The NBA trade deadline is approaching
The deadline for making trades in the NBA is February 5th at 3 p.m. ET. At Alofoke Deportes, we keep you informed of all the news and rumors shaking up the league, as the 2025-26 season enters its most exciting phase. The current season is already full of drama. From the departure of an All-Star from his team to stars evaluating their options, surprises are the order of the day. Although no major transfer has yet been finalized, the movement season began on December 15, with almost 90% of the players eligible to be transferred. Activity in the transfer market will only intensify as we approach the deadline. Here’s the latest news, rumors, and reactions from our NBA experts, with the most recent information:- 30 key questions
- Who can be transferred?
- Transactions
- Depth charts
- Additional coverage on the transfer deadline
December 31st
Hoop Collective: Impact of Jokic’s injury and LeBron’s All-Star possibilities
Recent Episodes of the ‘Hoop Collective’ Podcast
December 30th
Side Effects of Jokic’s Knee Injury
The Denver Nuggets will have to do without Nikola Jokic for at least four weeks due to a hyperextension in his left knee. Jokic’s absence is a hard blow for Denver. The three-time NBA MVP was in the midst of an extraordinary season, averaging 29.9 points, 12.4 rebounds and 11.1 assists per game. With Jokic on the court, the Nuggets have a differential of +12.3 points per 100 possessions, but without him, the team drops to -6.3. Although Denver can count on Jonas Valanciunas, his arrival is not enough. In addition, the Nuggets already had important casualties, which poses challenges for the team. Beyond the immediate impact on Denver’s alignment, Jokic’s injury has broader consequences:- MVP and other awards races: Jokic’s injury practically ensures his streak in the MVP voting will end. In addition, he joins a list of stars at risk of missing out on consideration for MVP, All-NBA, and Defensive Player of the Year.
- Denver’s trade deadline: The Nuggets are not expected to make big moves in the trade market due to Jokic’s injury.
- Playoff race in the West: Jokic’s injury could have a big impact on the rest of the teams in the West.
Stock Report: Steve Kerr’s Latest Comments, Offensive Issues, and Potential Trades
December 29th
What are Cleveland’s options before the deadline?
Koby Altman, Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations, is aware of the financial challenges facing his team.The Cavs could face their first obstacle in the 2027 offseason, when Donovan Mitchell can become a free agent if he doesn’t sign an extension this summer and then declines his $53.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season. In the immediate future, what options does Cleveland have to improve a team that is currently one game above .500 after leading the Eastern Conference last season with 64 wins? Considering the $394 million price tag in salaries and luxury tax penalties, Altman and his office have two options before the February 5th deadline. Cleveland can choose to be patient and wait for an improvement in the team’s health. After using only 23 different starting lineups last season, Cleveland already has 17 in the first 33 games of the season. The second path, and more challenging, is to explore a trade. Cleveland is the only team above the second salary cap this season, which puts obstacles in its way. Cleveland is not allowed to receive more salary, add contracts, or send cash in trades and cannot sign a waived player earning $14.1 million or more. De’Andre Hunter’s trade last season left the Cavs without control over their 2026 first-round pick (the Atlanta Hawks can swap, leaving Cleveland with the San Antonio Spurs’ pick). Their next first-round pick available to trade is in 2031 or 2032. Because the Cavs will likely finish above the second salary cap this season, their 2033 first-round pick will be frozen. Cleveland has four second-round picks available to trade.“The question we will ask ourselves is how to navigate this collective bargaining agreement and the restrictions we have. We have prepared to have a path with the players we have,” Altman told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst before the season.
Koby Altman
With the Boston Celtics’ series of moves this summer as a reminder, there are severe consequences when second apron teams are not of championship caliber. For Cleveland, the clock is ticking. — Bobby Marks
Contents
Hoop Collective: Does Atlanta Need to Make a Move? And Possible AD Trades
The trio analyzed why the transfer market is so difficult this season before ending with the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.“The Mavericks would like to reach an agreement to send Anthony Davis to Atlanta, but Trae Young will not be part of that,” MacMahon said on the podcast.
MacMahon
Recent episodes of the podcast ‘Hoop Collective’ Who could the Bucks target in a trade? Here’s an excerpt from ESPN reporter Jamal Collier’s story on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks that was published on Monday: Multiple team and league sources say the team has been active in the trade market search, holding internal conversations about, among others, Sacramento’s Zach LaVine, for whom they have had interest and opportunities to acquire in the past, and Malik Monk, as well as Portland’s Jerami Grant. However, Horst is faced with fewer resources to execute another blockbuster than ever before. The Bucks only have a first-round pick, either in 2031 or 2032, available to trade. The Bucks have not made that pick available in trade discussions over the past year, and team and league sources do not believe they would now unless it were for a major star. Read the rest of the story here. More Bucks coverage“I suspect the Bucks are going to improve their roster, and they’re going to trade the rest of the draft stuff they have and the salary,” Bontemps said. “Go try to get better, because that’s the only thing they’ve done year after year after year for five, six, seven years.”
Bontemps
December 26th
Howdy Partners: The Latest on the Spurs’ Resurgence and AD’s Future in Dallas
Then, the duo focuses on the latest on the Dallas Mavericks star, Anthony Davis, who has already missed 16 games this season and on Christmas Day suffered a slight groin strain and will miss a few more, according to ESPN sources.“I had someone with the Spurs point out to me that everyone is talking about Stephon Castle as a defender, and for good reason. He’s an All-Defense caliber guy. A lot of people are talking about how Dylan Harper as a freshman is really getting after people,” Wright said. “But De’Aaron Fox is playing the best defense of his career, and they’re having him start against primary guys like Jalen Williams”.
Wright
“We have, what, about five weeks or so until the trade deadline and, [for Dallas] it could come down to… Do we accept a deal that’s less valuable than we’d like or do we wait until the summer? The idea of extending AD this summer, the Mavericks people will tell you: ‘Oh, you know, we haven’t ruled it out.’ I say: ‘OK, you probably should.’ I understand why you say that, but I don’t believe you.” More Spurs coverage More Mavericks coverage“Unfortunately, that just reinforces that AD is not a guy you can count on,” MacMahon said. “This doesn’t help the trade market for him, obviously, because it’s a blatant reminder to the rest of the league as well.
MacMahon
Hoop Collective: Are the Spurs officially contenders?
December 25th
Can the Nuggets make a move to help deal with their injury woes?
The Nuggets are now down three starters, with Cameron Johnson joining Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun on the injured list. Johnson suffered a right knee injury on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, according to sources. The injuries will test the resolve of the Nuggets’ front office, which is led by Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace. For short-term relief, Denver has a roster spot open to sign a player or could wait until January 5th, the first date a team can sign a player to a 10-day contract. The Nuggets also have two trade exceptions ($6.9 million and $5.4 million) available to use in a trade. Because the exceptions were created after July 1st, they can use either exception and still exceed the first salary cap. Denver is $402,000 over the luxury tax, and signing a player or using the exception will put them over. For the fourth consecutive season, the Nuggets are projected to pay a luxury tax penalty. The only thing they don’t have available is draft capital. They sent their last available first-round pick to Brooklyn to acquire Johnson in June and only have two second-round picks. — Bobby Marks More Nuggets coverageDecember 24th
Hoop Collective: How the NBA is addressing tanking and Boston’s potential this season
December 22nd
The Bucks are looking to add players before the trade deadline
The Milwaukee Bucks have lost three consecutive games and are three games away from the last play-in spot in the East. Despite their early-season struggles and speculation about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, Milwaukee is looking to add players before the trade deadline. Multiple teams at the G-League showcase in Orlando confirmed to ESPN that the Bucks have been scouting the league looking for trades that can improve their roster. Milwaukee has a first-round pick available to trade, either in 2031 or 2032. It has a 2026 second-round pick from Utah, but that pick is unlikely to convey because it is protected from numbers 31-55. The Bucks’ roster has a very high salary with Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis earning 77% of their active salary. Turner and Portis signed four- and three-year contracts, respectively, during the offseason. Kuzma has two years ($22.1 million and $20.3 million) left on his contract. Even with the $20.1 million in stretched money from the Damian Lillard move last summer, Milwaukee is $19.5 million below the first salary cap and can recoup salary in a trade. The Bucks are 2-10 when Antetokounmpo hasn’t played this season. — Bobby Marks Rivers: Struggling Bucks don’t need to make major changes NBA Value Team: 15 Players Massively Outperforming Their ContractsHoop Collective: Can the Cavaliers turn their season around? And the OKC stumble
December 19th
Hoop Collective: The first opinion poll on the season’s MVP
December 18th
Giannis says his agent’s conversations with the Bucks are beyond his reach Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told reporters he is “focused” on the Bucks and that any trade conversations are between his agent and the franchise.“At the end of the day, I personally haven’t had the conversation with the Bucks. I’m still focused, focused on my teammates, and most importantly, focused on recovering.” The Bucks have a 1-3 record since Antetokounmpo’s right calf sprain on December 3rd. Mitchell and Mobley are the only ‘untouchables’ on the Cavaliers’ roster Shams Charania of ESPN reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers have received “many incoming calls from their players” as the team’s struggles continue.“If my agent is talking to the Bucks about that, he is his own person. He can have any conversation he wants,” Antetokounmpo told reporters before Thursday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
Antetokounmpo
Next month will influence how aggressive Cleveland is before the trade deadline, according to Charania.“When I talk to rival teams, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are really the two untouchable players on this roster,” Charania said on NBA Today.
Charania
