In previous articles, we’ve taken a closer look at the trade restrictions surrounding two groups of players who signed free agent contracts this summer. The smaller of the two groups featured players who can’t be traded by their current teams until January 15, having re-signed with their teams this summer on contracts that met a set of specific criteria. The other offseason signees we examined aren’t eligible to be traded until December 15.
However, there is a third group of players who signed new contracts in recent months and don’t fall into either of those categories. These players also can’t be traded yet, but they won’t necessarily become trade-eligible on December 15 or January 15 either — their trade restrictions lift on different dates.
Trade rules for recently-signed players dictate that a player becomes trade-eligible three months after he signs or on December 15, whichever comes later. So players who signed after September 15 aren’t eligible to be traded starting on December 15. For instance, someone who signed his contract on October 2 won’t have his trade restrictions lift until January 2.
Similarly, players who sign veteran contract extensions with their current clubs can’t be dealt for six months after they ink their new deals, meaning many of the players who were extended by their teams during the offseason can’t be traded at all this season.
Listed below are the recently-signed players who weren’t on our previous two lists, but still have restrictions limiting their ability to be traded. This list, which will continue to be updated as teams sign new players, is sorted by the dates that players will become trade-eligible. Players who have the ability to veto trades are marked with an asterisk (*).
December 18:
- Jason Terry (Bucks) *
December 21:
- Aaron Brooks (Timberwolves)
December 23:
- Alex Len (Suns) *
December 24:
- Dante Cunningham (Pelicans) *
December 27:
- Dwyane Wade (Cavaliers)
January 17:
- Isaiah Taylor (Hawks)
January 19:
- Richard Jefferson (Nuggets)
January 22:
- Jameer Nelson (Pelicans)
Not eligible to be traded before the 2018 trade deadline:
- LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs)
- Trey Burke (Knicks)
- Dwight Buycks (Pistons)
- Isaiah Canaan (Suns)
- Tyler Cavanaugh (Hawks)
- Robert Covington (Sixers)
- Gerald Green (Rockets)
- Sean Kilpatrick (Bucks)
- DeAndre Liggins (Pelicans)
- Norman Powell (Raptors)
- Alex Poythress (Pacers)
- Josh Richardson (Heat)
Not eligible to be traded at all during the 2017/18 league year, due to signing Designated Veteran Extensions:
- Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- James Harden (Rockets)
- John Wall (Wizards)
- Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Note: Players signed after November 8 this season won’t become trade-eligible before the 2018 trade deadline, since the deadline falls on February 8.
Oh NOW you say Alex Len can’t be traded yet.