As in all professional sports, the NBA has a select group of players that are deemed "untouchable" in trade negotiations. And while history has shown that even some of the game's biggest stars can be traded, there are certain players who cannot be moved without their approval.
Recent trade rumors surrounding Wizards star Bradley Beal have brought back to light the no-trade clause that was negotiated into the five-year contract he signed in the summer of 2022. If the Wizards were to trade the three-time All-Star, his no-trade clause is something the franchise would have to navigate.
(UPDATE: Washington has engaged in "serious talks" with Miami and Phoenix on a potential Beal trade, per The Athletic's Shams Charania, who describes the Suns as a "serious threat" to acquire Beal.)
What exactly is a no-trade clause? Learn more about the distinction that sets Beal apart from over 99 percent of the players that have ever played in the NBA.
MORE: Heat, Celtics, Knicks among best destinations for Bradley Beal
What is a no-trade clause in the NBA?
If a player has a no-trade clause in his contract, he has the right to veto any trade in which he is involved.
Per the NBA's last Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was agreed upon in 2017 and runs through the 2022-23 season, a player must meet specific criteria in order to receive a no-trade clause in his contract:
A Player Contract entered into by a player who has eight (8) or more Years of Service in the NBA and who has rendered four (4) or more Years of Service for the Team entering into such Contract may contain a prohibition or limitation of such Team's right to trade such Contract to another NBA Team.
Specific to Beal, his no-trade clause came in a contract extension he signed following his ninth NBA season in Washington. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Beal is the only active player with a true no-trade clause.
Criteria have changed over time, but Beal is one of just 10 players in NBA history to have a true no-trade clause.
MORE: The contract details that complicate a trade for Bradley Beal
History of NBA players with a no-trade clause
Over 5,000 players have signed a contract in NBA history, but less than 0.01 percent of that group has had a no-trade clause.
In addition to Beal, the list of players that have ever had a no-trade clause is a who's who of some of the NBA's all-time greats.
- Carmelo Anthony
- Bradley Beal
- Kobe Bryant
- Tim Duncan
- Kevin Garnett
- LeBron James
- Dirk Nowitzki
- David Robinson
- John Stockton
- Dwyane Wade
