The NBA trade market is buzzing with activity, and several explosive trade rumors have already ignited the league.
The first major news item is that the Pacers have locked onto two major center targets, inquiring about Ivica Zubac while also keeping a close eye on Daniel Gafford.
After losing their core center Myles Turner in the offseason, the Pacers' plan to strengthen their interior defense has finally made substantial progress. According to NBA reporter Siegel, the Pacers have officially contacted the Clippers to inquire about the possibility of trading for center Ivica Zubac, becoming one of the teams explicitly pursuing the Croatian big man this season. After Turner left as a free agent to join division rival Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers are currently relying on Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, and Tony Bradley to man the paint, but these three players are unlikely to meet the team's long-term needs. Finding a starting center with both skill and stability has become the management's top priority.
Besides Zubac, Dallas Mavericks' center Daniel Gafford has also entered the Pacers' potential acquisition list, a piece of news revealed by veteran NBA reporter Jake Fischer. Notably, Zubac and Gafford's contract structures are very attractive; both contracts cover multiple seasons after this one, with annual salaries ranging from $18 million to $20 million. For the Pacers, who already have two max-contract players in Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, this salary level would not excessively strain their salary cap and is similar to Turner's salary last season, making salary balancing easier for the team.

In terms of trade assets, the Pacers have ample room to maneuver. The team holds all of its future first-round draft picks, and its roster includes plenty of valuable assets that can be used to match salaries. The salary combination of Obi Toppin ($14 million), Bennedict Mathurin ($9.2 million), and Jarace Walker ($6.7 million) is sufficient to match Zubac's $18.1 million annual salary, providing multiple possibilities for constructing a trade package.
However, whether the Clippers are willing to let go of Zubac remains unknown. As a member of last season's All-Defensive Second Team and the runner-up for the Most Improved Player award, the 28-year-old Ivica Zubac is in his prime and a core pillar of the Clippers' frontcourt. Despite the Clippers' dismal start to the season (6 wins and 18 losses), Fisher points out that the Clippers are unwilling to easily let go of this key big man, and there are conflicting reports regarding whether the Clippers are willing to enter into trade negotiations. However, other NBA team executives believe that if an offer includes multiple first-round draft picks, the Clippers would likely be willing to sit down and negotiate. So far this season, Zubac has played 24 games for the Clippers, averaging 15.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.9 blocks, with a field goal percentage of 59.9%. This performance undoubtedly makes a trade more difficult.

The second explosive piece of news is that if the Pelicans start a fire sale, the Lakers will aggressively pursue Herbert Jones to strengthen their perimeter defense.
Against the backdrop of increasingly fierce competition in the Western Conference, the Lakers, currently second in the West, are not satisfied with their current roster and are targeting the struggling Pelicans for reinforcements. According to NBA reporter Sidery, once the Pelicans (currently 3 wins and 22 losses) officially begin a fire sale, the Lakers will immediately pursue Pelicans forward Herbert Jones on the trade market and are already preparing to use expiring contracts and future draft picks to pursue him aggressively.

Although the Lakers had a strong start to the season, the team's perimeter defense shortcomings remain a concern, making it difficult to compete with top teams like the Thunder. The Lakers currently lack a true ball-handling defensive specialist who can consistently disrupt opposing guards and wing players, and Herbert Jones perfectly fits the Lakers' reinforcement needs. This 27-year-old forward, with his top-tier defensive instincts, excellent height and wingspan, and comprehensive defensive abilities, is considered by the entire league as the final piece of the puzzle for the Lakers' championship aspirations. His multi-position defensive ability is precisely the quality the Lakers desperately need on the defensive end. In recent weeks, Jones has been repeatedly linked to the Lakers, highlighting the potential fit between the two sides.
For the Lakers, acquiring Jones would immediately balance their rotation, adding a reliable defensive anchor and significantly improving the team's defensive resilience. The Pelicans' current poor record provides the Lakers with an excellent trade opportunity, and the team can certainly impress the Pelicans' management with a sincere offer. Regarding specific trade proposals, commentator Bill Simmons offered a clear suggestion on his podcast: the Lakers could send out Knecht, Kleber, and a 2031 first-round pick as trade assets. So far this season, Jones has played 17 games for the Pelicans, averaging 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals. His defensive contributions far exceed what the statistics show, and if he successfully joins the Lakers, he will be a crucial asset on their path to a championship.

The third explosive news is that the Mavericks are willing to trade Anthony Davis, with the Pistons being the most likely destination, and multiple teams preparing formal offers.
Rumors surrounding Anthony Davis's trade have resurfaced. According to reporter Sidery, the Mavericks are very willing to trade the superstar center before the trade deadline in February. US media odds predictions show that the Pistons have a 20% chance of acquiring Davis, followed by the Hawks (18%), Raptors (16%), and Bulls (5%).
The main reason the Pistons are considered the most likely destination is their ample trade assets, allowing them to make a very attractive offer to the Mavericks. Sidery previously stated that the Pistons could assemble a trade package centered around Ivey, including Harris's expiring $26.6 million contract, another role player, and corresponding draft picks. This combination of assets would be quite tempting for the Mavericks, who need to clear salary cap space and rebuild. It's worth noting that Shams Charania previously reported that the Pistons, Hawks, and Raptors are three teams preparing to submit formal offers for Anthony Davis. If a trade is completed, the Detroit Pistons would become the first Eastern Conference team Davis has played for in his career.

Currently, Davis's agent, Rich Paul, has met with the Mavericks' management to discuss his client's future, and the Mavericks have not ruled out any possibilities, still weighing all options. As one of the league's top two-way centers, the 32-year-old Davis has a salary of $54.1 million this season, which will increase to $58.5 million next season. He also holds a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season, and this high salary is one of the main obstacles to a trade.
Davis joined the Mavericks last season in a blockbuster trade involving Luka Dončić, but due to a left calf strain, he has only played 19 games for the Mavericks so far, and only 10 games this season, averaging 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. This attendance rate and performance have not met the team's expectations. Throughout his career, Davis has played for the Pelicans, Lakers, and Mavericks, averaging 24.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. His ten All-Star appearances prove his ability, and if he can overcome his injury problems, he still has the ability to change the course of a game.

The fourth explosive piece of news is that the Warriors are interested in trading Kuminga for Turner!
As the trade deadline approaches, the trade movements of various teams are becoming clearer, and a list of the probability of each player being traded this season has also been revealed. The list shows that Warriors player Jonathan Kuminga ranks first with an 83% probability, followed closely by Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo with 73%, Kings center Domantas Sabonis (61%), Kings guard Keon Ellis (53%), and the aforementioned Anthony Davis (32%) ranking third to fifth respectively. Corroborating the high probability of a Kuminga trade, NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported that the Warriors are interested in Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner and consider Kuminga a key asset in a potential trade for Turner. Fischer stated that Kuminga's $22.5 million salary is a good match for Turner's $26.8 million salary, providing a basis for a direct trade. In fact, the Warriors have shown strong interest in Turner in the past, and various trade scenarios involving Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, and Buddy Hield were discussed during trade negotiations between the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers.

More importantly, Shams Charania's latest report reveals the Warriors' clear plan: the team will trade Kuminga immediately after he becomes eligible for trade on January 15, 2026, to fully pursue a trade for Turner. For the Warriors, Turner's addition would significantly improve the team's interior depth and defensive strength, addressing the team's weakness in the paint and providing more solid interior support for core players like Curry and Thompson; for the Bucks, Kuminga's youthful energy and athleticism would inject new vitality into the team's roster, improving its flexibility and offensive impact. If this potential trade is completed, it will be another major transaction in this season's trade market and will profoundly affect the championship prospects of both the Warriors and the Bucks.

With the trade deadline approaching in February next year, the NBA league is sure to see some unexpected trades. Let's wait and see.

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