{"id":675998,"date":"2026-05-17T03:50:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/675998\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T03:50:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T03:50:12","slug":"10-eliminated-nba-stars-who-could-be-traded-this-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/675998\/","title":{"rendered":"10 eliminated NBA stars who could be traded this offseason"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA playoffs<\/a> are hot and heavy this season, with major upsets of the Boston Celtics<\/a> and Denver Nuggets<\/a> shaking up the foundation of the playoff bracket. The San Antonio Spurs<\/a> and Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a> are still the front-runners, but the New York Knicks look as good as anyone in the postseason. It\u2019s been an exciting postseason.<\/p>\n

However, nothing is as exciting as offseason rumors, and the rumor mill has been INSANE already. We\u2019re hearing about the futures of multiple stars, whether through trade or free agency. The interesting free agents start with LeBron James, who is looking for where to spend his career\u2019s twilight years. After LeBron, the free agent crop drops off precipitously. So, we look at trades.<\/p>\n

Who are the top trade candidates from the eliminated teams? There is one sure choice at the top.<\/p>\n

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the number one option to watch this offseason. It appears his time with the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> is over. He\u2019s still one of the best players in the league, but a plethora of mistakes by management had them blowing the roster around Giannis, and it finally came to a head this season when they missed the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Things got worse in the NBA Draft Lottery, with the Bucks falling to 10th in the NBA Draft. Not many expect a huge difference maker to fall to 10 in this draft. So, the Bucks have to lean on getting the proper return for their star. They have nothing close to a championship roster, and Giannis is 31 years old. He\u2019s still in his prime, but he is coming towards the end of that prime, and he will want to prioritize the best years of his career.<\/p>\n

There are so many rumors about what he wants from this trade front<\/a>. In reality, we don\u2019t think many actually know what he wants. He could want to go to the East Coast, or he could be open to spending some years next to Steph Curry. Maybe he wants to play for the Knicks, or maybe he would accept a move to the Nets. Anything is possible here, as the Greek Freak hasn\u2019t said much himself. Even so, we\u2019d be floored if he started next season as a member of the Bucks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics\"Boston<\/p>\n

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

There\u2019s some weirdness happening in Boston. Nobody will say that the Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum experiment hasn\u2019t worked because they\u2019ve already won a title, but what have they done together outside of that title? This season, they were upset by the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>. Last season, the Knicks knocked them out, and Tatum tore his Achilles. Prior to winning the title, they also lost series to the Heat, Warriors (in the NBA Finals), and Nets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been an interesting run for Tatum and Brown, but it\u2019s not as successful as we seem to remember. Don\u2019t get us wrong, this is still one of the best duos in the NBA, but there are better duos in the league. And after spending an entire season playing as the team\u2019s star, some of his postgame and postseason comments seem to show a guy who desires that life again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Every team would line up to trade for Brown, even with his $285 million contract that probably needs an extension soon. Brown showed he could be a 1A star when called upon. Nobody wants to give up the seat once they get it. Brown is no different. Will this come to a head and force a trade? We\u2019d lean that it probably will, but if it happens this offseason, it still needs to be seen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks\"Dallas<\/p>\n

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Kyrie Irving is a name many of us likely haven\u2019t heard in a while. He was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks this season, but that might not last long. The Mavs already traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. Now, another great veteran could be on his way out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Irving is being discussed in a ton of mock drafts, but that seems to be the extent of the conversation right now. We don\u2019t have anything concrete, and the injury really does muddy the waters here. Irving hasn\u2019t played basketball in over a year while he was recovering from a knee injury. Maybe Irving would have forced his way back if his team had been even remotely in the playoff race.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We have to work with the information we have, and it\u2019s a hope and a prayer that Irving is even a high performer for his current or next team. The Dallas Mavericks are still in a rebuild, which is why Anthony Davis is in Washington. There was a thought that Dallas was building for a championship, but now they are building for the future. Cooper Flagg was good, but he isn\u2019t ready to compete yet. It\u2019s best to have another year of development for everyone, and that would require Irving to play on another home court.\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors\"Golden<\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Golden State Warriors<\/a> are trying to do something crazy this offseason. They want to make the most out of the end of Steph Curry\u2019s best years. They didn\u2019t do that this season, winning just 39 games and missing the playoffs. Curry\u2019s squad made the play-in, but they couldn\u2019t make it out of that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We expect the Warriors to be in on everyone. To make a trade happen, they have to match salaries. That\u2019s where Jimmy Butler comes in. Butler is set to make $56 million next season, but it\u2019s the final year of his contract. The Warriors can use that to match salaries, and then they can get as many draft picks as they want.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We do think Butler will only be used as trade fodder for a bigger name. Butler is coming off a torn ACL, and the Warriors can\u2019t take a chance that he is a shell of himself. It’s another example of a team trading for a guy coming off a season-ending injury. Plenty of other teams can make that leap to see if Butler has something left in the tank. Unlike the rest of the guys on this list, Butler might not want to leave, but he might be escorted out to improve the Warriors\u2019 roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies\"Memphis<\/p>\n

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stands | Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Ja Morant is getting traded. That seems inevitable at this point. The Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> built everything around him, and it looked smart when they were a two seed in the Western Conference. Now, it\u2019s all fallen apart, and the Grizzlies have no direction. They need to hit a hard reset, and that includes trading Morant while he still has value.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This past season. Morant had his worst season in a while. He didn\u2019t get into a ton of off-the-court issues like in seasons past, but he just wasn\u2019t nearly as good. He played just 20 games, and he averaged fewer than 20 points per game for the first time since his sophomore season in the league.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Morant was expected to grow into a superstar, but that hasn\u2019t come to fruition yet. Something happened that knocked him off his path, but if there was ever a \u201cchange-of-scenery\u201d candidate<\/a> in this league, Morant is him. He used to be one of the most popular players in the league. Now, you can\u2019t find a young person brave enough to wear his jersey. His explosiveness is still there somewhere, but before the injuries completely catch up to him, the Grizzlies are going to sell high on him.<\/p>\n

6. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings\"Sacramento<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings guard DeMar DeRozan | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Did you know that DeMar DeRozan is in the top 20 scorers in the history of the NBA? This is a legend of the game that has been playing outstanding basketball under the radar for more than a decade. Even with the huge counting statistics, DeRozan hasn\u2019t been given the respect that most with his stat line would get. It doesn\u2019t help that he doesn\u2019t have too many wins under his belt. It doesn\u2019t help him to play for the Sacramento Kings<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Kings are another team that seems like they have no direction. They could be a playoff team, but who wants to be the 6-12 team in the Western Conference? The ceiling is way too low, and the floor is in the basement. DeRozan doesn\u2019t want to spend the final years of his impressive career fighting an uphill battle with a terrible team. Let him be a final piece for a championship roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

DeRozan would be on a roster that is ready to compete. Could he go back to the Spurs if other moves are made? Is he willing to take a chance on a team that might not be completely ready, like the 76ers? There are so many different directions that this can go in. Ironically enough, even his trade rumors are falling under the radar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

7. Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards\"Washington<\/p>\n

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Anthony Davis was just traded, but it isn\u2019t news that the Washington Wizards<\/a> weren\u2019t his desired destination. Will that change now that the Wizards have the rights to the number one overall pick? Davis has a chance to play alongside A.J. Dybantsa, but he also has a chance to chase another ring. He only has that one from his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, and now he\u2019s on a team that\u2019s still rebuilding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an odd roster, with Trae Young and D\u2019Angelo Russell. There\u2019s a reason they were in line to get the first-overall pick. They deserved it. This team was really bad, and Davis didn\u2019t suit up for them that often. Requesting a trade won\u2019t really hurt anyone\u2019s feelings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Davis is still a decent player, but he\u2019s not the star he was in the past. We can see a team paying legit capital for him, but he\u2019s not worth a plethora of assets like he was in the past. That\u2019s especially true with how many stars are actually going to be available this offseason. Davis might act as a silver medal for a team that misses out on Embiid or Giannis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

8. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Another year, and Kevin Durant is on the trade block again. Just one year after he was traded to the Houston Rockets<\/a>, Durant isn\u2019t looking any closer to adding a championship to his resume. With that, many are wondering if it makes more sense for the former MVP to find his next destination.\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are a ton of interesting landing spots for Durant. Would he return to the Oklahoma City Thunder to ring chase, or could he join Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio? Maybe he looks at the Eastern Conference landscape and sees an opportunity. Right now, the New York Knicks look unstoppable. The Detroit Pistons are up-and-coming. The Cleveland Cavaliers could be looking for another star if things don\u2019t work out this season.<\/p>\n

Either way, Durant will be in rumors. He is in rumors all the time. The Rockets lost in the first round this season to the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a>, and then LeBron James\u2019s squad got swept by the Thunder. He\u2019s not close, and he\u2019s coming to the end of his run as a superstar.\u00a0His statistics are still great (26 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists), but they aren’t translating into wins anymore. It’s been seven years since Durant left the Warriors. His next team will be his fourth team since then. Still, this seems like it might happen.<\/p>\n

9. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers\"Philadelphia<\/p>\n

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Joel Embiid was once considered one of the best players in the NBA. He was winning MVPs for the 76ers, but he\u2019s never made it past the second round in the playoffs. In fact, the 76ers haven\u2019t been to the conference finals since they made the NBA Finals in 2001. Embiid was the one piece from \u201cThe Process<\/a>\u201d that actually worked out. And now, he may be out the door, allowing for a younger and more impactful roster to build around Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe.<\/p>\n

Embiid will have a ton of options, which might surprise some. His contract is insane, paying him $57 million next season. He has a player option for $67 million in 2028-29. Only a select few teams can make that contract work under the salary cap threshold and matching contracts in a trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We saw against the Boston Celtics that Embiid can still be a difference maker. Then, we saw against the Knicks that he can be neutralized. He\u2019s not the dominating force he was just a few years ago. He\u2019s not Nikola Jokic at the center position, but on the right team (which might ironically be the Knicks), he can be the piece that puts a team over the top. And with a whole new management group coming in after Darryl Morey was fired, changes should be expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

10. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets\"Brooklyn<\/p>\n

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Michael Porter Jr. was sent to the Brooklyn Nets<\/a>, and for the first time, he had a chance to show that he can be the top guy on a team. Of course, the Nets were terrible this season, so it wasn\u2019t the best endorsement of his talents, but he showed that he\u2019s at least capable of scoring more than 24 points per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Porter\u2019s biggest issue crept up after two very healthy years with the Nuggets. The Nets only had Porter for 52 games, missing 30 on the season with back, knee, and hamstring injuries. The latter of which took him out and ended his season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Nets fell in the NBA Draft Lottery to the sixth-overall pick, moving them outside the reach of a transcendent star. Now, their options are trading up or selling again. Porter could be part of their sell-off. He is always an injury risk, but after two injury-free seasons, he has had such a strange year with injuries.\u00a0We do see the Nets making a move, and Porter is the asset that makes the most sense. He has one season left, which pays him north of $40 million. Then, he’s a free agent. A small-market team might be willing to take a shot on him.<\/p>\n

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