NBA Swing: Five Players with the Most on the Line in the Playoffs

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As the NBA moves deep into the first round of the 2026 playoffs, there are questions for several players who could be playing the last series for their current teams. For some of these players, years with their current teams may be leading to no success, while for others, a fresh start may have been the wrong choice for others. For these players, one or two playoff rounds could see the end of their current situations.

Karl Anthony-Towns

At the time of this writing, the 3rd seed New York Knicks are down 1-2 in their first-round playoff matchup against the 6th seed Atlanta Hawks after Atlanta won Games 2 and 3 on last-second buckets. For the Knicks, their shocking Game 2 and Game 3 losses came from defense lapses in the final few minutes of the game. Jalen Brunson has done what he is known for, averaging 28.5 PPG, 7.0 APG, and 3.5 RPG, but Karl Anthony-Towns has struggled a bit on the court.

Despite putting up averages of 21.5 PPG and 3.0 APG, his RPG has dropped from nearly 12.0 RPG in the regular season to just 8.0 RPG. Towns would disappear late in Game 2 against the Hawks, something that has been a constant for Towns throughout the season. With the expectations of the Knicks being the NBA Finals after making the Eastern Conference Finals last year before firing head coach Tom Thibodeau, changes are likely to happen again if the team gets eliminated early. With rumors linking Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo once again, now that signs point to him leaving the Bucks, Towns is the most likely player to be moved to land Antetokounmpo. For Towns, he is not only playing for a deep playoff run, but very well may be playing for his immediate future with the team as well.

Kevin Durant

Prior to Game 1 of the Houston Rockets 1st round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, it was ruled that Kevin Durant would be out following a knee contusion he suffered in practice. The Rockets would lose by nine points in L.A., but there would be hope when Durant was activated for Game 2. In Game 2, Durant would finish with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Rockets would still lose with Durant’s return, losing 94-101. Down 0-2 and heading back to Houston, both the Rockets and Durant have their backs against the wall. A team has only been able to come back from down 0-2 to win a series 34 times in league history.

With the drama surrounding Durant and the Rockets both on and off the court, there are rumblings that Durant could request a trade from the Rockets if the team gets eliminated from the playoffs early. While there was promise when Durant was traded to Houston last summer, the team has not met its expectations, and the chemistry between Durant and the younger players has not been perfect. At 37 years old, Durant is nearing the end of his career and could attempt to pursue a championship run with another team.

Mikal Bridges

Like his teammate Karl Anthony-Towns, Mikal Bridges has a lot of pressure on his shoulders from his playoff performance so far. In three games so far, Bridges has seen his playoff stats drop across the board. So far, he is averaging 7.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG, and 1.6 APG, on playoff career low shooting splits of 42.1% from the field and 30% from three. Bridges would receive notable criticism from the media following his final three-point attempt to win the game in New Yorks Game 2 loss against the Hawks. Bridges would follow Game 2 up with a 0-point, 1 rebound, 2 assist, 4 turnover performance in the Knicks’ Game 3 loss.

For Bridges, the pressure goes back to the Knicks trade for Bridges, which included five first-round picks. Entering the first year of his four-year, $150 million extension with the Knicks, New York may be inclined to test the waters for a Bridges trade to keep a championship contender around Jalen Brunson. Like with Towns, his contract could be the key to acquiring a superstar this summer to pair with Brunson. With the top of the East only getting stronger, New York moving on from Bridges could be a real possibility with an early playoff exit.

Donovan Mitchell

Since joining the team in the summer of 2022, Donovan Mitchell has led the Cleveland Cavaliers to be a great regular-season team, only to collapse in the playoffs. In the last three seasons, the Cavaliers were eliminated in the first round in 2023 and were eliminated in the second round in both 2024 and 2025. The Cavs would make changes, including bringing in Kenny Atkinson as head coach in 2024 and trading Darius Garland ahead of the 2025 trade deadline for James Harden. The pressure on Mitchell now is more than ever. While the Cavs are currently up 2-1 in their first-round matchup against the Toronto Raptors, the second round and Eastern Conference Finals will only be tougher. If eliminated, the Cavs and Mitchell may have to discuss their future.

In a report from Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Cavaliers are expected to discuss the potential of trading Mitchell this summer if he decides not to opt into his is player option for the 2027-28 season before becoming a free agent in 2028. If the Cavaliers get eliminated from the playoffs early once again, Mitchell could look at a future away from the Cavaliers. If the Cavaliers can make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, there may be some hope that Mitchell opts in and signs an extension with the Cavs.

Julius Randle

For the Minnesota Timberwolves, they have been three wins away from the NBA Finals each of the last two postseasons. They now look to reach the Western Conference Finals for the third season in a row. Anthony Edwards has led the team in the Wolves series against the Denver Nuggets, averaging. 26.0 PPG, 9.5 RPG, and 4.5 APG. The number two option on the team, Julius Randle, has had an up-and-down start to the playoffs, and that could play a role in his future with the team.

In his three games in the series so far, Randle has finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game 1, 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in Game 2, and 15 points,6 rebounds, and 4 assists in Minnesota’s hammering of Denver in Game 3. In the first year of his three-year, $100 million extension, Randle has a player option for the. 2027-28 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. If the Wolves are eliminated in the first round, the organization could look to make major moves, likely starting with coach Chris Finch, before moving on to the roster. With the current roster construction of the Wolves, Randle may be one of the most likely players to be traded from Minnesota if they’re eliminated early.