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Giannis Antetokounmpo guarding LeBron James.
The 2025 NBA trade deadline was arguably the most chaotic and eventful one in history, with as many as nine current or former All-Stars changing teams, including Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, De’Aaron Fox, Zach LaVine, Brandon Ingram, Andrew Wiggins, Khris Middleton and D’Angelo Russell.
Bleacher Report’s Grand Hughes has forecasted an even busier 2026 NBA trade deadline, which could include two former MVPs, a perennial All-Star, and a former Most Improved Player of the Year finalist.
Hughes listed LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Trae Young, Jonathan Kuminga and Coby White as five stars who will “get all the attention” ahead of the 2026 deadline.
The writer explained why the “Greek Freak” may want out of the Milwaukee Bucks despite the franchise’s aggressiveness in the 2025 offseason. The Bucks waived and stretched the injured Damian Lillard to open cap room, which they used to sign Myles Turner, a quality center who started in the 2025 NBA Finals for the Indiana Pacers.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status as a deadline trade candidate worth monitoring has nothing to do with his tendency to be non-committal. It’s all about the on-the-ground reality for his Milwaukee Bucks,” wrote Hughes.
Bucks on the Clock with Giannis
“…Despite valiant efforts, Milwaukee hasn’t built a title threat this season. The Bucks got their ring in 2021 and don’t seem capable of earning another with Giannis as the focal point. As that becomes clearer this season, trade chatter will intensify.”
As for James, Hughes argued that the Lakers — despite a strong offseason of their own — haven’t done enough to compete with Western Conference powerhouses such as the Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets and Timberwolves, and risk losing the 23-year veteran. After James excercised his player option for the 2025-26 season, he made it clear via statement that he plans to pursue a championship during his time left in the NBA.
“Though his $53 million salary and outsized presence make trade scenarios tricky, James’ status as a ring-chasing star with an expiring contract requires that he be seriously viewed as a candidate to move at the deadline. Excluding him [from the list] would be a major oversight,” wrote Hughes.
Trae Young, Hawks to Part Ways?
James, who owns a no-trade clause, has all the leverage, but the Lakers could be keen to move on from him, argued Hughes.
“Coming off a sixth-place finish in MVP voting and his 21st consecutive All-NBA season, LeBron can obviously still impact winning at the highest level.
“James may want to control his destiny via a trade request, and from the Lakers’ perspective, it’d make sense to get something for him if the alternative is losing him for nothing in free agency.”
Young and the Hawks could be close to ending their six-year partnership as well. According to ESPN’s Mark Spears, Young, who is on an expiring contract, is reportedly unhappy with the Hawks for not offering him an extension this offseason.
“What I’m hearing now, at this point— you can tell by Trae’s Tweet, and I saw him during the Finals— I think he’s disappointed that it hasn’t come, it hasn’t been offered,” Spears said.
“So don’t be surprised if he plays this out, and sees what happens next summer.”
As for Kuminga and White, Hughes explained why both players are unlikely to survive their current situations. While Kuminga could be forced to play on his qualifying offer, White is on the last year of a budget-friendly contract that the Bulls may want to move.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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