Current NBA Players Facing Trade Restrictions Ahead of 2025-26 Season
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As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, several league rules are limiting when many players can be moved. Restrictions stem from newly signed contracts, extension terms, no-trade provisions and aggregation limitations, affecting a wide range of rosters.
Recently signed free agents
Most summer signees cannot be traded until December 15. The group includes approximately 80 players, among them Kyrie Irving, Myles Turner and Julius Randle. Players on non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 or Exhibit 10 deals would follow the same timeline if they remain on a regular-season roster.
Free agents who sign after September 15 become eligible three months after their signing date. Conversions from two-way to standard contracts follow the later of December 15 or the three-month mark, though no such promotions occurred this summer.
Eight players who re-signed with their previous teams on raises of at least 20 percent while their clubs operated over the cap cannot be traded until January 15. That list features Naz Reid, Santi Aldama and Sam Merrill, and could later include Josh Giddey, Quentin Grimes and Jonathan Kuminga if they reach similar agreements.
Two-way contracts carry a 30-day trade ban. Five current two-way players, including Olivier-Maxence Prosper (signed September 4, eligible October 4), fall under this rule. Two-way trades are rare but do occur, as seen when RJ Luis moved from Utah to Boston in last month’s Georges Niang deal.
Recently signed draft picks
First-time NBA contracts create the same 30-day restriction. At present, it applies only to two second-rounders: Boston’s Amari Williams (signed August 15, eligible September 14) and Utah’s John Tonje (signed August 26, eligible September 25). All other 2025 draftees can already be traded.
Unsigned 2025 picks—Golden State’s Alex Toohey and Will Richard—remain tradable until they sign. Once they do, the 30-day window will activate.
Players with veto ability
Lakers forward LeBron James and Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard hold full no-trade clauses. Additional players—James Harden, Fred VanVleet, Cam Thomas and Moritz Wagner among them—must approve any deal this season due to contract stipulations.
More than a dozen others, including Kevin Porter Jr., Jaxson Hayes and Dante Exum, waived potential veto rights by agreeing to new one-year or 1+1 contracts and therefore can be moved once they become trade-eligible (December 15 or January 15, depending on the deal).
Veteran extensions
Certain extension terms impose a six-month trade moratorium. Players and their eligibility dates are:
- 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 Doncic (Lakers)
- February 4: De’Aaron Fox (Spurs)
Any extension signed between now and the February 5 trade deadline—such as a possible deal for Dallas forward P.J. Washington—would block a trade until the 2026 offseason. Daniel Gafford’s recent extension avoids those triggers and leaves him immediately tradable.
Designated Veteran extension
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed the offseason’s lone super-max contract. He cannot be traded until July 7, 2026, one year after the agreement.
Aggregation restrictions
Teams that acquire a player without using cap space must wait two months before combining his salary with another player’s in a subsequent deal. The rule currently covers:
- September 9: Kelly Olynyk (Spurs), Malaki Branham (Wizards)
- September 13: Dario Saric (Kings), Jonas Valanciunas (Nuggets)
- October 6: Georges Niang (Jazz)
Anyone traded after December 16 faces the same aggregation ban through the deadline. For teams operating above the second tax apron—currently only the Cavaliers—the restriction is permanent unless the club drops below that threshold.
Source: Hoops Rumors
