The 5 NBA stars most likely to change teams in the 2025/26 season

While the NBA keeps its focus on Milwaukee and the potential earthquake that would be Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure, the reality is that the big move could take a while—or simply never come. Meanwhile, the market is shifting, front offices are working behind the scenes, and there are several names that, due to contractual context or sporting situation, seem much more likely to change teams before the deadline.

With the season just getting started, a group of players is emerging whose current situation suggests they will be wearing different colors sooner rather than later.

First on that list is Cam Thomas, the voracious scorer from the Brooklyn Nets, who decided to bet on himself by signing his one-year, six-million-dollar qualifying offer, a move as unusual as it is significant. The decision grants him total agency in 2025 as an unrestricted free agent, but also represents implicit pressure on the franchise: if Brooklyn does not plan to commit long-term to him, they will have to move him before he walks away for free. The shooting guard averages 22.9 points in the last two seasons, although he is coming off a year interrupted by injuries. With a no-trade clause included in his QO, Thomas will choose his destination... and he will do so with the conviction of finding a team where his offensive talent is a central piece.

In Chicago, the rebuilding process has ceased to be theory and has become a firm road map. After the recent departures of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and earlier Alex Caruso, the veteran Nikola Vučević seems the next logical step. At 35 years old, he continues to put up star numbers—21.5 points and 11 rebounds in the early games of the season—but for a Bulls team that has already turned the page, his value now lies in the return he can provide in a trade.

The case of Dalton Knecht with the Los Angeles Lakers points to a quick resolution. The 2024 rookie was already involved in a trade last year—only undone by the failed medical assessment of Mark Williams—and has started this season practically sidelined from the rotation. Between a DNP-CD and barely seven minutes in his second appearance, the message is clear: the franchise does not see him as part of their immediate future. His name fits as trade currency in any attempt by the Lakers to reconfigure the team around LeBron and Davis.

In Utah, the focus is split between two interior pieces that have been a recurring topic in rumors. On one hand, Walker Kessler, an elite shot-blocker and defensive differential since joining the league, did not reach an extension agreement before the deadline and is heading towards restricted free agency in the summer. For a transitioning franchise like the Jazz, getting ahead of the market and capitalizing on his value through a trade seems a reasonable path... especially if a contender is looking to urgently strengthen its frontcourt.

On the other hand, Lauri Markkanen, who begins a four-year, 195 million extension, also appears on the radar. Although coming off a season below his previous peak, his profile—seven-foot shooter, offensive creation, and versatility—remains a premium catch in a league obsessed with spacing and scoring forwards. If a franchise is willing to pay the price Utah deems fair, the end of his tenure in Salt Lake City would not be a surprise.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las 5 estrellas de la NBA que más opciones tienen de cambiar de equipo en esta temporada 2025/26