15 NBA Stars Who Could Leave Their Teams After Losing In Playoffs

The 2024 NBA playoffs are underway and some teams need to perform or risk a completely different lineup next year. Teams such as the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets will keep their core for the foreseeable future but other sides including the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks need to perform or risk losing their best players this summer. 

Here are the 15 NBA stars who could leave their teams if they lose in the playoffs. 

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo

2023-24 Season Statistics: 30.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Giannis Antetokounmpo needs to win the championship this season, or at least play in the NBA Finals because anything less than that will result in major questions for the Bucks organization. Giannis Antetokounmpo made his intentions clear before the season, claiming he wants to win a championship at all costs and that forced the Bucks organization to make the blockbuster deal for Damian Lillard.

If Giannis does not win in Milwaukee with Lillard (who might have his own issues) by his side, the Greek Freak will ultimately have a very thought-provoking summer in terms of where he wants his future to be. Losing in the first or second round would result in a ton of questions asked, and the best two-way player in the world could be looking to join a new side.

2. LeBron James

2023-24 Season Statistics: 25.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG

LeBron James has gone on before about how he wants to play with his eldest son, Bronny James. The King’s legacy is secured forever, even in Los Angeles, so he has to do what is best for the final years of his career. LeBron James is one of the best players in the world, even at 39 years old, so he has at least two more years left in the tank if he wants to play longer.

James and the Los Angeles Lakers are already 0-2 down to the reigning NBA champions Denver Nuggets in the first round and an early exit could see The King call it a career with the franchise and wait to see what happens with Bronny. Make no mistake, if Bronny is drafted, LeBron will consider joining him because he doesn’t need a max contract and could see out his final years with his son. An early playoff exit could see LeBron decline his $51,415,938 player option and test free agency.

3. Donovan Mitchell

2023-24 Season Statistics: 26.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Donovan Mitchell’s future in Cleveland is already uncertain, and an early playoff exit will see the shooting guard very likely leaving town. The All-Star is one of the most talented in the NBA when it comes to scoring the ball, and almost every team in the NBA would jump at a chance to sign him. His 26.6 points per game average means there aren’t many better players than him right now.

The Cavaliers have a bright future with Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, so it won’t be immediate lottery pickings for the team if Mitchell does leave. However, it will affect Cleveland’s ability to contend so their best bet is to try and negotiate a trade with their best player and try to get some assets back. If the Cavaliers get bounced before the Eastern Conference Finals, it is likely Mitchell’s career in Cleveland is over because the player will want out.

4. Damian Lillard

2023-24 Season Statistics: 24.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG

Similar to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard will need to think very clearly about his future if the Milwaukee Bucks get bounced early in the playoffs. He has set himself up financially for life and is a Hall of Famer, so being in a city that makes you depressed might not be worth it. Lillard doesn’t seem happy in Milwaukee and could seek happiness beyond playing with one of the best players in the world.

Sure, Lillard wants to win a championship, but he has shown before that comfort is what motivates him. He had it in Portland as a big fish in a small pond and seemed perfectly content not winning there. Lillard wants to live in a place he feels most happy and he could ask to leave because he is under contract until 2026-27 with a player option worth $63,228,828 after that.

5. Zion Williamson

2023-24 Season Statistics: 22.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

The New Orleans Pelicans are sick of having to deal with Zion Williamson being unavailable due to injury or weight control. The big man needs to lose weight, and he doesn’t seem to be motivated enough to do it. That could alleviate the number of injuries he has because he is too explosive to be landing on his joints at his size. Unfortunately, Zion seems too comfortable in his current environment.

His potential is not being met and he keeps letting his franchise down. There have been rumors that Zion wants to leave, and even if he has denied them until now, the Pelicans might take matters into their own hands if they lose early in the playoffs (0-1 against the Thunder) and Zion isn’t available to help them again. Expect a busy summer for Williamson because most of the Pelicans fanbase has had enough of the frustration.

6. Julius Randle

2023-24 Season Statistics: 24.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Julius Randle has been the main part of New York’s resurgence in the Eastern Conference over the last few years. His improved play and All-Star performances have made the Knicks relevant, and they have taken a step forward with the addition of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby. The question is, how high is their ceiling?

If the Knicks flame out in the playoffs again and don’t show improvement in terms of making the Eastern Conference Finals, Randle could be placed on the chopping block even if he is currently injured. The Knicks need to be shrewd operators and outside of possibly Brunson, nobody is untouchable which means Randle could be moved for the right price.

7. Paul George

2023-24 Season Statistics: 22.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Paul George has yet to sign a long-term deal with the Clippers even if Kawhi Leonard has. It could come down to money since George wants a max deal over many years and the Clippers might not be happy paying another injury-prone star max dollars. That means if George doesn’t perform well enough in the playoffs and the team is bounced too soon, the swingman could leave.

It could be on his own terms, due to the financial situation, or it could come down to the Clippers pulling a blockbuster deal in a sign-and-trade situation. George only has a $48,787,676 player option for next season and if his future isn’t resolved no matter what happens with the Clippers, he could be moved. If the Clippers don’t win a championship this season, the possibility of George leaving greatly increases.

8. James Harden

2023-24 Season Statistics: 16.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 8.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG

James Harden is in the same boat as Paul George. The Beard is exiting his prime slowly and is not worth max dollars although desperate teams might be willing to pay him. He has a player option next season but he wants a long-term deal to make the final big bucks before his impending retirement over the next few years. The Clippers, however, will play the waiting game.

If Los Angeles makes it to the Western Conference Finals, at least, and the stars show up, they could run it back for a few more years. If the Clippers get bounced early, and James Harden doesn’t perform, they won’t bring back the nearly 35-year-old guard. Harden will always have a high offensive IQ but he doesn’t have what it takes anymore to be an untouchable piece. He is off to a great start in the playoffs, dropping 28 points and 8 assists, but we need to see more.

Related: Ranking 30 NBA Stars By Cost Per Point For The 2023-24 Season

9. Brandon Ingram

2023-24 Season Statistics: 20.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.7 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.6 BPG

The New Orleans Pelicans want to keep both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram but one of them could leave if the team decides to blow it up. We explained why the big man could leave already, but the Pelicans might feel that moving Ingram is the best thing for their franchise. The swingman is an All-Star, but not performing in the playoffs could see the end of his career in New Orleans.

Ingram could bring back some valuable assets to the Pelicans organization as they look to build around Zion Williamson because he is under contract next year for $36,016,200 before he hits free agency. We have already seen how New Orleans might have to choose between the pair, and Ingram could be considered less untouchable than the player they took No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

10. Tyler Herro

2023-24 Season Statistics: 20.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG

The Miami Heat might need to stop trying the same things and expecting different results. They tried to win another championship with Dwyane Wade as the only star after their 2006 championship win, and it didn’t materialize until LeBron James and Chris Bosh came over. They won’t win as currently constructed and might need one more star player to get over the hump.

Tyler Herro will be the player other NBA teams will ask for because he is only 24 years old and Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are both untouchable. The shooting guard is a tremendous offensive threat but he could be made the sacrificial lamb for a star player heading to Miami this summer, especially if they fail to overcome the 0-1 deficit against the title-favorites Boston Celtics in the first round.

11. Bradley Beal

2023-24 Season Statistics: 18.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Bradley Beal’s time in Phoenix could be a long and painful one unless the Suns can make a clever move this summer to swap out his contract. The former All-Star is making supermax dollars until 2026-27, and if Phoenix cannot defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, he has to be the first player to go. He is declining before our eyes and simply can’t stay healthy.

The Suns might have handicapped their future with their superstar Big Three, and obviously, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker won’t be moved. If the Suns fail in the first round, Beal has to be traded because he hasn’t shown enough to be part of a long-term Big Three.

12. Khris Middleton

2023-24 Season Statistics: 15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Khris Middleton has dropped significantly from the levels he showed during the 2020-21 season. The two-way former All-Star is not the same player that helped Giannis Antetokounmpo win the NBA championship as his numbers were down across the board. As he approaches 33 years old, there are doubts about whether Middleton can recover the form that made him a former three-time All-Star.

Middleton will make $31,666,667 next season and has a $34,012,345 player option the season after, meaning the Bucks need to be very careful about how they set up their team. If the Bucks perform well this season and both Giannis and Dame are happy with their situation, they might decide to keep Middleton as a third option. However, an early playoff exit could mean Middleton’s time is up in Milwaukee.

13. Tobias Harris

2023-24 Season Statistics: 17.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Tobias Harris is a free agent this summer and he won’t be returning to Philadelphia by most accounts. While an above-average talent and a starter in the modern NBA, he simply isn’t the third option the 76ers need to win an NBA championship with Joel Embiid as the main man. As a result, Harris will certainly leave the team if they don’t make it to the Finals and it is looking bad for the team who sit 0-2 in the first round. 

He had a solid season when looking at the numbers and is always a dual-threat inside and outside the paint, but his max contract might have prevented the 76ers from making bigger moves in recent years. Finally, they can clear space and rebuild with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey because the time to win is now. Embiid is simply too injury-prone and every season is becoming more valuable than the next.

14. Josh Giddey

2023-24 Season Statistics: 12.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Josh Giddey is still dealing with some off-court issues that could see his time in Oklahoma City come to an end, but a failed performance in the playoffs could hasten that conclusion. The point guard helped the Thunder capture the first seed in the Western Conference but he is probably the most movable out of all the players in the starting lineup when looking at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams.

The Thunder could decide to add one more star player to take this team over the top if they fail to make the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder are favored against the Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs, but they won’t be judged until the second round. Anything less than a competitive second round and probably a Western Conference Finals appearance could see some top-heavy changes.

15. Austin Reaves

2023-24 Season Statistics: 15.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 5.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG

Austin Reaves isn’t exactly a star player but he can impact a game in the starting lineup for any team in the NBA. A talented scorer and passer, Reaves knows his role in the Lakers lineup and the team always benefits when he plays well. However, the Lakers cannot waste any more seasons. If Bronny is not drafted and/or LeBron decides to stay in Los Angeles, the time to win is right now.

That means Austin Reaves might have to go, along with players such as D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura. The Lakers can find a star player to add to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and Reaves could be the one player they can trade to get him. At 25 years old, Reaves has plenty of value that the Lakers can cash in on. 

Related: 10 Superstars Under The Most Pressure In 2024 NBA Playoffs

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