With the NBA's offseason business mostly complete and the 2026-27 campaign a couple months away, let's take stock of how the league's stars measure up when it comes to trade value.
This is not a ranking of the 30 best players or even a measure of value per dollar. Think of these subjective rankings - which factor in things such as age, contract status, and team control - as the 30 players who would command the biggest returns on the hypothetical trade market.
Recent trades also played a part in how some of these players stack up. For example, Kawhi Leonard's ranking was positively impacted by the fact that he was (kind of) traded for control of up to five draft picks and a 2026 All-Star. Meanwhile, despite Jaylen Brown's career year, his ranking was adversely affected by him being dealt for a negative-value asset (Paul George) and a couple first-rounders.
Later this week, we'll count down the league's worst contracts and the NBA's biggest bargains. For now, here are the most valuable.
All contract figures courtesy of Spotrac. Asterisk denotes the final year is a player option. Age listed is as of opening night for the 2026-27 season. Percentage of cap is the projected average over the life of the contract.
Honorable mentions: Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves), Brandon Miller (Hornets), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Jazz), Jaylen Brown (76ers), V.J. Edgecombe (76ers), Caleb Wilson (Bulls)
Age: 26
Contract: 3 yrs, $87M ($29M AAV, 16.7% of cap)
Do I think Murphy is a top-30 player? Not even close. But I do believe he'd fetch the Pelicans more in a trade return than many bigger stars would for their respective teams. There's a reason New Orleans is reportedly holding out for at least three first-round picks. Murphy's a 6-foot-8 forward who's a career 38% 3-point shooter on high volume, and he's averaged 21-plus points per game each of the last two seasons. He's an easy offensive fit on any team, and his cap hit represents a clear bargain in the modern Association. That's more important than ever in the age of aprons.
Age: 25
Contract: 2 yrs, $25M ($12.5M AAV, 7.4% of cap)
Did any NBA player provide more surplus value relative to his contract than Avdija did last season? He emerged as an All-Star - averaging roughly 24 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists - while earning less than mid-level exception money. Even if Avdija hit his ceiling in his age-25 season and can't be the best player on a contending team, he's still an All-Star talent who's under contract at an unfathomably low price for multiple seasons.
Age: 24
Contract: 4 years, $120M ($30M AAV, 16.9% of cap)
Johnson's contract instantly became one of the league's biggest bargains last season. The young forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists en route to his first All-Star and All-NBA selections. Johnson's a poor defender with serious durability concerns - he's averaged just 51 games per season - which is why he settled for far less than max money. Still, it's easier to look past such flaws when the player in question takes up 17% of your cap space rather than 25%-35% of it. If Johnson can stay healthy and prove last year was no fluke, he'll soar up these rankings.
Age: 21
Contract: 2 years, $22.7M ($11.3M AAV, 6.7% of cap)
Some may feel this is too high for a young player who benefits from the spotlight provided by Victor Wembanyama and a contending team, but the truth is, Castle has been an important part of San Antonio's rise. He's a 6-foot-6 guard who has All-Star and All-Defense potential in the backcourt. That's a rare and invaluable breed of player. Considering the two years remaining on his rookie-scale contract and the additional years of team control to follow, no one should be surprised to find the Spurs guard here.
Age: 26
Contract: 3 years, $156.9M ($52.3M AAV, 30.1% of cap)
Haliburton has to prove he can recapture his All-NBA magic after missing nearly a year and a half while recovering from a torn Achilles. But even at 30% of the cap, he'd still be a mammoth trade chip if Indiana made him available. Before his injury, Haliburton was as good and efficient an offensive orchestrator as you could ask for, serving as the best player on a team that came within one game of a championship. Over his first three full seasons in Indiana, Haliburton averaged roughly 20 points and 10 assists on 61% true shooting. His current contract runs through his age-28 season. Like the next player on this list, he's a bounce-back year away from vaulting up these rankings again.
Age: 28
Contract: 4 years*, $259.8M ($65M AAV, 36.4% of cap)
Tatum's supermax salary isn't solely what's suppressing his trade value; it's the fact that he's only a year removed from a devastating Achilles injury. If Tatum returns to something resembling his best self - when he made four consecutive All-NBA first teams - no one would balk at paying him supermax money through his age-31 season. For what it's worth, even though his efficiency lagged, Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 22 games between the regular season and playoffs after returning from his 11-month absence.
Age: 30
Contract: 5 years*, $323M ($64.6M AAV, 35.1% of cap)
The Cavs secured Mitchell's services for the remainder of his prime by extending him earlier this summer. In doing so, they might've tanked his trade value. Having said that, it's not as if Mitchell's on his last legs. He only turns 30 in September, and he's made three All-NBA teams (one first, two seconds) in the last four years. Mitchell has also made seven straight All-Star appearances while averaging 26 points and five assists on 59% true shooting over those campaigns. He's been one of the league's best and most consistent offensive engines this decade, and that's likely to continue for at least another two or three years. Would Mitchell fetch a greater return in a hypothetical trade if he was making less money? Of course. But he's far from dead weight.
Age: 25
Contract: 4 years, $222.7M ($55.7M AAV, 31.2% of cap)
Mobley's Defensive Player of the Year award in his fourth season qualified him for the 30% max, but a disappointing fifth season has many wondering whether this contract will soon carry negative value. The big man must become a more consistent and forceful offensive player in order to truly live up to his contract, as Mobley too often looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. However, 6-foot-11 players with Mobley's potential don't grow on trees. At worst, he'll be an in-his-prime, all-world defensive big for the remainder of his contract. At best, perhaps he'll recapture some of the shooting magic he found in Year 4 (37% from deep) and emerge as one of the game's best two-way bigs. Regardless, if Cleveland dangled him tomorrow, teams would come calling.
Age: 23
Contract: 1 year, $12.3M (7.4% of cap)
Thompson is entering the final year of his rookie-scale contract and could hit restricted free agency next summer. He's also plagued by serious shooting woes that might prevent him from ever making a true superstar leap. Still, he's the Rockets' most valuable long-term piece and one of the league's most intriguing young players. Thompson is a 6-foot-7 Swiss Army knife on defense who's logged plenty of time at point guard and just averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and 2.1 stocks per game in his third season. There aren't many players who could be this valuable despite being such a wretched shooter, but that's how special the rest of Thompson's game is.
Age: 29
Contract: 4 years*, $250.5M ($62.6M AAV, 35.1% of cap)
Much of the same applies to Booker as it does to Mitchell, though the former's inflated contract ends one year earlier. The back end of Booker's deal may hurt, but even if he eventually picks up his $68.8-million player option for the 2029-30 campaign, that would only be his age-33 season. The cap hit is enormous and certainly not ideal, but Booker is a durable five-time All-Star who's essentially averaged between 25 and 28 points per game nine years in a row. And he hasn't even turned 30 yet! You can't tell me there are 25 players who would fetch bigger returns on the trade market right now.
Age: 25
Contract: 5 years, $239.2M ($47.8M AAV, 26.1% of cap)
An injury-plagued season sent Williams tumbling down this list (and put him behind teammate Chet Holmgren), but a bounce-back year could catapult him into the top 10. Let's not forget that a year ago, Williams was coming off an age-23 season in which he made an All-NBA team and All-Defensive team while serving as the second-best player on a championship squad.
Age: 24
Contract: 5 years, $239.2M ($47.8M AAV, 26.1% of cap)
The total sum is jarring for a big man with some injury concerns, but Holmgren is an All-NBA star and arguably the league's second-best defensive player. Rival teams would give up a ton for Holmgren, an ideal modern big who protects the rim defensively, spaces the floor offensively, and can give you 15-20 points a night. He also just turned 24 years old in May.
Age: 35
Contract: 1 year, $50.3M (30.5% of cap)
It's true that Leonard's a 35-year-old with a sketchy injury history and a looming cap-circumvention scandal hanging over his head. It's also true that he remains a top-10 player when healthy, that he received MVP votes just four months ago, and that he looked like arguably the very best player on the planet for a decent chunk of last season. Would any star ranked lower on this list net his team a 2026 All-Star (Brandon Ingram) and control of up to five draft picks - including three first-rounders - as Leonard (unofficially) did for the Clippers? If he was open to an extension with every team rather than just the Raptors, virtually every contender would've been willing to pay the same price.
Age: 21
Contract: 3 years, $35.5M ($11.8M AAV, 6.8% of cap)
There have been 78 rookies in NBA history to average at least 18 points per game. None of them did so as efficiently as Knueppel last season, when he posted an effective field-goal percentage of 60.1%. To put that figure - which takes into account the added value of 3-pointers - into perspective, consider that Knueppel is only the 12th qualified shooter ever - regardless of experience - to average at least 18 points on a 60-plus eFG%. Now imagine if such a player hit the trade market just one year into his rookie-scale deal.
Age: 20
Contract: 3 years, $43.8M ($14.6M AAV, 8.4% of cap)
Wembanyama's brilliance and the Spurs' deep collection of guards overshadowed Harper's stellar play as a rookie, but make no mistake, the 20-year-old remains destined for superstardom. San Antonio knows that, as does every other team in the Association. With the Spurs having three years left on Harper's rookie-scale contract and up to eight total years of potential team control, it would take a gargantuan offer to pry him away. Remember, young stars who are worth max extensions almost always end up signing for an additional four or five years after their rookie-scales expire.
Age: 19
Contract: 4 years, $53.8M ($13.5M AAV, 7.5% of cap)
Boozer enters the Association after one of the best one-and-done seasons in NCAA history, and you can find plenty of scouts and metrics that paint him as the best prospect from this year's draft class. If that's the case, the rookie-scale salaries that come with being the third overall pick will be even more of a bargain than usual. For now, we'll slot him third among incoming rookies and 15th overall, just behind a pair of established 25-year-old stars.
Age: 25
Contract: 4 years, $185.6M ($46.4M AAV, 26% of cap)
Barnes falling short of All-NBA selection while on his rookie-scale contract prevented him from qualifying for a bigger max, but it made him that much more valuable to the Raptors. You could argue his more team-friendly contract should put him ahead of 13th-ranked Cade Cunningham. Barnes, who finished fifth in 2026 Defensive Player of the Year voting, followed up a stellar regular season with a sparkling, albeit brief, playoff run in which he dragged a decimated Raptors team to Game 7 against the heavily favored Cavs. He joined Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic as the only players to average at least 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds, a steal, and a block in a single postseason (minimum seven games played).
Age: 25
Contract: 4 years, $222.7M ($55.7M AAV, 31.2% of cap)
Cunningham's cap hit is high, his efficiency remains underwhelming, and he still has to clean up his turnover issues, but any NBA executive would happily welcome the two-time All-Star on his current contract. Cunningham's averaged roughly 25 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds per game over the last two seasons, both of which resulted in All-NBA selections and top-seven MVP finishes. He was also the best player on a 60-win team last season, his age-24 campaign.
Age: 31
Contract: 2 years*, $121.2M ($60.6M AAV, 35.8% of cap)
You only need to go back two months to understand Antetokounmpo's value. The Greek Freak is coming off an injury-plagued season, and his market is diminished by the fact that he can test free agency next summer. Yet it still took a recent All-Star (Tyler Herro), two rotation players (Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware), a decent prospect (Kasparas Jakucionis), and control of four first-round picks in order for Miami to pry him out of Milwaukee. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. The 10-time All-Star averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on 65.8% true shooting last year. In addition, a Bucks team that played like a bottom-three squad when Antetokounmpo sat (minus-9.7 points per 100 possessions) managed to perform like a top-10 club when he was on the court (plus-4.4 net rating).
Age: 38
Contract: 1 year, $62.6M (37.9% of cap)
Some will surely quibble with the fact that a 38-year-old on an expiring contract is so close to the top 10, but Curry's place here has to do with his unique and indescribable value to Golden State. That said, Curry's on-court value remains outrageous no matter where he's playing, and his legendary play off the ball makes him far more malleable - and far less intrusive - than almost any veteran star of his magnitude ever has been. If you think this is too high for Curry, just try to consider the frenzy it would spark if the Warriors made him available and he was amenable to any team.
Age: 25
Contract: 3 years, $130.7M ($43.6M AAV, 25% of cap)
Maxey may not be a top-10 player, but it's hard to argue with his immense trade value. He's an All-NBA guard and a high-volume marksman who's only approaching his prime, and he's playing on a bargain of a 25% max contract for another three years (with no options).
Age: 30
Contract: 3 years*, $121.6M ($40.5M AAV, 23.3% of cap)
This one's pretty simple, and it's not just about giving the reigning Finals MVP his due respect. Brunson has proven he's capable of being the best player on a championship team, and he's making less than max money for at least another two seasons, which still figure to be prime years. What more do you need?
Age: 19
Contract: 4 years, $59.9M ($15M AAV, 8.4% of cap)
If Peterson is anywhere near as good as scouts believe, he'll prove an immediate bargain on his cost-controlled rookie-scale contract before eventually emerging as a superstar. For many highly touted prospects, their value is never higher than before they've played an NBA game. Until then, they represent tantalizing potential and endless possibilities.
Age: 19
Contract: 4 years, $66.9M ($16.7M AAV, 9.4% of cap)
Dybantsa was the No. 1 overall pick in what was touted as a potentially transcendent draft class. This type of prospect - with his full rookie-scale contract and nearly a decade of team control ahead - is one of the most coveted assets in basketball.
Age: 25
Contract: 3 years, $156.9M ($52.3M AAV, 30.1% of cap)
Of the top 10 players on this list, Edwards is the one I could see asking out first, especially if the Timberwolves' risky bet on LaMelo Ball blows up in Minnesota's face. There's no doubt Edwards would command one of the league's biggest hauls. The 25-year-old has averaged about 25 points per game over his six-year career and is coming off a career year in which he averaged nearly 29 points on 49/40/80 shooting. Edwards already has an impressive postseason resume, and he exudes the type of superstar bravado that transforms a franchise.
Age: 27
Contract: 3 years*, $160.3M ($53.4M AAV, 30.7% of cap)
It will never stop being funny (outside of Dallas) that one of the five most valuable players on the planet was traded for a bag of peanuts - apologies to Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and that 2029 first-rounder - at 25 years old. It's also no coincidence that the man who made that decision less than two years ago (Nico Harrison) is already out of a job. On a separate note, the new-look Lakers have a lot to prove over the next year or two if they're going to convince Doncic he can win in Los Angeles.
Age: 19
Contract: 3 years, $48.9M ($16.3M AAV, 9.3% of cap)
Flagg still has three years remaining on his cost-controlled rookie-scale contract, is extension-eligible in two years, and barring something catastrophic, should be under team control for another seven or eight years. On top of all that, the burgeoning two-way superstar just averaged roughly 21 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and 2.1 stocks per game as a teenage rookie. No executive in their right mind would trade Flagg for anyone but the three guys ahead of him on this list - if even them.
Age: 31
Contract: 2 years*, $121.9M ($60.9M AAV, 36% of cap)
Jokic's age and the fact that he can test free agency next summer would do nothing to quell his trade value in the extraordinary event he ever hit the market. The three-time MVP is still squarely in the running for best player alive. Jokic is coming off another remarkable season in which he averaged roughly a 28-point triple-double while leading the league in rebounds and assists. The Nuggets would be insane to give him anything less than the record-breaking extension he'll be eligible for next summer. Is it possible Denver's cheap ownership and frugal decisions (see Peyton Watson) could push Jokic to seek greener pastures elsewhere?
Age: 28
Contract: 5 years*, $312.5M ($62.5M AAV, 33.9% of cap)
Gilgeous-Alexander has one year remaining on his previous max contract (worth roughly 25% of the cap) before his 35% max kicks in, but he's one of the select few superstars for whom no salary can diminish his trade value. Gilgeous-Alexander is the two-time reigning MVP, still in the middle of his prime, and under team control through the remainder of the decade. If it weren't for one otherworldly talent, SGA would be an easy choice for No. 1.
Age: 22
Contract: 6 years*, $211.8M ($35.3M AAV, 23.5% of cap)
The remaining term on Wembanyama's contract includes the final year of his rookie-scale contract and his new max extension. As a 22-year-old who enters his fourth campaign already leading the MVP chase, Wemby would've been No. 1 on this list no matter how bloated his future salaries were. The fact that the prodigious big man settled for a team-friendly 25% max extension rather than the 30% he was eligible for only makes this more of a no-brainer.
Joseph Casciaro is theScore's lead NBA reporter.
