NBA trade rumors are swirling as 82 players have become trade eligible, according to ESPN’s salary cap expert Bobby Marks. Marks revealed that “82 free agents who signed in the offseason are now eligible to be traded,” with “90% of the 436 players under contract having no trade restrictions.”
However, the remaining 10% have specific trade eligibility dates after Dec. 15. One player who can’t change teams until after the season is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who signed a lucrative four-year, $273.3 million supermax extension with the Thunder in July.
Marks also provided a list of NBA players who can’t be traded on Dec. 15 due to contractual reasons. The list includes players like LeBron James and Damian Lillard, who have no-trade clauses, giving them the power to veto any trade.
Some players, like P.J. Washington, Toumani Camara, A.J. Green, and Aaron Nesmith, have six-month trade restrictions on contracts signed after Aug. 5, making them ineligible for trade before Feb. 5. Most players on the list aren’t trade eligible until Jan. 15, with the significance explained by Marks regarding free agents who signed with their own teams.
Additionally, Marks explained the poison pill provision (PPP) which affects players still on their rookie deals before an extension kicks in. This provision impacts players like Jabari Smith Jr., whose salary would increase significantly for a team that trades for him.
Some players have restrictions called the one-year Bird rights (1YB), where a player can consent to a trade despite having restrictions. Teams can now plan better for potential trades with the availability of players becoming clearer.
As the NBA season progresses, some teams are emerging as contenders while others are heading towards the lottery. With the trade eligibility of players now known, teams can strategize and make moves accordingly.
In conclusion, the NBA trade market is heating up, and with the availability of players becoming clearer, fans can expect some exciting moves in the coming weeks.
