Can you believe this? We haven’t even tipped off the 2026-27 NBA season yet, and already the trade rumors are flying, with names like Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid sitting front and center on the trade block. It’s wild, but that’s just how the league rolls these days. Trade season legit never stops.
Before the season even started, CBS Sports dropped a list of 50 players who make the most sense as potential deadline trade candidates. They’re talking about moves that could happen once Dec. 15 hits, when most 2026 free agents can legally be traded. That also gives teams a couple months of real game action to figure things out. For now, though, we’re just setting the table, and man, the menu looks stacked.
The Big Guns: Davis and Embiid Already on the Radar
First up, Anthony Davis from the Wizards. Dude’s on a monster $58.4 million deal for 2026-27. Why’s he on the list? Simple. Veteran stars in their 30s usually aren’t stoked to hang around young teams, especially when there’s an extension on the table that the team hasn’t offered yet. The Wizards are apparently planning to wait until mid-season to even talk about an extension. If AD stays healthy and plays well, you better believe there’s a market to flip him by February. Golden State is the obvious fit, especially with Kristaps Porzingis already dealing with a medical issue. Any older, smaller team with some ambition could jump on it.
Then there’s Joel Embiid, repping the 76ers with a $57.9 million salary. This one’s a head-scratcher, right? He’s got three supermax years left, but he’s perpetually injured. Plus, the 76ers might just not need his offensive gifts as much as you’d think, given their roster. They might actually prefer a lower-usage center they can trust on defense, and obviously, one they can pay way less. As for where he’d fit, we all heard how much LeBron James supposedly wanted to reunite with Anthony Davis in free agency. Connect those dots yourself. But honestly, a trade there only makes sense if Davis stays healthy and Embiid struggles.
Warriors and Celtics Could Shake Things Up
Jimmy Butler from the Warriors is another massive name, clocking in at $56.8 million. The Warriors are opening the season with more than $80 million in salary sidelined because of health issues. If they want to make a huge, win-now splash, Butler, who’s still recovering from a torn ACL, basically has to be the main money in that deal. Nobody’s really going to proactively trade for Butler at that kind of cap figure, so he’d be part of a bigger package for whoever Golden State is trying to get.
And don’t forget Paul George on the Celtics, with a $54.1 million salary. Brad Stevens, their main guy, apparently said part of the reason for trading Jaylen Brown was not wanting to tie up 70% of the cap in just two players. That move tells you everything about their cap philosophy moving forward.
So, buckle up, folks. Dec. 15 is going to be the date to watch. Are these rumors just noise, or are we about to see some earthquake-level moves in the NBA? This is just the start, and it’s going to be wild to see who actually gets moved and what it means for the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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