How All 30 NBA Clubs Are Positioning Themselves for the Feb. 5 Trade Deadline
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The 2026 trade market looks far different from last year’s flurry of blockbuster deals. This time, front-office conversations are dominated by injuries to three marquee names—Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant—and by the financial gymnastics required under the league’s new apron system. Below is a tier-by-tier snapshot of every team’s posture with nine days remaining before the deadline.
Tier 1 – Injured All-Stars on the Board
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas has reopened talks on Anthony Davis even though the 32-year-old is sidelined with a wrist injury. Governor Patrick Dumont is not inclined to move him unless the return is overwhelming. Davis earns $54.1 million this season, $58.5 million next year and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2028. The club sits $1.1 million under the second-apron hard cap and cannot take back additional salary. Draft ammunition includes an unprotected 2029 first via the Lakers and one of its own first-rounders in 2031 or 2032.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis is soliciting offers for two-time All-Star Ja Morant, who turns 27 in August and is signed through 2028. Interest is tepid because of off-court concerns, a recent shoulder injury and a career-low 47 percent shooting inside the arc. The team owns Orlando’s unprotected 2030 first and can trade the more favorable of Orlando’s or Phoenix’s 2026 pick.
Tier 2 – Likeliest Deal Makers
Brooklyn Nets
The league’s lone cap-space team—roughly $15 million—can act as a third-team facilitator. Wings Cam Thomas (unrestricted free agent this summer) and Michael Porter Jr. (owed $38.3 million and $40.8 million the next two seasons) are available. Brooklyn controls New York’s unprotected firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031 plus a 2032 unprotected Denver pick.
Chicago Bulls
Seven players are on expiring contracts, highlighted by Ayo Dosunmu’s $6.5 million salary and career-best 14.3 points per game. Chicago could keep its projected $65 million in summer cap room, sacrifice flexibility to land veterans now or flip the expiring group for draft assets. The Bulls can trade every own first beginning in 2026.
Golden State Warriors
Jonathan Kuminga asked out before Jimmy Butler III’s season-ending ACL tear. Butler is off-limits, but Kuminga’s $22.5 million deal (with a $24.3 million team option) can be matched for needed front-court size. Golden State owns five movable first-rounders this summer and nearly $100 million in expiring contracts.
Milwaukee Bucks
Before Antetokounmpo strained his right calf, Milwaukee was shopping for roster help; now the club must decide whether to protect future picks or chase a play-in spot. The Bucks can trade a 2031 or 2032 first plus a swap in the opposite year. Eleven of 15 contracts sit between $2.3 million and $5.1 million, complicating salary matching.
Sacramento Kings
GM Scott Perry wants to get younger. Keon Ellis—26 years old, $2.3 million expiring—draws the most leaguewide interest. Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk combine for 73 percent of this season’s payroll and are signed through at least 2026-27.
Tier 3 – Wild Cards
Atlanta Hawks
After sending Trae Young to Washington, Atlanta seeks front-court help. Kristaps Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract is the main trade chip, but the club must add roughly $22 million more to stay under the tax if it targets an injured star such as Davis.
Boston Celtics
Despite Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles, Boston sits second in the East. The $27.7 million expiring deal of Anfernee Simons could be used either to shed payroll or upgrade depth. Three trade exceptions ($22.5 million, $8.2 million, $4.7 million) are available despite the team operating over the first apron.
Indiana Pacers
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the year and Myles Turner gone in free agency, Indiana ranks last in offensive rebounding and points in the paint. The front office is expected to seek a long-term center solution ahead of next season, when Haliburton returns.
Miami Heat
Holding Terry Rozier’s $26.6 million expiring contract, Miami can chase bigger names such as Morant but risks burning the two remaining tradeable firsts (2030, 2032) needed for a possible Antetokounmpo pursuit in 2027 free agency.
New Orleans Pelicans
Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Zion Williamson all have value, but Murphy and Jones are cost-controlled through 2029 and Williamson’s $97 million over two seasons is non-guaranteed. Rookie Derik Queen’s rise has made Yves Missi and Jose Alvarado potential depth pieces for contenders.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland must decide whether to keep Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle’s expiring contracts or move them for shooting help. Two-way standouts Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko cannot be converted unless roster spots open. The club owns Orlando’s unprotected 2028 first and swaps with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto is $967,000 over the tax. Shedding money or adding front-court size—Jakob Poeltl has missed 23 games—are both on the table. Incentive-laden contracts for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Poeltl complicate apron math.
Tier 4 – Luxury-Tax Watchers
Cleveland Cavaliers
With a record $394 million payroll and the league’s lone second-apron team, Cleveland cannot aggregate salaries or take back more money. De’Andre Hunter ($24.9 million next year) could be moved to reduce next season’s tax hit.
Denver Nuggets
Starters Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun have each missed significant time. Two trade exceptions ($6.9 million, $5.4 million) exist, but Denver owns no movable firsts and only two seconds.
Houston Rockets
Houston, hard-capped at the first apron, can add no more than $1.25 million in any trade. The club needs a combo guard yet holds only Fred VanVleet’s trade-veto-eligible $25 million contract and Dorian Finney-Smith’s $12.7 million salary (just one season fully guaranteed).
New York Knicks
Owner James Dolan publicly favors continuity. New York is $148,000 under the second apron and can’t sign a 15th player before April 2 unless it unloads salary such as Guerschon Yabusele’s $5.8 million 2027 cap hit.
Orlando Magic
Management could stand pat, salary-dump Tyus Jones’ $7 million deal to duck the tax, or search for bench shooting. The Magic cannot bring back multi-year money because they project near the second apron next season.
Philadelphia 76ers
Unlike last year’s tax-avoidance fire sale, the Sixers are winning and sit $7 million over the tax. An open roster slot is earmarked for two-way big man Dominick Barlow; Jabari Walker would need a conversion if kept for the postseason.
Tier 5 – Dual Timelines
LA Clippers
A 6-21 start flipped into play-in contention. The club carries $60 million in expiring or non-guaranteed deals but wants summer cap room. Chris Paul’s future remains unresolved; waiving him would create space to convert Kobe Sanders from a two-way slot.
Los Angeles Lakers
With LeBron James on an expiring contract and Luka Doncic as the long-term cornerstone, L.A. weighs present and future. Expirings totaling $45 million (Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent) plus a 2031 or 2032 first are in play, though the club sits $1.1 million below the first apron.
Tier 6 – Middlemen
Charlotte Hornets
Collin Sexton’s $19 million expiring deal and Miles Bridges’ steady 20-point production make them movable, but Charlotte is $22 million under the tax and could simply keep both while accumulating 24 future picks.
Utah Jazz
Keyonte George’s emergence gives Utah flexibility. The Jazz possess $40 million in expirings—Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, Georges Niang—plus three trade exceptions and could carry $50 million in summer cap room.
Washington Wizards
Washington already acquired Trae Young and now wields Khris Middleton’s $33.3 million expiring contract, three trade exceptions worth a combined $37.4 million and $29.8 million in tax room. Marvin Bagley III, on a minimum deal, has attracted calls.
Tier 7 – No Tradable Firsts
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota cannot send out a first and is just $3.6 million under the second apron, limiting flexibility. The club would like an athletic wing but may rely on the return of Terrence Shannon Jr. from injury.
Phoenix Suns
After offseason belt-tightening, Phoenix finally has room to aggregate salaries. Nick Richards’ $5 million expiring contract could be moved to duck the tax, but three second-rounders are the only draft chips available.
Tier 8 – Quiet but Capable
Detroit Pistons
Leading the East yet preaching patience, Detroit holds Tobias Harris’ $26.6 million expiring deal, 14 second-round selections and every own first through 2032. Converting two-way guard Daniss Jenkins would require an open roster spot.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Fresh off a championship, OKC owns 13 first-rounders in seven years and routinely consolidates extras for future swaps rather than touching the rotation. Converting two-way center Branden Carlson would require a small outgoing trade.
San Antonio Spurs
With Victor Wembanyama headed for his first postseason, the Spurs are expected to wait until summer despite $32 million in expirings (Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk) and a mountain of picks and swaps.
The final week before Feb. 5 is historically the busiest window for NBA movement—77 percent of trades over the past two seasons occurred during that span. Whether injuries and apron restrictions slow activity remains to be seen, but every front office now knows exactly where it stands.
Source: ESPN
