Yossi Gozlan has begun laying the groundwork for how the 2026 NBA trade deadline could unfold, releasing the first part of an in-depth, team-by-team breakdown on The Third Apron.
The project is designed to map out potential trade pieces and strategic objectives for all 30 franchises well in advance of deadline season, offering an early look at how front offices might approach roster decisions.
Using the Kings as one example, Gozlan sorts Sacramento’s players into different tiers based on how realistic a move might be.
Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder are viewed as the most likely to be dealt, fitting the profile of movable contracts and situational fits for other teams.
A second group, which includes Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, and DeMar DeRozan, falls into a middle ground where trades are seen as plausible but far from guaranteed.
At the other end of the spectrum, Gozlan points to Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis as players Sacramento is far less inclined to move.
Their larger contracts and central roles on the roster make trades involving them more complicated and less probable, at least under current conditions.
The broader goal of Gozlan’s guide is not to predict exact outcomes, but to frame the landscape teams will be navigating as the deadline approaches.
Trade Rumors: Castle, Suns, Raptors, Davis, Kings https://t.co/u2YJg3hIMG pic.twitter.com/GCXn6l1JUr
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