Key NBA Trade Eligibility Dates for 2025-26 Season
key-nba-trade-eligibility-dates-2025-26
The NBA’s calendar includes several trade restrictions tied to when players signed contracts, agreed to extensions or changed teams. Below is a breakdown of the special eligibility dates that will shape trade talks ahead of the 2026 deadline on February 5.
Free agents and converted two-way players
Players who signed new deals or had two-way contracts converted after September 15 cannot be moved until three months after the transaction or December 15, whichever comes later. The following dates mark when each becomes trade-eligible:
- December 25: Thomas Bryant (Cavaliers)
- December 29: Gary Payton II (Warriors)
- January 1: Al Horford (Warriors); De’Anthony Melton (Warriors)
- January 16: Russell Westbrook (Kings)
- January 18: Keaton Wallace (Hawks)
- January 23: DeAndre Jordan (Pelicans)
- February 4: Precious Achiuwa (Kings)
Anyone who signs or is converted after November 5 will not gain trade eligibility before this season’s deadline. The lone player in that category so far is:
- Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Pacers)
Veteran extensions above “extend-and-trade” limits
Extensions that exceed the league’s extend-and-trade parameters carry a six-month no-trade window. The restriction lifts on the following dates:
- December 14: Steven Adams (Rockets)
- December 29: Jaylin Williams (Thunder)
- January 7: Jakob Poeltl (Raptors)
- January 10: Devin Booker (Suns)
- January 13: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- January 14: Herbert Jones (Pelicans)
- February 1: Mikal Bridges (Knicks)
- February 2: Luka Dončić (Lakers)
- February 4: De’Aaron Fox (Spurs)
Players off-limits until after the deadline
Several players cannot be traded at all before February 5:
- Toumani Camara (Trail Blazers)
- A.J. Green (Bucks)
- Aaron Nesmith (Pacers)
- P.J. Washington (Mavericks)
Super-max restriction
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) signed a designated veteran extension in July, making him ineligible to be dealt for one full year, which runs beyond this season’s deadline.
Recent waiver claims
Players claimed off waivers face a 30-day trade moratorium. Jordan Goodwin (Suns) cleared that window this week, while Isaac Jones (Pistons), claimed on November 6, becomes eligible on December 6.
Recently traded players
No player falls under the two-month salary-aggregation restriction, as no trades have been completed since September 16. A player dealt after December 16, however, would not be able to have his salary aggregated in a second trade before the deadline, unless acquired between December 5-16 and re-aggregated starting February 4.
These timelines will be monitored throughout the season as front offices weigh their options ahead of the February 5 cutoff.
Source: Hoops Rumors
