Jrue Holiday has been traded twice in the last five years to contending teams. Both times, he helped the team that traded for him win a championship. With trade season officially open, let’s talk about some role players, who will be cheaper than Holiday, that can swing the 2026 title race.
Five Cheap Role Players Who Could Swing the 2026 NBA Title
Last summer, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded for Alex Caruso, and that might well turn into a trade that helps decide the 2025 NBA champion. Trades like that show that they can make an impact, even if teams are not getting an All-Star player in return.
These cheap role players usually offer contract flexibility. They make less than $15 million, giving teams plenty of cap flexibility. And on the flip side, they deliver above-average production on the offensive end and great value on the defensive end. Let’s take a look.
Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings
The New York Knicks would probably love to have another bench guy like Keon Ellis. People might not pay a lot of attention to the Kings. But behind all the drama that went into last season, they have some nice players they can use for trades and acquiring assets. Given how the Kings have been a messy organization for a while, it is not out of the realm of possibility that they trade some of their best assets.
In his third year, Ellis averaged 8.3 points on 48.9% shooting from the floor, and 43.3% from behind the arc. He will not reshape an organization, but he will make teams better at what they already do. In addition to his scoring, he is a relentless on-ball defender and can offer some playmaking as well. And he is on a rookie deal, with a team option at $2.3 million for next season.
Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Herb Jones has two more years left on his contract at $14 and $15 million. For that type of money, he is delivering elite perimeter defense and 10.3 points on 43.6% shooting last season (albeit in just 20 games). He was even better during the 2023-24 season when he made the All-Defensive First Team.
Considered one of the best wing defenders in the league, he can guard positions 1-4 and has a growing offensive game. On a team where he gets plenty of open looks, Jones can knock them down. With the Pelicans probably looking to shake things in the offseason, Jones might be on his way out.
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
Keegan Murray had his team option picked up for next season, at $11.4 million. He is a smart and efficient player who often finds himself in the right spot. In a Caruso-like role, he will thrive on teams like the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, or Milwaukee Bucks. The strong two-way forward averaged 12.4 points on 34.3% shooting from behind the arc last season.
Aaron Wiggins, Oklahoma City Thunder
Aaron Wiggins is a dream trade target for teams looking for cheap role players. While he played more minutes per game in the regular season than Caruso, in the playoffs, his minutes have dropped. He has shown the potential for big things though. In Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals, Wiggins was sensational, scoring 18 points on 6-11 shooting, including 5-8 from behind the arc. In Game 5, he delivered again, scoring 14 points on 4-7 shooting from three-point range.
Wiggins might be too expensive for the Thunder to keep, despite having a contract that declines in salary. There are too many young players on the roster, and with more picks and huge contracts for Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams coming up, Wiggins might be the odd man out. He is only 26 years old.
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Deni Avdija has been around for five years in the NBA, and last season, he found his stride with the Portland Trail Blazers. Avdija blossomed into one of the best young forwards in the league. With a contract declining in value, Avdija would be a great addition to a championship team. Think when Aaron Gordon joined the Denver Nuggets as an example. Avdija can make a similar impact on the right team.
Last season, he averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 47.6% shooting from the floor. The only challenge is that the Blazers will not give up on him at a cheap price.
Photo credit: © Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
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