NBA insider Shams Charania noted that this season could see trade activity involving LeBron James of the LA Lakers, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
When Shams Charania appeared on Andrew Schulz’s “Flagrant” podcast on Thursday, he was asked to identify a single player to watch this season. Rather than naming one, the ESPN insider listed three All-Stars instead, catching the hosts off guard.
Charania mentioned that Trae Young’s long-term status with the Atlanta Hawks remains uncertain. The 2025-26 season marks the fourth year of his five-year, $215 million contract, where he’s earning $46 million, according to Spotrac. However, Charania pointed out that Young declined to sign an extension this offseason. If he opts out of his $48.97 million player option for 2026-27, he could test free agency next summer.
“He could stay in Atlanta, but he’s gonna have a market,” remarked the NBA insider. “We’re talking about Trae Young here. So, Giannis, Trae Young, and as the season go along, there’s always guys that will pop up.”
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo staying with the Bucks?
Before the 2025-26 season tipped off, Charania reported that Antetokounmpo’s preferred landing spot outside Milwaukee was the New York Knicks. The insider added that the Bucks and Knicks had preliminary talks, but no deal came out of those discussions.
Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t let the constant trade speculation affect his play. The 30-year-old dominated the Knicks with 37 points on 16-of-22 shooting, along with eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two blocks. New York had no solution for him that night, but there’s a possibility they won’t have to deal with him at all next season.
“We still don’t know where LeBron James is going to be,” Shams continued. “Is he going to finish his career with the Lakers, or is he going to be somewhere else? I think it’s very much up in the air. I’m not sure that he knows exactly how the end is going to play out.
On Oct. 9, the LA Lakers confirmed that LeBron James would be out for three to four weeks with sciatica, a nerve issue in his glute area. The injury forced the 21-time All-Star to sit out the entire preseason and training camp.
No matter how things unfold, the NBA landscape is bound to look different once the trade deadline passes.
No one is safe.
