Five NBA players most likely to be traded this offseason, from Zion Williamson to Bradley Beal

The NBA offseason is here, as 29 teams look to build their teams to unseat the Thunder at the top of the mountain.

So far, some big trades have already been reported, as Kevin Durant is headed to the Rockets while Desmond Bane is going to the Magic. Still, plenty of other players could be on the move this summer, including some former All-Stars.

Here’s a look at five players who are most likely to be traded before the start of the 2025-26 season.

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NBA trade candidates 2025

Zion Williamson

Williamson’s career has been a rollercoaster, as the former No. 1 overall pick has shown both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When healthy, he’s a unique talent who averages 24.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, but he’s missed at least 52 games in four of six seasons, including the entirety of 2021-22.

After making the playoffs in two of the past three seasons, the Pelicans won just 21 games last year and now have new leadership in their front office with Joe Dumars. Williamson’s relationship with New Orleans has perhaps eroded, which may give the Pelicans an excuse to start fresh.

The 25-year-old Williamson has three years and around $126 million left on his contract, so teams would have to be comfortable with his deal to acquire him. On top of that, Williamson is dealing with a lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault, so that’s another factor that could keep some teams away.

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Lauri Markkanen

Markkanen might be one of the league’s most underrated players, as he’s averaged 23.0 points and 7.7 rebounds with the Jazz since 2022. However, he played for the league’s worst team last year and has missed 63 games over the past two seasons with injuries.

As the Jazz rebuild, they may look to offload their best player for more future assets, as Markkanen is in the prime of his career at 28. However, the sweet-shooting 7-footer has four years and $195 million left on his contract, which is a deal that could turn some teams off.

Markkanen’s already been traded twice in his career, first from the Bulls to the Cavaliers in 2021 then from Cleveland to the Jazz in 2022. Another could be in the cards, especially after Utah used the No. 5 pick in this year’s draft on Ace Bailey.

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John Collins

The second Jazz player on this list, Collins played in just 40 games last year but still averaged 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. The 27-year-old spent the first six years of his career with the Hawks before being traded to Utah in 2023.

Collins is a true rental, as he recently picked up a player option for over $26 million for next season. While that will limit Collins’ potential return, Utah doesn’t have much incentive to keep him while they rebuild for the future. Collins’ unique skillset as a near-40-percent 3-point shooter last year should appeal to plenty of contenders.

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Cam Johnson

It was a bit surprising when Johnson wasn’t traded midseason, as the 28-year-old wing was in the middle of a career year on a rebuilding Nets team. After Brooklyn added five new players in the first round of the NBA Draft alone, Johnson’s spot on the roster isn’t as necessary as last year.

The forward averaged 18.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 57 games last year as the top offensive option, but he could serve well as a support player on a more competitive team. His contract is also pretty reasonable, as he is set to make just over $42 million total through the next two seasons. He’s the exact type of 3-and-D wing contending teams are looking for.

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Bradley Beal

The Bradley Beal era in Phoenix hasn’t gone as planned, with the Suns failing to get much production out of their big-name guard. Beal has played in 106 games with the Suns over two years, averaging just 17.6 points per game while dealing with a variety of injuries.

It’s no secret that Phoenix wants off of Beal’s contract, as the guard is due over $53 million next year with a $57 million player option for 2026-27. The question becomes, is there a team willing to take on Beal’s contract knowing Beal hasn’t been worth his salary in Phoenix? Better yet, is Beal willing to waive his no-trade clause if the Suns find a willing partner? Either way, Phoenix will be aggressive trying to move him, and despite his struggles, he still shot the 3-ball at a 38.6-percent clip last year.