Five NBA players who could change teams at the trade deadline

With two weeks remaining before the NBA trade deadline, there are more teams shopping players than there are shopping for players. But the pressure of the deadline and players' impending free agency always push teams into making moves. Here are five players likely to change teams before the deadline of Feb. 5.

1. Ayo Dosunmu | Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have Josh Giddey signed to play point guard for the next four seasons. They got a great season from Tre Jones, signed through 2027-28. Dosunmu and Coby White are both free agents after the season, but Dosunmu's lower salary ($7.5M to White's $12.9M) makes him the more enticing trade candidate.

It's hard to imagine the Bulls will re-sign both guards. They might sign neither, but Dosunmu is less likely to be a Bull in 2026-27 — or after Feb. 5.

2. Bennedict Mathurin | Indiana Pacers

Mathurin averages 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in his fourth NBA season, all career-highs. He started 49 games last season and all 24 of his games this season, but Mathurin's playing time was inconsistent during the Indiana Pacers' run to the NBA Finals. He scored 24 points or more in two Finals games, and played less than 15 minutes in two others.

He's 23 years old and clearly talented, but the Pacers already have Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard signed through 2027-28, at a combined $40.4M. They also have a gaping hole at the center position after losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. Using Mathurin to get a center, perhaps Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans, could be a wise move.

3. Chris Paul/Bogdan Bogdanovic | Los Angeles Clippers

Paul hasn't played for the Los Angeles Clippers since the team sent him home in early December. Bogdanovic hasn't played since Dec. 26 thanks to a hamstring injury that's plagued him all season. The Clippers are highly incentivized to trade both because they need to convert rotation players Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller from their two-way deals to standard contracts.

Not only do the Clippers need to clear roster spots, they need to clear money, as they have just over $1M to spend before hitting the hard cap. It would likely require including a draft pick, and perhaps guard Kobe Brown, but they would love to find a two-or-three-for-one trade.

4. Anfernee Simons | Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are getting 40% three-point shooting and 13.9 points per game from Simons, acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade/salary dump last summer. His 39-point effort off the bench last week in a win over the Miami Heat may have rekindled interest in the impending free agent making $25M this season.