Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $269,990,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz

The reigning Finals MVP remains the most valuable player in the league with an excellent start to the season. He is one of the frontrunners for MVP doing a lot of heavy lifting keeping the Nuggets on top despite several injuries. His usage is at a career-high 33.4 percent and while it could go down as the team gets healthier, he may need to continue playing this hard while the Nuggets continue to figure out their bench.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $178,063,200 till 2026-27
Agent: Bill Duffy

Luka Doncic’s statistics might not increase much higher than their current range but he’s still improving as a player. He’s having his most efficient season with a 61.4 true shooting percentage, which is 25th overall among non-centers. He’s delivering in every way he could be asked leading the team to a record currently above Play-In territory. He has what it takes to make a deep playoff run, it’s now on the Mavericks organization to put the right pieces around him to contend for a championship.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $146,363,028 till 2025-26
Agent: Alex Saratsis and Jeff Austin

It seems crazy to say, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s peak basketball days may be coming up now that he’s paired with Damian Lillard. Lillard’s added usage and gravitational pull on opposing defenses is a factor in Antetokounpo’s career highs in both field goal percentage and two-point field goal percentage. His trade value increased now that he extended for an additional three years, giving the Bucks an out to acquire a haul of assets in case they need to blow the team up. 

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $148,386,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Thaddeus Foucher and Joe Smith

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a frontrunner for MVP largely in part to his greatness on offense. He’s also one of the best defensive guards who will have a strong case to make an All-Defensive team (assuming they aren’t dominated by big men). He leads the league in steals with 2.8 per game and is also tied for most deflections with 3.9 per game. If he keeps this up, he will make All-NBA, which would qualify him for a supermax extension he could sign in 2025.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $104,545,020 till 2025-26
Agent: Jeff Wechsler 

Jayson Tatum is undoubtedly a superstar but doesn’t quite get talked about at the levels of some other players around him on this list. Perhaps it is because he’s been very lucky and privileged to have a great front office always putting strong talent around him that has yet to let him miss the playoffs once. His star luster may have fallen off more now that the Celtics have arguably the best roster ever built around him, deflating his scoring and usage. But if needed, he can put up numbers as high as any of the stars in his tier. 

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $55,174,766 till 2026-27
Agent: Bouna Ndiaye

Victor Wembanyama’s ranking this high might feel like an overreaction this early in his career but it might be warranted with the start he’s currently having. The Spurs firmly believe in his potential to be an offensive star with the way they’re feeding him the ball as he currently has the 17th highest usage in the league. It’s only a matter of time before his actual place among the league’s best players is reflective of his sky-high trade value.

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $219,434,817 till 2028-29
Agent: Omar Wilkes

In one of the weaker positions in terms of superstar talent, Anthony Edwards is starting to stand out. With a league-leading 17-4 record, the Timberwolves have been so good as a whole that Edwards hasn’t been required to play too hard on a nightly basis. This team is built for regular season success but he will be their X factor toward making a deep run in the playoffs.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $210,112,000 till 2026-27

It seems like Joel Embiid’s stock is down relative to the league’s elite players despite leading the league in scoring and leading the Sixers to a great start after the James Harden drama. Some of that could be from his lackluster playoff performance last spring after working so hard to win MVP. His name was speculated on last summer as a potential next star to demand a trade but it’s unlikely the Sixers go down that route. They are working multiple avenues to bring in upgrades that complement Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $211,708,435 till 2028-29
Agent: Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn

Tyrese Haliburton is having an offensively dominant season that has made him one of the surprise frontrunners for MVP. The Steve Nash comparisons for his playmaking may be warranted as his 12.1 assists per game are the most since John Stockton’s 1993. He’s also ultra-efficient with a 67.4 true shooting percentage, the best mark among guards, and tied with Stephen Curry. Those marks include 44.1 percent from three on 8.9 attempts per game and 60.9 percent from two also on 8.9 attempts per game. It’s now on the Pacers to put the best possible roster around him to compete at the highest levels.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $260,240,200 till 2027-28
Agent: Mitch Nathan, Jessica Holtz and Melvin Booker.

The Suns completely reshaped their roster largely in part due to their belief in Devin Booker as a superstar. Their model of three stars and mostly minimum players to fill out the roster now requires a lot out of Booker on a nightly basis, especially as a playmaker with no traditional point guard on the roster. He’s delivered so far quietly averaging a career-high 8.2 assists per game and is also having by far his best three-point shooting season. Hopefully, all three of Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal can suit up at the same time soon.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $167,283,649 till 2025-26
Agent: Jeff Austin

Stephen Curry having higher trade value than most other younger All-Stars or players with All-Star potential is a testament to how ageless his game is. Like how LeBron James, he will likely extend his career into his 40s, Curry has the potential to do that as well as long as he continues to shoot at an elite level. The next year or so could be an inflection point for the Warriors as we know them. It seems unlikely that Curry would ever be traded, but significant changes could be made around him if the group around him isn’t as good as it needs to be.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $34,998,008 till 2025-26
Agent: Bill Duffy

Chet Holmgren is not only the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year but also is making a strong case for an All-Defense Team spot. He’s currently third in Defensive EPM, third in blocks per game with 2.4, and holds opponent field goal percentage to 42.2 percent while contesting the second most two-pointers per game. His impact is a massive reason the Thunder are performing as well as they are, and he should receive strong Defensive Player of the Year consideration in the future. Is it too early to say he might go first overall in a 2022 NBA re-draft?

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $34,824,000 till 2025-26
Agent: Mike Miller 

There was concern that Paolo Banchero’s progress could stall this year as many players who had great rookie seasons do in their sophomore years. That hasn’t been the case for him as he’s made significant strides in improving his efficiency in field goal and three-point percentage. He has provided a massive impact on Orlando’s 15-7 start to the season and second-ranked defense.

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $194,300,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Jim Tanner

Ja Morant’s trade value has slipped significantly in these rankings but to still be this high is a reminder of just how talented he is. The Grizzlies are off to a dreadful start mostly due to injuries and roster decisions letting key role players go, but they also really miss Morant. They will need to get on a run soon if they’re going to have a realistic shot at making the playoffs when he returns.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $260,950,320 till 2027-28
Agent: Rich Paul

Anthony Davis’ value has slowly crept up as he continues to put up one of his most consistently great and healthy stretches in some time. He’s on track to make an All-NBA team and is finally in serious contention for Defensive Player of the Year if he manages to stay on the floor. His shooting from outside the paint has been concerning, but other than that he’s been everything the Lakers needed to get well above .500.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $105,668,960 till 2025-26
Agent: Ty Sullivan and Austin Brown

Aside from a dip in overall shooting efficiency, Donovan Mitchell has been mostly on par this season with last year’s. The Cavaliers still have a Top 10 defense but their slower-than-expected start has been a product of their Bottom 10 offense, poor bench, and high turnover rate, which has been the case even when the team is mostly healthy. Mitchell’s name could be in trade rumors again if Cleveland doesn’t meet expectations.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $20,110,297 till 2024-25
Agent: Thaddeus Foucher and Joe Smith

Evan Mobley remains one of the most impactful regular season defenders anchoring Cleveland’s defense. He’s shooting 72.2 percent on shots within five feet from the basket, eighth among players who attempt at least five per game from the range, but can’t sore much beyond there. His lack of significant progress offensively could weigh on his overall outlook if he can’t reasonably stretch the floor, but his trade value being this high is an indicator of a strong belief that he will get there.

Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $18,139,660 till 2024-25
Agent: Bill Duffy

Scottie Barnes was starting to cause some concern when he stalled last season after a great rookie year. He put them to rest with his play this season reminding us he has the makings of the two-way star he showed promise for two years ago. He now has a credible three-point shot with a 38.3 percent clip on 5.2 attempts per game and is a stronger playmaker averaging the seventh most assists per game among non-point guards. Barnes’ potential and development put the Raptors in a great position to potentially blow up the roster and retool their roster around their future star.

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $4,343,920 till 2023-24
Agent: Rich Paul

The Tyrese Maxey All-Star campaign went into effect once James Harden got traded, but not many expected the All-NBA caliber start to the season he’s having. He’s been able to keep his true shooting percentage right around 60 percent despite the added usage from Harden’s departure. With two stars in Maxey and Joel Embiid who need the ball so much, all the Sixers need is to add defensive versatility and athleticism to the wing spots to round out their roster. Maxey will certainly receive a maximum contract this summer if he keeps this up.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $153,537,061 till 2025-26
Agent: Rich Kleiman

Kevin Durant’s prime appears ageless as he continues to play at an All-NBA level in his 17th season. The Suns appear like they will get their value’s worth from trading a haul for him if he continues to play without any discernable dropoff to his game. Phoenix is playing him heavily and justifiably so with all their injuries to their other stars. Hopefully, he’s able to play significantly more than the 58 games he’s averaged over the past three seasons.

Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $104,545,020 till 2025-26
Agent: Alex Saratsis

Bam Adebayo has made significant progress on the offensive end to help the Heat get on a strong early run to the season. His aggressiveness to take shots outside of the rim and make them at a good rate has given the Heat a clear second and often first go-to option on offense. His transformation into a two-way star has elevated his value and could be in play for a supermax extension this summer if he makes an All-NBA team this season.

Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $216,201,799 till 2026-27
Agent: Aaron Goodwin

The overall market for Damian Lillard was limited last summer largely due to his sole preference to join the Miami Heat. That worked in Milwaukee’s favor as they were able to acquire him for a pretty solid price relative to what other star players have gone for recently. He continues to play at the high level he left off from last season and should maintain strong value over the remainder of his contract.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $8,960,934 till 2024-25
Agent: Sean Kennedy 

There’s an alternate reality where the Rockets successfully signed Brook Lopez with their cap space last summer. Luckily for them, that fell through since it would’ve marginalized Alperen Sengun and the massive strides he’s made this season. He’s finally becoming the offensive machine that he has shown potential for, especially his playmaking, which has drawn comparisons with Nikola Jokic. He’s been Houston’s most valuable player in their solid start to the season and is one of the frontrunners for Most Improved Player.

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $104,545,020 till 2025-26
Agent: Rich Paul

De’Aaron Fox’s performance so far this season is proof that last year’s career season is no fluke and that this level of play is here to stay. If anything, he’s taken yet another leap as an offensive player. He’s fourth in the league in averaging 30.5 points per game and has developed a credible three-pointer hitting 36.9 percent on 8.1 attempts per game. He’s the biggest driver in Sacramento’s success and is on track to make another All-NBA team and qualify for the supermax.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $12,515,812 till 2024-25
Agent: Jason Glushon

Franz Wagner’s numbers this season may not jump out as a significant improvement, but that shouldn’t take away from his overall impact on Orlando’s early success. He aims to be a great all-around player on both ends and has the talent around him to focus on playing and developing at his own pace. He will be a very valuable player for years to come and should be on track to earn a maximum-level extension offer this summer.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $194,300,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Austin Brown

Zion Williamson is looking like he may have his healthiest season yet but he’s not playing at the level the Pelicans need from him. He’s having his worst shooting performance from the field and often looks lost when playing off the ball. The Pelicans will need more from him if they’re going to break well above .500. His conditioning has become an issue again which may be playing into his lack of consistently great nights. If it doesn’t improve, we could reach a boiling point where we learn what Williamson’s value is on the trade market.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $146,396,031 till 2025-26
Agent: Bernie Lee 

Jimmy Butler continues to be the league’s stealthiest star with one of the best regular season to playoff performance disparities. What he does in the regular season has zero barring on his value in the league as long as he keeps sending the Heat to the Conference Finals regularly. Age-related regression was a concern with him when he signed a maximum extension with the Heat two years ago, but he has only gotten better since. Butler’s value is priceless as long as he continues to play like a top-10 player when it matters most.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $216,800,635 till 2028-29
Agent: Raymond Brothers

LaMelo Ball continues to make strides offensively and now is a legitimate high-volume three-point shooting option for the second year in a row. He remains one of the best distributors in the league although he eventually will need to stop turning it over as much. His brilliance may be overlooked as long as the Hornets continue to mismanage the situation around him. They have him locked up for the next five years but it will be challenging to put a contender around him after whiffing on several draft picks over the years.

Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $214,016,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Greg Lawrence and Jason Ranne

The Domantas Sabonis trade will continue to be reexamined if Tyrese Haliburton’s early rise in the MVP debate becomes a consistent development each season. Either way, the Kings organization and fans are more than happy with the trade as Sabonis has delivered so far to help the team be good and relevant. With the Kings looking like a perennial playoff team going forward, the next step in his game is translating his regular season performance into playoff success. His newly extended contract could hurt his trade value in the long term, but he seems likely to stay in Sacramento for the foreseeable future.

Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $76,266,668 till 2025-26
Agent: Aaron Mintz and Sam Rose

In the same way Kings fans will always be fond of Domantas Sabonis for coming in and ending a long drought of relevance, Jalen Brunson is a symbol of a new promising era for the Knicks. He’s no longer just a great point guard whose value is carried by his bargain contract – he’s a Top 10 point guard among a crowded and competitive bunch. And he’s still not satisfied with his game. The biggest development this season is expanding his three-pointer shooting 44.1 percent on 6.8 attempts per game. The Knicks have an All-Star guard whose game has translated well into the playoffs who will be eligible this offseason to extend for up to four years, $157 million.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $178,063,200 till 2026-27
Agent: Omar Wilkes

Trae Young’s stock seems like it has gone down significantly over the past year in both his trade value and where he stacks among the best players today. He got over an early-season shooting slump and continues to put up the high-scoring and distributing numbers we’re accustomed to. Is the roster around him not good enough, or is it proving to be exceedingly difficult to build a contender around him with his defensive deficiencies? His name was floated in trade rumors last summer, and the more the Hawks continue to be middling, the closer we could get to an actual trade. It will be interesting to know what the Hawks could get for him considering he was closer to the Top 10 range in these rankings last season.

Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $94,427,760 till 2024-25

Kawhi Leonard’s biggest obstacle since becoming a Clipper is health, but he’s now prioritizing his availability and aims to play the majority of the season. His overall numbers are slightly down but he’s gotten closer to the form we’re accustomed to in recent weeks as the Clippers continue to integrate James Harden. These next few weeks will be critical for their chances of breaking above the Play-In. Even if they flounder toward the Play-In or even the lottery, the Clippers remain committed to this group going forward. In the event the Clippers decide to blow up the roster, Leonard’s pedigree and ability to turn it up in the playoffs should keep enough teams interested to net them a haul.

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $35,304,543 till 2024-25
Agent: Michael Lelchitski

Lauri Markkanen’s ascent from a pretty good role player to a legitimate All-Star was one of the most surprising Most Improved Player developments in recent memory. His performance so far this season is showing that this version of him is here to stay as he’s pretty much exactly on par with his numbers from last year. His name could be in trade rumors since the Jazz are rebuilding and they could get a strong return for him. However, they already are an asset-rich team that doesn’t need to acquire more draft picks and just needs to focus on identifying the right players and developing them. Markkanen seems likely to be a part of the next great Jazz team and could renegotiate and extend his contract this summer.

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $260,240,200 till 2027-28
Agent: Mitch Nathan and Jessica Holtz

The perception of Karl-Anthony Towns fell on the heels of signing a supermax extension and following it up with an injury-riddled season where the Timberwolves fell well below expectations. But now the theory of this team is coming to fruition with Towns having his awesome shooting splits while helping Minnesota maintain the league’s best defense. There was a lot of pressure heading into the season for the Wolves to have a strong season or major changes could come, with Towns being the logical candidate to be moved. If they keep homecourt advantage and win a playoff series, something they haven’t done in two decades, ownership will be compelled to spend whatever it takes to keep this group together.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $69,900,000 till 2025-26
Agent: Sam Goldfeder, Jordan Gertler and Jeff Schwartz

Mikal Bridges’ transformation from a tertiary offensive option to a potentially great first-scoring option while defending at a high level has allowed the Nets to remain relevant after their recent star exodus. After a middling start to the season, the Nets have now won six of their last seven games where he’s averaging 25.4 points per game on 53.8 shooting from the field and 54.5 percent from three. The Nets have the assets to add another star to pair with Bridges and plenty of time and financial flexibility to build the backend of the roster before he’s due for a new contract. Bridges could go for a lot on the trade market for teams desperate for a wing player like him, but the Nets appear set to build around him.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $94,427,760 till 2024-25
Agent: Aaron Mintz

For Paul George to continue playing at an All-Star level this late into his career is remarkable and perhaps an indication that his prime could extend well into his 30s. He’s been the Clippers’ best player so far this season and this effort will be needed throughout the season to keep them above the Play-In range. Both George and Kawhi Leonard are eligible to extend throughout the season for up to four years, $224 million. Both players are playing hard to secure extensions but even if they hit free agency, expect the Clippers to spend what it takes to re-sign both stars as well as James Harden.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $316,768,929 till 2028-29
Agent: Jason Glushon

Jaylen Brown’s ability to be a top option for a contender was put into question after a turnover-riddled and poor shooting performance in the Eastern Conference Finals. His overall trade value could also be impacted after signing a supermax that will have him earning as much as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis, and his season so far following the extension hasn’t been all that encouraging. Despite his flaws, he’s still one of the best second options out there that most teams would dream to have be their first option. The Celtics will spend whatever it takes to keep this team together as they’re so close to winning a championship.

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $37,893,408 till 2023-24
Agent: Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani

The Raptors may have missed a critical time to trade some of their veterans last season when All-Stars went for historical hauls of assets. The market may have cooled since then, especially with new changes to the CBA that could impact how teams build their rosters and how much they’re willing to spend. Pascal Siakam is still playing at a high level even though his usage has dropped with the Raptors officially becoming Scottie Barnes’ team, but his three-point shooting falling off could be a cause for concern. Siakam could be one of the best players available before this year’s trade deadline, with teams like the Kings, Sixers, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, and several others that make good fits for him.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $69,849,600 till 2024-25
Agent: Mike George and Jeff Schwartz

Like Jimmy Butler, Jamal Murray has one of the best regular season-to-playoffs disparities and performs like a star whenever needed. He bypassed a three-year, $144 million extension with the Nuggets last offseason for the chance to qualify for the supermax extension. So far, his performance hasn’t been at the level required to make an All-NBA team and he’s already at risk of not meeting the 65-game requirement with the amount of time he’s missed. Even if he doesn’t qualify, he seems likely to extend on a regular maximum extension after his contributions toward helping Denver win the 2023 championship.

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $69,849,600 till 2024-25
Agent: Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler

Brandon Ingram also is in his last season of supermax eligibility but so far isn’t in consideration for an All-NBA spot. His three-point shooting remains a sore spot but continues to thrive from mid-range and is on track to have his best two-point shooting season yet. The Pelicans have a deep collection of talent on the roster that could eventually need to be tweaked for its lack of shooting in its starting lineup. We may get to a point where the Pelicans need to decide between Ingram and Zion Williamson to maximize their shooting and spacing, but we’re a ways away from that.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $194,300,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton

Darius Garland continues to play at a high level this season despite a dropoff in his three-point shooting and a big spike in turnovers. The Cavaliers will make the playoffs again but a playoff series win could still be out of their reach with their lack of versatile wing-sized defenders. If they ever need to break up their star guard duo to acquire such a player, it could potentially unlock Garland more in a similar vein to how Tyrese Maxey improved after the Sixers traded James Harden.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $22,374,528 till 2024-25
Agent: Aaron Mintz and Andrew Morrison

The Rockets significantly raised their floor by adding veterans Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. They are on track to at least finish in Play-In territory, but their ability to be better than that rests in Jalen Green as a ceiling raiser. So far, he hasn’t made a meaningful improvement from last season to suggest that the leap is coming just yet. Still, the hope remains high that he plays closer to the level reflective of his second overall selection, and should still hold strong value across the league.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $75,773,395 till 2025-26
Agent: Austin Brown and Maxwell Saidman

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s health concerns appear to finally be in the rear window after a stretch of seasons where he was mostly available. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year hasn’t had a season putting him in the conversation for the award again, but it’s been a rough year for the injury-riddled Grizzlies in general where a lot has been thrust upon Jackson Jr. He still is the same defender he was last year and will have a better opportunity to display that once the team is whole again. For what it’s worth, he’s had a much stronger stretch over the past five games averaging 2.6 blocks per game and leading the Grizzlies to the fifth-best defense.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $201,075,533 till 2028-29
Agent: Jim Tanner

Desmond Bane’s five-year, $207 million extension last offseason raised a lot of eyebrows. It’s a commitment that will put the Grizzlies well above the luxury tax and second apron for the foreseeable future which could complicate building the backend of their roster. On one hand, his performance so far this season as the focal point of the Grizzlies offense in Ja Morant’s absence is very encouraging. The extra on-ball reps and overall improvement should make him more prepared to be a strong second option again once Morant is back.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $76,265,601 till 2024-25
Agent: Jason Glushon

Jrue Holiday’s sudden availability on the trade market was fortunate for the Celtics and put to rest any concerns of not adequately replacing Marcus Smart. Their bet on Kristaps Porzingis proved to be correct and they now have an even better starting center and point guard on both ends of the floor. Holiday is playing with the lowest usage of his career which should keep him fresh for the playoffs. Playing with this much talent around him could extend his prime late into his 30s, and he will be eligible starting on April 1 for what could be his last big extension.

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $44,363,603 till 2026-27

The start of his career in Portland has been unimpressive to say the least, but the 2023 No. 3 overall pick has the potential to fly up this list if he starts to live up to his draft status.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $97,133,373 till 2024-25
Agent: Rich Paul

LeBron James continues to delay Father Time with an All-NBA caliber season in year 21 of his career. He’s currently having his best season shooting from the field, especially from the three-point line since upping his volume to at least five attempts per game in 2017-18. He’s also shooting 62.6 percent from two-point range, which is on par with his most efficient season with the Heat in 2013-14. He may be more likely to retire on his terms than due to a loss of impactful play.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $131,482,759 till 2025-26
Agent: Bouna Ndiaye

Rudy Gobert is back to playing at the level of player we’re familiar with from his Utah days. He’s the current frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year leading the Wolves to the league’s top defense. They lead the league in opponent effective field goal percentage and opponent shooting percentage and are third in opponent points in the paint allowed per game. Gobert’s presence as a paint deterrent is forcing opponents to take the fourth least shots in the restricted area. Does his return to form justify the hefty price the Wolves gave up to trade for him? Probably not, but thankfully he’s back to being exactly the player they paid for.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $15,915,437 till 2025-26
Agent: Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes

Jalen Williams’ sophomore season is getting lost amid the discussion of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP candidacy and Chet-mania. His numbers haven’t gone up significantly but neither has his usage now that he and Chet Holmgren are both the second options on offense. His trade value is this high because of his All-Star potential and could potentially be good enough to be a great first option one day. His overall stats may never reach the heights reflective of his true talent due to playing next to a great player like Gilgeous-Alexander on a loaded roster.

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $69,949,092 till 2025-26
Agent: Calvin Andrews

When looking back at the story of these Denver Nuggets, some players might get marginalized as having been conflated from playing with Nikola Jokic. Yes, Aaron Gordon is exactly the type of player to pair with Jokic who has also benefitted from the space he creates and the easy looks he generates. However, Gordon is a great player on his own merits through his defense from all over the court and his athleticism resulting in great finishing. If anything, he’s improved since becoming a Nugget. In retrospect, they acquired him for virtually nothing, and his value has significantly increased since then.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $24,996,169 till 2024-25
Agent: Jeff Schwartz and James Dunleavy

The former No. 1 overall pick still boasts loads of potential thanks to his blend of size and skill for a lead guard but his efficiency is very poor – not just from three but concerningly from around the basket, too – and it might be fair to question if he has an All-Star or All-NBA ceiling. The fact he’s under team control for at least two more seasons beyond this one and will be a restricted free agent as opposed to unrestricted does raise his trade value, though.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $23,349,373 till 2025-26
Agent: Nima Namakian 

A smooth scorer from the midrange with improved three-point shooting skills. Still on his rookie-scale contract, he’ll be a valuable trade asset for years to come thanks to his very team-friendly contract.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $120,000,000 till 2025-26
Agent: Shetellia Riley Irving

An elite tough-shot-maker and ball-handler, he remains one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA and has acclimated well in his secondary role to Doncic this season so far for the Mavericks. His contract last just two more seasons after this one.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $148,386,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Mark Bartelstein

Despite being a superstar prospect going into college, he has done well to morph his game into a complementary role. His defense and rebounding have come up huge for Denver, especially during its 2022-23 championship run, while he knocks down threes at a very healthy rate. He might take too many tough shots, often bypassing smarter passes for difficult shot attempts, but he’s overall a positive-impact player. However, his trade value takes a bit of a hit due to his contract being locked up through 2026-27 when he’ll earn $40.8 million, a huge commitment to a player with his injury history.

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $96,016,200 till 2025-26
Agent: Janis Porzingis, Jeff Schwartz and Sam Goldfeder

When healthy, he’s an All-Star-level big man and can completely change a team’s offense and defense thanks to his deep three-point shooting and ability to block shots. His health can be a bit of a concern, though, and considering he’s signed through 2025-26 when he’ll earn $30.7 million, that might hinder his trade value a bit.

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $38,571,428 till 2024-25
Agent: Austin Brown, Andrew Morrison and Sam Rose

A good role player, he’ll likely never be a star. If he’s asked to be a team’s primary option on offense, that team might struggle to score much on a nightly basis. Still, in a complementary role, he provides a lot of value thanks to his two-way prowess on the wing. He can hit free agency this summer, which many expect him to do, and that likely makes him less valuable of a trade asset for Toronto.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $49,378,426 till 2026-27
Agent: Wilmer Jackson

We might be underrating him here, as the 2023 No. 2 overall pick is having a good rookie season so far. Considering he’s just one year into his rookie-scale deal and will be under team control for a long time, his trade value will only continue to balloon as long as he keeps showing improvement.

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $31,447,792 till 2025-26
Agent: Wallace Prather

In his second season, he’s shown moderate improvements on both ends of the floor thus far. His potential as a ball-handling wing with defensive versatility who can shoot threes – even off the dribble – and block shots will make him a valued asset for years to come as long as he continues to improve.

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $21,327,943 till 2025-26
Agent: Mike George

An explosive lead guard, he has huge potential thanks to his leaping ability and scoring prowess and has already made a big jump in production from Year 1 to Year 2. Still just 20 years old, the young Blazer has a load of potential and will continue to rise these rankings over the coming seasons.

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $131,784,207 till 2027-28
Agent: Rich Paul

Under team control through at least 2026-27 before he has a player option for 2027-28, and under fairly team-friendly terms compared to similar players, his trade value improved after he signed a new contract with Atlanta a few months ago. He remains a top-notch rebounder and defender for his position. On offense, he can score from the midrange or beyond the arc off the dribble and attack the basket.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $14,939,407 till 2024-25
Agent: Alex Saratsis

We’ll have to see how off-court allegations play out. Were it not for those, he’d be a solid trade asset right now for Oklahoma City, as he’s a great slasher who can play lead guard and is a very creative passer, one who is still on his rookie-scale deal. However, he’s close to extension-eligible, which will diminish his trade value some.

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $28,600,000 till 2023-24
Agent: Aaron Goodwin

If it wasn’t for his age (34) and the fact he’s an impending unrestricted free agent, he’d surely rank higher on this list, because he remains one of the best one-on-one mid-range scorers in the league.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $40,903,500 till 2024-25
Agent: Austin Brown

A floor-spacing shot-blocker out of the frontcourt, his solid trade value comes courtesy of his unique and important skill set. His contract expires next season on a solidly team-friendly number ($19.9 million), which also boosts his value as a trade asset.

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $83,652,915 till 2024-25
Agent: Rich Paul and Erika Ruiz

On just the second team of his career, he remains a very good playmaker who can do some scoring, especially from three. However, his contract is quite the hindrance to his trade value, as he’s signed through 2025-26, a season in which he’ll earn $44.9 million, an astronomical number for a player of his production and age. In fairness, that year of his contract has a team option on it, which does diminish how much it’ll hurt a team interested in trading for him.

Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $82,684,800 till 2025-26
Agent: George Bass, Steve Heumann and Aaron Mintz

One of the league’s better power forwards thanks to his shooting and driving, he’s signed through 2025-26, a season that he’ll be owed $32.4 million, which is a relatively fair number considering his borderline All-Star production. The fact his contract has a 15 percent trade kicker, though, does hurt it as a trade asset.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $36,246,405 till 2026-27
Agent: Troy Thompson

A player who can skyrocket up these rankings over the coming years, the rookie has a huge upside thanks to rebounding, slashing, length, athleticism, and high basketball IQ. On a rookie-scale deal, he’ll be greatly outperforming his yearly salary very soon.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $28,362,653 till 2025-26
Agent: Mark Bartelstein and Kyle McAlarney

He may not have star potential but the second-year forward is a smooth, versatile swingman who can space the floor at a high level as a power forward. Still in Year 2 of his rookie-scale contract, the young Kings player is also quite valuable thanks to his team-friendly contract.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $53,827,872 till 2026-27
Agent: Aaron Reilly

A year ago, he would have been far higher up this list back when he was on the salary of an undrafted player out of Oklahoma. Now, he’s being far more fairly compensated (he signed a four-year, $54 million last summer in free agency to stay with the Lakers) and as such, his trade value has gone down.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $14,278,970 till 2025-26
Agent: Jeff Schwartz and Jordan Gertler

His raw averages may not fly off the page but he’s a solid big man who can block shots, finish explosively around the basket, and collect a lot of rebounds. Thanks to those skills and the fact he’s in year two of his rookie-scale deal, he should have some trade value for Charlotte.

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $134,901,399 till 2028-29
Agent: Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian

The subject of a very popular meme online right now after Anthony Edwards compared him to Kevin Durant, McDaniels deserves a lot of respect for his defensive prowess, as his elite, versatile, tough defending has been a huge part of the Timberwolves’ awesome season so far in 2023-24. What bumps him down in this ranking is his contract, which will keep him signed through 2028-29 when he’ll earn $29.8 million. That’s a ton of money for purely a role player and we’re unsure how well that contract will age.

Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $9,625,000 till 2023-24
Agent: Rich Beda, Austin Brown, Aaron Mintz and Steve Heumann

A versatile defender – he can move his feet with quickness and defend ball-handlers on switches – as well as a good rim-protector and finisher around the basket, the 24-year-old is now headed to unrestricted free agency this summer, which hurts his trade value for Brooklyn because any team acquiring him know they’ll also have to pay him this offseason.

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $40,008,489 till 2026-27
Agent: Troy Thompson

If he hadn’t spent most of this season injured, he’d surely rank higher on this list thanks to his huge upside and the fact he’s in Year 1 of his rookie-scale contract. Thompson has huge promise as a smooth wing with great length and versatility on both ends.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $4,171,548 till 2023-24
Agent: Raymond Brothers and Sam Permut

Headed into restricted free agency, which raises his value if the Knicks were to trade him this summer because teams would be able to match any offer on him. At worst, he’s a great bench scorer but he does have starter-level potential.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $7,436,265 till 2024-25
Agent: Lucas Newton

Posting a career season for Atlanta, he’s a wing with great size who can score, rebound, create a bit, and defend multiple positions thanks to his size. The fact he’s still on his rookie-scale contract also raises his trade value. He’ll be extension-eligible next summer and even if the Hawks don’t extend him (they very likely will), he won’t be a restricted free agent until 2025.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $8,519,135 till 2024-25
Agent: Sean Kennedy

An excellent outside shooter, Murphy’s numbers are actually down this season but for his career, he remains around 40 percent from three. He’s still just in Year 3 of his rookie contract, which raises the value of a trade asset.

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $37,928,572 till 2024-25
Agent: Mike Lindeman, Jared Mucha and Jeff Schwartz

An elite guard defender who can score, rebound and create some, few point guards can match his level of two-way play. He’s got one more season on his deal after this one that will pay him $18.8 million, a great number for his level of impact.

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $39,270,150 till 2023-34
Agent: Torrel Harris

On an expiring contract, Harris’ trade value isn’t all that high right now because whoever does trade for him is going to need to re-sign him. The 31-year-old is averaging over 17 points this season but struggling with his shot at just north of 31 percent, not numbers you want in a contract season.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $178,063,200 till 2026-27
Agent: Rich Paul 

We’re going to get a good idea of his real trade value this season, as he’s rumored to be on the way out in Chicago. The positives: He’s bouncy and can hit shots with a high degree of difficulty from three. The negatives: He provides nothing defensively and often takes difficult shots rather than make a smarter pass. An even bigger negative: He’s under contract through 2026-27 when he’ll be owed $49.0 million.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $28,698,883 till 2025-26
Agent: Austin Brown and Maxwell Saidman

Still in Year 2 of his rookie-scale contract, his value is being hurt right now by Monty Williams‘ rotation decisions. In fairness to Williams, the former Purdue standout hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire in his playing time so far in the NBA. Still, this is a player who can shoot up the rankings over the coming seasons with improved play.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $107,000,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Bill Duffy

Barrett is just who he is at this point, a lefty swingman who can attack the bucket and use his jumper to score, but one who isn’t super efficient with his shooting or finishing in the paint. Still, he’s a solid player, a few tiers below an All-Star but a decent starter. Barrett is signed through 2026-27 when he’ll earn $29.6 million.

Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $53,827,872 till 2026-27
Agent: Kieran Piller and Mark Bartelstein

A defensive specialist, Jones can guard a multitude of positions and rack up steals and blocks thanks to his otherworldly length. Jones is signed through 2026-27 and won’t earn more than $14.9 million in any season on his current contract, making his deal a team-friendly one that will be easy to trade if the Pelicans choose to do so.

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $140,887,899 till 2028-29
Agent: Andrew Morrison, Mitch Nathan and Rich Beda

Now signed through 2028-29, a season in which he’ll earn $27.0 million, the former Florida State Seminole might actually be on a team-friendly deal, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s on right now. Vassell can really score it from the three and midrange and uses his length well on defense.

David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $60,000,000 till 2025-26
Agent: Derrick Powell and Jim Tanner

A rim-diving pick-and-roll threat who rebounds and blocks shots, Allen is only under contract for two more seasons for a combined $40 million, a solid number for an above-average starter.

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $74,000,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Rich Paul and Lucas Newton

Johnson has developed into a solid starting wing, one who can score, rebound and create a bit while being able to defend multiple positions on the other end. The solid three-point shooter has a very team-friendly contract, too, as the annual average value of his deal dwindles through 2026-27 when he’ll be owed $17.5 million.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $120,000,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman

Were it not for his troubling injury history of late, Herro might rank a bit higher on this list. His contract is a bit worrisome, though, as he’s signed through 2026-27 when he’ll be owed $33.0 million. His output might not even match that number and that’s without counting the fact he misses a lot of time with injuries. Plus, we might have seen a glimpse this summer of what other teams think of his trade value when Miami swung and missed on the Lillard deal.

Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $19,350,000 till 2024-25
Agent: Greg Lawrence

One of the most impactful defenders in the league, Caruso plays with loads of energy and thrives as a slasher and in transition on offense. He’s signed for one more season after this one at $9.9 million while he’s shooting over 46 percent from three this season, making him a very valuable trade asset right now.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Guaranteed money left: $48,000,000 till 2024-25
Agent: Darren ‘Mats’ Matsubara 

Still one of the best shot-blocking floor-spacing centers in the league, though he’s already 35 and signed through next season ($23.0 million), which hurts his trade value a bit.

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $160,000,000 till 2027-28
Agent: Rich Paul

The fact he just signed a five-year, $160 million contract hurts his trade value, because any contender he might be able to help won’t have that type of cap space. That’s not to say he’s not a good player, because he is, as his versatility on both ends as a swingman is quite impactful while he can put up 20 points per night with ease.

Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $16,997,141 till 2026-27
Agent: Aaron Mintz

Another rookie who could see himself moving up on this list by the next time we do this exercise, the former UCLA standout has hit the ground running in the NBA, acclimating very well to Heat basketball. We’ll see if it’s sustainable, but he’s been the third-best rookie in his class so far, according to our own Global Rating metric.

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $16,440,465 till 2024-25
Agent: Darren ‘Mats’ Matsubara and Jason Ranne

It took a couple of years but Suggs finally looks like the player the Magic thought they were getting when they drafted him fifth overall in 2021. He’s lightning-quick, a very impactful defender and can handle some of the scoring load.

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $90,000,000 till 2026-27
Agent: Austin Brown

Wizards’ struggles aside, Kuzma’s play has been decent enough and his contract is not as bad as many might think. His pay is also descending over the coming years, as Kuzma is signed through 2026-27 when he’ll be owed $19.4 million, a decently reasonable number for a player of his caliber.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $35,680,595 till 2023-24
Agent: Michael Silverman, Brandon Grier and Troy Payne

There are a plethora of reasons why Harden is not an awesome trade asset at this point, not the least of which is the fact he’s set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer and definitely will want a huge contract. Plus, who’s to say he’s not going to request another trade at some point? Very unreliable player, especially when the playoffs roll around, as has been proven time and time again.

Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $10,676,018 till 2025-26
Agent: Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn

Kessler is currently following up a very impressive rookie season with a somewhat shockingly poor sophomore effort so far, as his finishing isn’t what it was last year while his impact has gone in the opposite direction, with Utah currently playing worse with him on the floor. Even so, he was good enough to play for Team USA at a World Cup as a rookie so that, plus the fact he’s in Year 2 of a rookie contract, still makes him a decent trade asset.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $42,954,546 till 2025-26
Agent: Thaddeus Foucher and Joe Smith

A good rebounder and shot-blocker, Robinson is signed through 2025-26 when he’ll make just $12.9 million, a very team-friendly number for a decent starter-level player like the Knicks big man.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $44,639,771 till 2026-27
Agent: Jeff Schwartz and Javon Phillips

Like Suggs, Anthony is starting to live up to his draft billing this season, playing like one of the best sixth men in the league so far in 2023-24. Anthony signed a team-friendly three-year, $39.1 million extension with a team option on it, making him even better of a trade asset right now.

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $8,000,000 till 2023-24
Agent: Joel Bell

A solid defender and scorer who knows his role and doesn’t try to do too much, Melton is heading to unrestricted free agency this summer, which does affect his trade value somewhat negatively. Melton is earning just $8.0 million this season, though, so he could be a good asset to have as far as salary-matching on a bigger deal.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $22,282,691 till 2026-27
Agent: Rich Paul 

One of the more impressive rookies so far this season, Lively has upside as a screen-and-roll finisher who can rebound and block shots.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $77,678,571 till 2025-26
Agent: Bill Duffy

An explosive scorer, Simons can fill it up quickly on the score sheet, though he doesn’t provide much in the way of defense.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $15,435,000 till 2023-24
Agent: Mitch Nathan, Andrew Morrison and Aaron Mintz

Another big man headed into unrestricted free agency this summer, Valanciunas gets hurt as a trade asset for the fact he’s not under team control for much longer. His impact and production also seem to be starting to suffer now that he’s 31, something teams will surely have taken into account if they do look into a trade for the big man.

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed money left: $39,032,850 till 2024-25
Agent: Jason Ranne and Darren ‘Mats’ Matsubara

Bogdanovic has been the subject of trade rumors since getting to Detroit and that won’t be changing anytime soon, not with the Pistons currently sitting at 2-20 on the season. The Croatian swingman recently returned from injury and looks like his old self, averaging nearly 18 points on 38 percent shooting from three. He’s got one year left on his deal after this one, worth $19.0 million, a fair number for a player of his worth, making him a good trade asset if and when Detroit finally does decide to move him.