The 2026 trade deadline is rapidly approaching on Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET, with plenty of high-profile names potentially available in this year’s cycle.
Headlining the potential list of trade candidates is Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who appears to be ready for a new home amid frustrations with the organization’s disappointing season. He’s projected to be out of the lineup for the next 4-6 weeks as he recovers from a calf injury, but will no doubt command a hefty return for the Bucks — and be a game-changing asset for the team that acquires him.
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Among the “serious suitors” for Antetokounmpo are the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA insider Shams Charania reports.
Also atop the list of players who could be on the move are Mavericks star Anthony Davis, the Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga, the Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. and the Grizzlies’ Ja Morant. Notably, despite an abysmal season, the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly informing teams that several players, including Zion Williamson, are off the market.
The 2025 NBA trade deadline was one for the ages and set expectations high for this year, thanks to the blockbuster trade that sent superstar Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package deal that included Davis. The move sent shockwaves through the league, eventually leading to the Mavs winning the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, which they used to select then-18-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg.
Time will tell if this year’s deadline can offer just as much excitement.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest news, rumors and updates ahead of Feb. 2’s NBA trade deadline.
Live4 updates
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:38 AM PST
Chris Cwik
Portland Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter spoke with newly-acquired Vit Krejci on Sunday and was excited to have the sharpshooter on board.
Splitter said the team was “thirsty” for a shooter like Krejci, who is hitting 42 percent of his three pointers this season.
The Trail Blazers have a three-point percentage of .336 this season, which ranks last in the NBA.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:33 AM PST
Chris Cwik
It appears to be the beginning of the end for Jordan Poole in New Orleans. Poole has not started the team’s last eight games, and could get moved at the deadline.
Poole, 26, is in the midst of a down year, in which he’s averaging 14.5 points per game. Poole has one more year remaining on his contract. He is owed roughly $34 million next season.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:30 AM PST
Dan Titus
The NBA trade window opened on December 15, and now’s the time to prep for potential chaos. Whether it’s a big-name star forcing his way out or a role player landing in a perfect spot, these are the guys who could swing your fantasy hoops league.
I’ve broken down my All-Deadline Fantasy Teams into two squads — players whose names are heating up in trade chatter and those whose value could pop or plummet in the weeks ahead.
Contracts matter. Fit matters. Opportunity matters. Let’s debate!
🥇First-Team All-Deadline Fantasy SquadGiannis Antetokounmpo – PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
It’s Giannis. You already know. He hasn’t publicly requested a trade (yet), but if the Bucks don’t pick it up, there will undoubtedly be suitors interested in acquiring the Greek Freak. Finding a match for his $54M contract this season will be a challenge that will likely involve multiple teams, but no matter what team he’s on, Antetokounmpo is a top-five asset in High Score, points leagues and a guy you’ll need to build around his strengths and faults in 9-cat formats specifically.
LaMelo Ball – PG, Charlotte Hornets
Upside’s never been the issue. It’s staying healthy. Yahoo’s NBA writer Kelly Iko reported that Ball would be open to a trade. This franchise hasn’t made any headway in becoming a playoff contender with Ball running the show. LaMelo’s locked into a fat deal through 2029, so he’s not easy to move — but if Charlotte shakes it up, you’re looking at a big fantasy swing.
Anthony Davis – PF/C, Dallas Mavericks
Always dominant, always fragile. That’s AD. But this year? Davis looks uninspired. He’s still putting up 20 points with 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 stocks per game. However, fantasy managers haven’t seen much of him, as he’s played in only 11 games thus far. The Mavs are still in the Play-In race, but for how long? This is Cooper Flagg’s team now, and if they’re not a real contender, it’s best to extract what value you can before AD’s production or health really falls off. His current $54M salary balloons to $62M in 2027-28 with a player option, which may prove to be the genuine hurdle in moving one of the best big men in the league when healthy.
Read more on the biggest NBA stars that could swing your fantasy hoops league.
Mon, February 2, 2026 at 7:26 AM PST
Chris Cwik
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the hottest name on the market ahead of the NBA trade deadline. After resisting the idea for years, Antetokounmpo finally seems ready to leave the Bucks.
Over the weekend, four suitors have emerged for Anteokounmpo, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Those teams are the Heat, Timberwolves, Warriors and Knicks.
The Bucks are seeking either a young, blue-chip talent or multiple draft picks in exchange for Antetokounmpo.