With the NBA trade deadline looming on February 5, the market is heating up - but not in the way you'd expect. Right now, there are more teams looking to offload players than there are buyers, which means the next two weeks could be filled with creative roster shuffling.
As always, looming free agency and cap considerations tend to force hands. Here are five names to watch closely - players who could be on the move before the buzzer sounds.
1. Ayo Dosunmu | Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have already made their call at point guard, locking in Josh Giddey long-term and riding a strong season from Tre Jones, who’s under contract through 2028. That leaves Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White both heading into free agency this summer - and it’s unlikely Chicago keeps both.
When you look at the numbers, Dosunmu’s $7.5 million salary is a lot more movable than White’s $12.9 million. That makes him a prime trade chip.
He’s a solid two-way guard who can provide value to a playoff team looking for backcourt depth without breaking the bank. If the Bulls are leaning toward re-signing White - or even pivoting entirely - Dosunmu could be suiting up somewhere else by February 6.
2. Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers
Mathurin is putting up the best numbers of his young career - 17.8 points, 5.5 boards, and 2.2 assists per game - and he’s started every contest he’s played this season. But despite that production, his role during the Pacers’ Finals run was anything but consistent. He had a couple of standout performances, including two games with 24+ points, but also saw his minutes dip below 15 in other key moments.
At 23, Mathurin still has plenty of upside, but Indiana’s roster construction could make him expendable. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard are already locked in through 2028, and the Pacers are staring at a major void in the middle after losing Myles Turner to Milwaukee in free agency. If Indiana wants to address its center need - say, by targeting someone like Yves Missi in New Orleans - Mathurin could be the asset that gets a deal done.
3. Chris Paul & Bogdan Bogdanovic | Los Angeles Clippers
Neither Paul nor Bogdanovic has seen the floor in weeks - Paul was sent home in December, and Bogdanovic has been sidelined since December 26 with a lingering hamstring issue. But the Clippers’ motivation to move them goes beyond playing time.
L.A. needs to convert two-way players Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller to standard contracts if they want them eligible for the postseason. That means clearing roster spots - and cap space.
The Clippers are just over $1 million away from the hard cap, so they’re walking a tightrope financially. Packaging Paul or Bogdanovic (or both) with a draft pick - and potentially including young guard Kobe Brown - could help them pull off a two- or three-for-one deal that balances the books and solidifies the rotation.
4. Anfernee Simons | Boston Celtics
Simons has been a sneaky-good addition for Boston this season. Acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade last summer, he’s giving the Celtics 13.9 points per game while shooting a scorching 40% from three. His 39-point explosion off the bench in a win over Miami last week reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be.
But there’s a catch: Simons is an unrestricted free agent this summer and making $25 million this season. That’s a hefty price tag for a bench scorer, especially if the Celtics believe Jayson Tatum could return from his Achilles injury. Boston could look to flip Simons for frontcourt help, particularly if they think they can get similar scoring punch elsewhere or want to avoid losing him for nothing in July.
5. Dorian Finney-Smith | Houston Rockets
Finney-Smith has barely gotten off the bench since returning from a preseason injury on Christmas Day. That’s not necessarily an indictment of his play - it’s more a reflection of Houston’s depth at the forward spots. What the Rockets do need is backcourt help, especially with Fred VanVleet sidelined.
Finney-Smith’s contract - $12.7 million this season, $13.3 million in 2026-27 - is mostly non-guaranteed moving forward, which makes him an attractive piece for teams looking for veteran help without long-term commitment. He started 20 games for the Lakers last season, bringing reliable defense and spacing. If Houston wants to rebalance its roster and bring in a guard, Finney-Smith could be the piece that helps make that happen.
Bottom line: The trade deadline always brings surprises, but these five players are in situations that make movement more likely than not. Whether it’s cap flexibility, positional needs, or looming free agency, the pressure is mounting - and the next two weeks could reshape more than a few playoff races.