NBA Stars Who Need To Get Traded in 2026

NBA trade season is upon us.

Anyone who signed in the summer or was traded to a team in the summer can now be traded and as trade season progresses, the rumors are going to start circulating.

Here are some players, NBA stars specifically, who I think could benefit from getting traded in 2026.

I am not saying all these guys are going to be traded. I just think it would probably be best for both the player and teams to move on from one another.

Giannis Antetokounmpo- Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks simply are not a good basketball team any longer. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still in his prime but might not have many prime years left, and he is just wasting away on a Milwaukee Bucks team that is far from competing.

It should be noted that in this Eastern Conference going into the season, the East was wide open for anyone, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was by far the best player in the conference. Nobody still took the Bucks seriously. That is how far away Milwaukee is from competing for a championship right now.

It is time for both sides to move on here. Giannis should go compete for championships. He already brought Milwaukee a championship before. He is not quitting on the team. He can always come back to Milwaukee when his career is wrapping up. But right now, he needs to be pursuing championships if he wants to be considered one of the greatest of all time. I think it is time for Milwaukee to move on.

Trae Young- Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are a good basketball team... when Trae Young doesn't play. In his 10 games this season, Atlanta has a record of 2-8 and without him they are 13-10. Clearly, the Hawks actually have a pretty solid roster, it is just that Young does not fit them anymore.

Young can become a free agent after this season and if I had to bet, I would say he is probably not going to be with the Hawks next season. Atlanta should try to get something for him right now while he still has value, instead of losing him for nothing. It also looks like Trae could benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.

LaMelo Ball- Charlotte Hornets

The same thing applies to LaMelo Ball. He is just too injury prone at this point to be relied on for the Hornets. Earlier this season, it was rumored that he could be interested in a potential trade elsewhere.

The Hornets do have a pretty solid young core with guys like Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. If they want to go to the next level, they need a reliable point guard. When LaMelo plays, he is an All Star caliber player, but he is just not healthy enough anymore

I also do not think he loves being in Charlotte. I think he would want to be in a bigger market. Because of that, I think it would be good for both LaMelo and the Hornets to move on.

LeBron James- Los Angeles Lakers

Now this one might be a bit controversial, but I think LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers need to split up.

When LeBron was out and it was just Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves running the team, the Lakers were one of the most fun teams to watch in basketball. They were winning a ton of games. Since LeBron has come back, it has kind of had a weird vibe around the team.

That weird vibe has been there ever since last summer when it looked like LeBron might want out. Throughout the season, it has become pretty clear that he probably does want out.

The Lakers probably want out of the LeBron business as well. LeBron seems uncomfortable being on a team that does not care about his long term factors anymore because they are focused on buidling around Doncic and Reaves. And honestly, they should be. Those are younger pieces and All Star caliber players.

I think LeBron wants to move on and seriously compete for a championship, probably in the Eastern Conference. There could be a trade worked out, maybe with a team like the Golden State Warriors for Jimmy Butler, which Bill Simmons mentioned on his podcast earlier today.

This relationship has run its course, and both LeBron and the Lakers would benefit from moving on.

Ja Morant- Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies are another situation that feels finished. Ever since the Instagram Live gun videos, everything has gone downhill for Ja Morant.

I think he needs somewhere quieter. Somewhere with less pressure on him to be the face of the franchise. The Grizzlies are just not a serious team anymore when it comes to competing for titles.

Ja Morant is getting older and more injury prone as well. I think he would benefit from a fresh start somewhere else. From Memphis’ perspective, this is probably the most trade value he is going to have going forward. If I were them, I would move on.

Anthony Davis- Dallas Mavericks

Davis is injured again. They are probably going to be selling 25 cents on the dollar here, but they made the mistake of acquiring Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic in February, and now they are seeing the consequences.

Davis cannot stay healthy. Kyrie Irving is also not playing right now as he is still out with a torn ACL. If Irving were healthy for a full season, this would be a different conversation.

But the Mavericks need to get pieces and start building around Cooper Flagg. You are not giving Anthony Davis a big extension after this season. He is too injury prone for that now. He also came into the season out of shape.

I think Davis deserves to go compete on a better team and chase a championship elsewhere. There are good fits for him around the league. Dallas is just not one of them. It is time to move on.

Zion Williamson- New Orleans Pelicans

We have talked about this for years. The team is not good, and he cannot stay healthy.

He needs to go somewhere where he is not the face of the franchise, similar to Ja Morant. He needs a place where he can focus on basketball, getting better, and getting healthier.

Zion is not going to be looked at as the savior anymore, but I still hold out hope for him. I think he could still be a top 10 player in the league when healthy because he has shown it before.

He needs to go to a franchise that truly believes in him and is truly invested in his long term growth. I think Zion Williamson needs out of New Orleans.