At the start of this NBA season, there’s been a lot of trade speculation involving star players like Anthony Davis, Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but no major deals have materialized yet. This is primarily due to a rule that limits trading newly signed free agents until December 15, which means many players can’t be moved early in the season because teams can’t match salaries for large trades.
However, this Monday, the trade landscape shifts significantly as 77 players who signed free agent contracts this offseason, making up around 17% of NBA rosters, become trade-eligible. Notable names on this list include James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle, Myles Turner, Fred VanVleet, Damian Lillard, and Bradley Beal, among many others. Players are eligible based on their cap hits for the 2025-26 season.
There are a few exceptions: 11 players who used Bird or Early Bird rights to re-sign with their original teams and received raises over 20% must wait until January 15 to be traded. Additionally, nine players who inked veteran contract extensions with raises or salary changes greater than 5% can only be traded six months after signing, which means some won’t be trade-eligible until early next year. Golden State Warriors’ players like Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton fall into this group, with specific trade eligibility dates depending on when they signed their contracts.
Certain players, such as Toumani Kamara, AJ Green, PJ Washington, and Aaron Nesmith, signed extensions after August 5, limiting their trade ability throughout the entire season due to a six-month rule. Also, designated veteran “supermax” contract holders can’t be traded for one calendar year after signing, which includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Some players also have no-trade clauses, allowing them to veto any trade; currently, LeBron James and Damian Lillard explicitly hold such clauses. Others who re-signed on short contracts may have implied no-trade clauses they can waive. A total of 15 players this offseason fall into this category, and nine rookies signed contract extensions with complex salary matching rules that can make trades difficult under the 2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In summary, December 15 marks the beginning of a busy trading period, with a wide range of players becoming available, though some will face different restrictions or waiting periods.
Fan Take: This trade eligibility update is crucial for NBA fans because it opens the door for potentially transformative trades that could reshape team dynamics and playoff races. The influx of trade-eligible players means we might soon see big moves that reignite excitement and strategic maneuvering in the league.
