The 2026 NBA offseason is projected to be explosive and is already off to a flying start on that end. There have already been three trades, including the much-anticipated Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. The Milwaukkee Bucks shipped Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionas, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and draft picks.
3 Teams We’re Betting Make Massive Offseason Moves
The Antetokounmpo blockbuster came shortly after the Minnesota Timberwolves announced they were sending Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade. But it was the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder who got things started this past Sunday with a minor trade involving Aaron Wiggins moving to the Hawks.
Those three moves took place before the first round of the 2026 NBA draft, which saw a few surprises and several trades. However, all those draft day trades involved moving 2026 draft picks and future assets.
Before taking a look at the teams we’re betting on making massive offseason moves, which you could use this Polymarket sign-up bonus to bet on where some of the top names on the open market or via trades land.
Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC entered the offseason with a full 15-man roster and a salary cap hit of $250 million. The Thunder did cut a significant portion of their tax bill with the Aaron Wiggins trade. But they added to it by using both of their first-round picks on Tuesday night with the selections of Aday Mara (No. 12) and Bennett Stirtz (No. 16).
Mara and Stirtz are veteran college players with tons of experience and savvy. In other words, their selections appear to reflect the Thunder’s plans this offseason, as they have upcoming decisions to make on Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams. All three players have team options with a combined $53 million in 2026-27 salary.
Mara projects as an excellent replacement for Hartenstein. Meanwhile, Stirtz figures to be more of a replacement for Wiggins than Dort. Stirtz is more talented offensively than Dort, though he doesn’t have the defensive pedigree of the 27-year-old.
OKC could get under the first apron by declining Hartenstein and Dort’s options. But that would mean the Thunder would likely lose two starters who have been instrumental to their success over the past two seasons. So, that doesn’t make total sense.
Now, the Thunder may decide to decline both Hartenstein’s and Dort’s options and re-sign one of them to a more favorable multi-year deal. But that strategy has ramifications down the line. Hartenstein would be the most likely candidate to rework his deal.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s $60 million max deal kicks in next season and means that three players, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams being the others, will cost $154 million in salary (2027-28). Overall, the Thunder already has $220 million committed to 12 players next summer, which would put them over the first tax apron.
That doesn’t include Ajay Mitchell, who is likely to receive a new contract this summer, as he is slated to make $2.8 million on a non-guaranteed deal. Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe are extension eligible as well this summer.
So, in other words, the Thunder need to make decisions not solely based on this upcoming season but for their near future. In addition to Dort, Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams being on the proverbial chopping block, Joe, Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams, and Nikola Topic could be made available in trades.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies appear ready to embrace a major roster overhaul. The Grizzlies started their rebuild last summer by trading Desmond Bane to Orlando. Then they followed that up at the trade deadline with shipping Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah for three first-round picks along with Taylor Hendricks and Walter Clayton Jr., among others.
Memphis continued its youth movement and asset accumulation in the first round of the 2026 draft by selecting Cameron Boozer and Karim Lopez. The Grizzlies traded down twice before settling on Lopez, acquiring five future second-round picks.
Moreover, the Grizzlies have been shopping Ja Morant for over a year and seem intent on moving their superstar guard this summer. The Grizzlies likely would like to move on from Kendavious Caldwell- Pope, who exercised his $21.6 million player option last week, and Santi Aldama. Caldwell-Pope exercised his $21.6 million player option last week, and Aldama, the Grizzlies’ third most expensive player this year at $17 million, has a club option for next year.
In fact, Memphis has made it known that everyone outside their core youngsters of Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells is available in a trade.
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento began last year as the fourth-oldest team, and it showed through injuries and on-court performance. The Kings, who used 23 players and 34 starting lineups, won just 22 games this past season – their fewest since 2010-11 when they also picked up just 22 victories. The Kings also finished near the bottom of the league stats in nearly every important category, including offensive (26th) and defensive (28th) efficiency.
Sacramento selected Darius Acuff Jr. in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft, traded up late in the round to nab Alex Karaban with the 29th pick. Just by adding Acuff and Karaban, the Kings’ total projected payroll for 13 players with contracts or potential contracts puts their salary cap hit at around $215 million, or $7 million below the second apron.
Sacramento has made it known they are looking to cut payroll, saying they would like to move at least two of its top three earners this summer – Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis, or DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan has a partial guarantee ($10 million of his $25 million salary) while Sabonis has drawn interest on the trade market. Additionally, LaVine and De’Andre Hunter will be on expiring contracts, and the Kings have been looking to unload Malik Monk for over a year.
Photo credit: Ed Szczepanski, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
