past, bringing up the 23-year-old in negotiations with Golden State on trades that never came to fruition in which the Warriors were engaged in talks of varying degrees of seriousness featuring Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević.
Along with the aforementioned teams, the Phoenix Suns might also have an interest in Kuminga:
With no shortage of potential suitors, here’s hoping Kuminga does find a new home soon, as this never-ending saga has to be hampering his development.
For the latest Jonathan Kuminga rumors, click here.
2. Anthony Davis (Dallas)
Along with Sabonis, the Raptors are also reported to potentially have an interest in former No. 1 pick Anthony Davis:
The business Toronto is ultimately willing to conduct before the February trade buzzer will likely come down to how good the 16-11 Raptors still are as that deadline draws closer. Toronto, though, has sent out some early signals that it hopes to upgrade its frontcourt. Sources with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking have identified them as a team with interest in Domantas Sabonis as well as Anthony Davis.
According to the New York Times, although the Dallas Mavericks want to remain competitive, that doesn’t mean they won’t listen to trade offers on Davis:
That doesn’t mean the Mavericks are unwilling to be sellers ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The team is expected to listen to offers on many of its veteran players, including Anthony Davis, league sources said. But the Mavericks are acting as though they are comfortable keeping the core of their roster intact through the rest of this season if there aren’t deals out there they feel good about.
The same report also had the following to say on Davis’ trade prospects:
So what are the Mavericks supposed to do with their 10-time All-Star who turns 33 in March? Multiple NBA sources with rival teams believe the answer could be nothing — at least for now. The view in some corners of the league is the Mavericks might try to wait until this summer to deal him. The Mavericks could use the rest of this season to improve Davis’ trade value, which is low after he missed extended stretches in each of the last two seasons with an adductor strain and a calf strain.
According to another report from the New York Times, Davis’ trade value might actually not be that high right now due to his trick injury history:
Davis’ contract status is certainly providing a pressure point. Davis — who is represented by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — is eligible for an extension this summer (his current deal runs through next season, with a player option for $62.7 million in 2027-28). That’s a major consideration for both the Mavs and the expected suitors, which — as ESPN first reported — are expected to include Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto. Yet as several league sources indicated, the actual level of interest from the aforementioned teams remains to be seen. Especially given Davis’ sordid health history.
ESPN reported similarly:
Tim Bontemps: “For a guy like Anthony Davis,” a West executive said, “it’s hard to justify them getting a 35 percent max when they aren’t playing a ton of minutes and games.” That’s why sources I’ve spoken to have expressed skepticism in a robust market for Davis this trade season, particularly as teams around the league are shifting to younger, faster and deeper rosters.
Over his last five games, Davis is averaging 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks on 50.6 percent shooting. If teams were guaranteed that output and relatively good health out of Davis, they’d be tripping over each other to trade for him. His injury luck is too poor to ignore, though.
For the latest Anthony Davis rumors, click here.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee)
The hottest name on the trade market by far is that of Giannis Antetokounmpo, though it’s still completely up in the air which direction this saga goes. Will Antetokounmpo ask out, or will the Bucks actually try to improve their roster in a perhaps desperate attempt to get him to want to stay long-term?
According to the New York Times, the Bucks are telling teams that they want to fortify their roster:
While the outside noise may have fans of opposing teams drooling about the potential of adding Giannis Antetokounmpo to their roster, league sources told The Athletic the Bucks have told franchises they are looking to add to their roster in hopes of fortifying their struggling team in the week leading up to Dec. 15. That messaging could certainly change as the Feb. 5 trade deadline nears.
Even so, a lot of teams are going to be after the Greek Freak… if he does ask out:
Chris Haynes: I think the Knicks have interest in Giannis—strong interest. The Miami Heat have interest in Giannis. The Golden State Warriors have had interest in Giannis for a long time. The San Antonio Spurs. The Minnesota Timberwolves. The list goes on and on. Ultimately, for Giannis, wherever he lands, I think he’d prefer some sun, probably a big market. Outside of that, he wants to be on a team that can contend for a championship. He’s been very clear that this is a top priority for him throughout his career.”
Interestingly enough, three contenders might pass on if Antetokounmpo requests a trade: Houston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio. At least that’s according to Stein:
Interested teams continue to wait for the Bucks to signal that they’ve made Giannis Antetokounmpo available. To date Milwaukee has not and has even countered with whispered messaging that it remains in the market for roster upgrades to help Antetokounmpo, who remains sidelined indefinitely by the scourge of the NBA: A calf strain. There is a growing belief among trade-trackers that San Antonio and Houston, like Oklahoma City, do not plan to join the chase for Antetokounmpo even if the Bucks ultimately do decide to consider in-season proposals for their two-time MVP. All three of those teams, as you can imagine, like what they have going.
Our own Michael Scotto reported this week that the Bucks are operating as if Antetokounmpo will be on the team past the trade deadline:
And although this isn’t full-out reporting, national NBA reporter Jake Fischer believes Miami might actually have the best shot at landing Antetokounmpo:
“I’m not sure I agree when I hear rival teams denounce Miami’s best possible trade package as not being good enough to ultimately land Antetokounmpo. In terms of in-season suitors, I’m struggling to pinpoint another team capable of presenting a deal that would clearly trump the Heat’s richest pitch. With the Thunder, Spurs and Rockets not expected to join a theoretical Giannis Sweepstakes, as our publisher covered in his Sunday piece, what team could elbow into the bidding — and appeal to Giannis as a team he wants to stay with — with an offer that trumps Miami’s ability to package Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, draft compensation and maybe more?”
On his end, Antetokounmpo reportedly told his teammates to block out the noise and focus on basketball:
If Antetokounmpo does wind up requesting a trade out of Milwaukee, it will send shockwaves throughout the Association the likes of which we haven’t seen very often.
For the latest Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors, click here.