Luka Doncic LeBron Untouchable Before NBA Trade Deadline

A wave of NBA players became eligible to be traded Thursday, but many stars remain off limits until early February or the Feb. 5 deadline. Untouchable names include Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero and Dyson Daniels, while LeBron James can move only if he waives his restriction. Narrow windows open Feb. 1 to Feb. 4 for Mikal Bridges, Dončić and De'Aaron Fox. Merlin sees the calendar as the true puppet master. Contenders like the Lakers and Thunder are unlikely to break core chemistry now, yet those short eligibility windows make the deadline a live wire. One injury or a tempting offer could flip plans in a single phone call, so front offices will be watching clocks and whispers.