This date transforms the league's trade landscape overnight, as front offices across the NBA can now seriously pursue deals involving players who were previously off-limits. Among the newly available names are some of the biggest stars in basketball, including Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, and Bradley Beal.
Chris Paul tops the List of players expected to move
The most anticipated trade involves Chris Paul, who has been sidelined from the Los Angeles Clippers' rotation and is widely expected to change teams soon. The "Point God" has been waiting in limbo as the Clippers organization held off on making any moves until he became officially trade eligible.
Paul's situation has been one of the most awkward in the league this season. After being pushed out of the rotation, everyone involved has simply been marking time until December 15th arrived. Now that the calendar has flipped, expect the Clippers to actively shop the future Hall of Famer to contending teams looking for veteran leadership and playmaking.
But Paul might not be the only Clipper on the move. Nicolas Batum, Bradley Beal, James Harden, and Brook Lopez all become trade eligible today as well, giving Los Angeles multiple pieces to potentially reshape their roster heading into the second half of the season.
All-stars now available for trade
The list of All-Star caliber players who can now be traded reads like a who's who of NBA talent:
- Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)
- D'Angelo Russell (Dallas Mavericks)
- Fred VanVleet (Houston Rockets)
- Bradley Beal (Los Angeles Clippers)
- James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers)
- Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
- Julius Randle (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
Each of these players represents a potential franchise-altering acquisition for teams looking to make a playoff push or rebuild for the future. The presence of so many high-profile names becoming available simultaneously will create a fascinating trade market over the next seven weeks.
Why December 15th matters
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement includes specific rules about when recently signed players can be traded. Players who sign as free agents typically cannot be moved for three months or until December 15th—whichever comes later. This rule exists to prevent teams from signing players solely to flip them immediately in trades, providing some stability for players changing teams.
Once this date passes, however, the floodgates open. Front offices that have been planning moves since the summer can finally execute their strategies. General managers who have been making preliminary calls for months can now get serious about structuring deals.
The complete list of 77 trade-eligible players
Here's the comprehensive breakdown of all 77 players who become trade eligible today, organized by team:
Atlanta Hawks
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- N'Faly Dante
- Luke Kennard
Boston Celtics
- Chris Boucher
- Luka Garza
- Josh Minott
Brooklyn Nets
- Cam Thomas
- Day'Ron Sharpe
- Ziaire Williams
Charlotte Hornets
- Mason Plumlee
Chicago Bulls
- Tre Jones
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Larry Nance Jr.
Dallas Mavericks
- Dante Exum
- Kyrie Irving
- D'Angelo Russell
Denver Nuggets
- Bruce Brown
- Tim Hardaway Jr.
Detroit Pistons
- Javonte Green
- Caris LeVert
- Duncan Robinson
Houston Rockets
- Clint Capela
- Dorian Finney-Smith
- Jeff Green
- Aaron Holiday
- Josh Okogie
- Jae'Sean Tate
- Fred VanVleet
Los Angeles Clippers
- Nicolas Batum
- Bradley Beal
- James Harden
- Brook Lopez
- Chris Paul
Los Angeles Lakers
- Deandre Ayton
- Jaxson Hayes
- Jake LaRavia
- Marcus Smart
Memphis Grizzlies
- Ty Jerome
- Jock Landale
- Cam Spencer
Miami Heat
- Dru Smith
Milwaukee Bucks
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo
- Cole Anthony
- Amir Coffey
- Gary Harris
- Kevin Porter Jr.
- Bobby Portis
- Taurean Prince
- Jericho Sims
- Gary Trent Jr.
- Myles Turner
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Bones Hyland
- Joe Ingles
- Julius Randle
New Orleans Pelicans
- Kevon Looney
New York Knicks
- Jordan Clarkson
- Landry Shamet
- Guerschon Yabusele
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Ajay Mitchell
Orlando Magic
- Tyus Jones
- Mo Wagner
Philadelphia 76ers
- Justin Edwards
- Eric Gordon
Phoenix Suns
- Collin Gillespie
- Nigel Hayes-Davis
Portland Trail Blazers
- Damian Lillard
- Blake Wesley
Sacramento Kings
- Drew Eubanks
- Doug McDermott
- Dennis Schroder
San Antonio Spurs
- Bismack Biyombo
- Luke Kornett
- Jordan McLaughlin
- Lindy Waters
Toronto Raptors
- Sandro Mamukelashvili
- Garrett Temple
Washington Wizards
- Marvin Bagley
- Anthony Gill
Teams with the most trade flexibility
Looking at the list, several teams stand out for having multiple newly trade-eligible players:
Milwaukee Bucks lead the way with 10 players now available, giving them tremendous flexibility to reshape their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. The presence of veterans like Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., and Myles Turner on this list gives Milwaukee significant trade ammunition.
Houston Rockets have seven players who can now be moved, including All-Star Fred VanVleet and valuable role players like Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith. As a young team trying to take the next step, Houston has options to either add a star or continue building through player development.
Los Angeles Clippers might be the most interesting case with five newly eligible players, including three current or former All-Stars in Chris Paul, James Harden, and Bradley Beal. The Clippers' direction will become much clearer over the next few weeks.
What this means for the trade deadline
The February 5th trade deadline is still nearly two months away, but the real action often begins right now. Teams use December and January to gauge the market, make preliminary offers, and identify which players might actually be available versus which ones are just on paper.
Contending teams will look at this list and identify which players could put them over the top. Rebuilding teams will consider which veterans they can flip for draft picks or young prospects. And teams stuck in the middle will try to figure out which moves might break them out of mediocrity.
The domino effect
The first significant trade involving one of these 77 players could trigger a cascade of moves throughout the league. Once one team makes an aggressive push to improve, others feel pressure to respond. If Chris Paul lands with a contender, that team's competitors might accelerate their own trade discussions.
This is particularly true in the competitive Western Conference, where the gap between the top teams is razor-thin. One strategic acquisition could be the difference between a first-round exit and a championship run.
Players to watch
Beyond the All-Stars, several other players on this list could play important roles in trade deadline moves:
Bruce Brown (Denver): A championship-tested role player who fits on any contending team
Marcus Smart (Lakers): Elite defender and culture-setter available from a struggling Lakers team
Bobby Portis (Bucks): Proven scorer off the bench who could help a contender
Duncan Robinson (Pistons): Sharpshooter who could space the floor for a playoff team
Dennis Schroder (Kings): Experienced guard who could provide backup playmaking
The trade season officially begins
December 15th doesn't just make 77 players available—it marks a psychological shift in the NBA. Front offices move from planning to execution. Trade rumors shift from speculation to legitimate possibilities. And players start checking their phones more frequently, knowing that a trade could happen at any moment.
For fans, it's one of the most exciting times of the year. Every practice report, every lineup change, and every cryptic social media post gets analyzed for clues about potential moves. The next seven weeks will determine which teams emerge as legitimate championship contenders and which ones fall short of their goals.
With Chris Paul almost certainly on the move and numerous other stars now available, the 2025-26 NBA trade season promises to be one of the most active in recent memory. The chess match between front offices has officially begun.