2025-26 NBA trade rumors: Lakers look for defense, Bucks eye Zach LaVine addition
With front office personnel leaving Orlando and the G League Showcase, trade talks are now in full swing across the league. Let’s break down some of the latest championship talk.
Bucks are looking to add Zach LaVine
While most fans (and many content producers) are heading to the trade machines looking for ways to get Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee, the Bucks are “desperately looking” for ways to bring in talent, reinvigorate the 11-18 team and make Antetokounmpo happy (or, at least, less unhappy).
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Enter Zach LaVine, reports NBA insider Chris Hayneswho reported the following:
“The Milwaukee Bucks are desperate, looking at the trade market to see if they can bring in a difference-making type of player. Sources have reported that they are probing the market, and one of the guys I’ve identified is Zach LaVine of the Sacramento Kings.”
Although LaVine is available, there have been no serious talks between the parties, Hayes reports. It would be a tough trade to construct because LaVine makes $47.5 million this season, would likely require Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and others out of Milwaukee (and maybe a third team involved).
Whether or not this specific deal comes to fruition shows the mindset of Milwaukee’s front office: They don’t trade Antetokounmpo unless he demands it and forces them to, and instead they want to be buyers at the deadline.
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The Lakers are focusing on defensive wings Jones and Ellis
“Being able to contain the basketball is probably the hardest thing for our team right now,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of his team’s point-of-attack defense after the Spurs eliminated the Lakers from the NBA Cup, a game in which San Antonio’s young guards blew past their defenders, touched the paint and shot or sprayed out for an open 3-pointer.
This is why the Lakers are focusing a lot on defensive wings, especially good 3&D wings, Dan Woike of The Athletic reports. The challenge is that there are not many of these players and all 29 other teams are also interested in them.
The Pelicans’ Herb Jones is at the top of the list, but all reports out of New Orleans say the asking price for him (or Trey Murphy III) is extremely high (the Pelicans don’t really want to trade either). Like Woike saidthe Pelicans “have signaled to interested teams that they are not entertaining trades for Herbert Jones – at least not at any cost the Lakers might face.”
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Also available is Sacramento’s Keon Ellis, a disruptive perimeter defender but a limited ball-handler and not strong enough to transition to bigger forwards on defense. Even though Ellis is attracting more interest from other teams than the Kings’ three big stars, he is a controversial figure among scouts, and it may be telling that both of the last two Kings coaches – Mike Brown and Doug Christie – have limited his minutes.
Other defensive wings may be available – Derrick Jones Jr. (Clippers), Terrance Mann (Nets), Andrew Wiggins (Heat) – but the Lakers can trade a first-round pick, a second-round pick and find a matching salary (likely starting with Gabe Vincent), and the question becomes: Will it be enough?
The Nets make Michael Porter Jr. available.
Brooklyn was expected to be active at the trade deadline, in part because it has more cap space than any other team and is likely a third team to help facilitate any big trades.
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However, they are trying to make one themselves and are testing the market for Michael Porter Jr., reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line. It’s not just Porter, the Nets are “willing to listen to proposals from the majority of their veteran players,” including Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton, Terance Mann and others.
Porter Jr. averages 25.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 40% from 3-point range: he can help many teams’ attacks. Porter Jr. is making $38.3 million this season and will be guaranteed $40.8 million next season in the final year of his contract.
Consider Porter Jr. the name to watch for teams looking to make a big splash at the deadline and improve their playoff chances.
Warriors keeping an eye on Gafford, Claxton
While the Warriors are reportedly patiently watching the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation (though building a trade that works with the Bucks is nearly impossible at the deadline), what they really want is a rim-protecting big man, NBA insider Chris Haynes reports on NBA coverage on Amazon’s Prime.
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Specifically, the Warriors are targeting three players: Daniel Gafford (Mavericks), Nic Claxton (Nets) and Robert Williams (Trail Blazers).
“Look at the Warriors: rebounding and blocks, they’re in the bottom half of the league,” Haynes said on the broadcast. “And the spots in the area are the last dead. So they’re looking for a sports center…
“Those are three names that are on the Golden State Warriors’ target list to try to bring in a run-blocking, shot-blocking defender. I’ve been told they’re really serious and trying to do everything they can to try to get the team back to the caliber of a championship contender type.”
Guerschón Yabusele
The Knicks signed Greek Guerschon Yabusele last summer, with the big man coming off a solid season for the 76ers. It didn’t work out as expected, so the Knicks are now open to trading him. James Edwards III reports to The Athletic.
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Yabusele hasn’t found a comfort zone with the Knicks this season, averaging 3 points per game on 39.4% shooting (30.6% from beyond the arc). That doesn’t attract many suitors, as Edwards notes.
Several league executives believe the Knicks would have to attach something to Yabusele to have a chance to move him before the deadline. Aside from what New York does or doesn’t do with Yabusele, the franchise has long explored the possibility of adding another ballhandler and/or frontcourt player, according to league sources.
Something to keep an eye on as we get closer to the deadline.
Coby White
Among the names most mentioned as trade talks intensify is Chicago point guard Coby White.
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There are a number of teams looking for point guard help that aren’t interested in big-name/big-spending players (Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball), and White could be the best of the next tier of players. White has been good for the Bulls this season, averaging 21.2 points and 5.2 assists per game, but he shoots 29.8% from 3-point range (he has a career 36.7% from deep) and is a downfield defender. However, it is required.
In his substack, Marc Stein reported that this “doesn’t mean they’ll actually move him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, but the Bulls have left the impression with rival teams inquiring about White that they’re more open to trading White than they’ve ever been.”
Just something to look at in the future.
Monk Malik
Monk hasn’t been a key part of Doug Christie’s rotation in Sacramento as of late, but some teams believe a change of scenery would benefit him and he could work as a sixth man.
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The Kings have made Monk available, reports Chris Haynes.
The Kings have made virtually everyone except Keegan Murray available via trade, they are one of the big sellers at the deadline, but it remains to be seen how much interest there is in Monk, an injured Domantas Sabonis and others (Keon Ellis is the only name drawing much interest).