The dominoes have started falling in the NBA, it appears. First, Giannis Antetokounmpo, after a full year of trade rumors, was finally dealt. Then, out of the woodwork, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. Most recently, the Charlotte Hornets sent franchise guard LaMelo Ball to the Wolves. And we’re only days into the offseason!
So, if those trades are any indication, we might be up for more—especially with teams looking to rebuild, others hoping to get over the hump, and a few just aiming to unload salaries. With that being said, let’s take a look at four players who could either be traded this offseason (or during the season) or ask to be dealt.
Jaylen Brown
Brown played like an MVP in the 2025–26 NBA season, leading the Boston Celtics to the second seed in the East with a 56-26 record. Impressively, it was supposed to be a “gap” year for the Cs due to Jayson Tatum’s injury. And yet Brown willed the Celtics to relevance, putting up 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.0 steal per game.
But for all his troubles, the Cs still dangled Jaylen Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks as the centerpiece of a deal that would’ve brought Giannis Antetokounmpo to Boston. Milwaukee balked and pivoted to the Miami Heat’s offer instead, leaving JB an unhappy camper. And why wouldn’t he be disappointed? The Celtics have seemingly tried every year to trade him, only to be rebuffed every time.
As of press time, Boston is still actively shopping Jaylen Brown around. At some point, he’ll ask to be traded and would leave the Cs with no choice but to pull the trigger.
Kyrie Irving
After missing the entirety of last season to recover from ACL reconstruction, Kyrie Irving will need to prove he’s still got it. And maybe he does. After all, his work ethic is unquestioned, and his passion for hoops is undeniable.
What’s also undeniable is the cloud of uncertainty surrounding Irving. Will he be as good as he was prior to tearing his ACL? How will he fit in alongside Cooper Flagg? What are Dusty May’s plans for him? Does he even fit within the Mavs’ timeline, which arguably has tilted in favor of a younger, fresher take?
All that considered, and with Flagg proving to be as good as advertised, don’t be surprised if the Mavs move on from Irving—especially if they can get good, young pieces who could complement last season’s Rookie of the Year.
Ja Morant
After looking like budding contenders a few years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies have fallen off considerably and have since blown things up, even trading franchise center Jaren Jackson Jr. They’ve also accumulated some draft capital after some draft-day deals. All things considered, the Grizz look like a team in full rebuild mode, with the centerpiece likely to be third overall pick Cameron Boozer.
What that means is Ja Morant, who averaged 19.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.1 assists in only 20 games last season, is all of a sudden very much expendable. He hasn’t publicly asked to be traded but has clashed with coaching staff and openly admitted to having “lost his joy for basketball” just last season. Between this tension and Morant’s increasing unreliability, Memphis might ultimately decide to part ways with the high-flying but injury-prone superstar.
In short, both sides appear ready for a new chapter: Memphis wants flexibility for its youth movement, while Morant’s situation makes staying put increasingly untenable.
Kawhi Leonard
It seems unlikely The Klaw would want to seek a trade at this point. He is, after all, at home already. But the Los Angeles Clippers might be pivoting toward building a younger, more dynamic lineup built for the future after trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac last season. That will leave Leonard as an odd man out.
That’s not to mention Steve Ballmer possibly wanting to move on from the Aspiration controversy that hounded the Clips and Leonard all of last season. Needless to say, the conditions for a Klaw exit are there, and the only question now is whether the Clippers will try to pull the trigger on a trade.
If the Clips do decide to move Leonard, there’s likely a market for him in contenders looking for that final piece. In fact, he was rumored as one of the Heat’s backup options in case they didn’t land Antetokounmpo. After putting up 27.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season, a lot of teams would love to have him for sure.
A Final Note
The NBA offseason is already shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent memory, with major stars changing teams and franchises recalibrating their futures. Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant, and Kawhi Leonard all find themselves at crossroads—whether due to team direction, personal circumstances, or lingering controversies. Again, if the early trades are any indication, more dominoes are bound to fall, and these four superstars could be next in line.
