Being untouchable: The League's top dogs.

The Most Valuable Player award is given to players who give their team the most value on the court. However, the award's name is a bit misleading. While it is often true that those who win MVPs do land among the league's top value players, it isn't the true deciding factor of having the most value.

The best way to measure who in the NBA holds the most value for their team is to ask yourself; Are they untouchable?

Being untouchable in the NBA can mean two things: You have a no-trade clause in your contract, or the fact that your team would never trade you, no matter the package.

Having a no-trade clause is very rare in the NBA, leading many to believe that only the highest-value players have them in their deals. But this isn't necessarily true. While we have seen instances of players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant getting a no-trade clause and it being beneficial for both sides, we have also seen instances like in the case of Bradley Beal, where a no-trade clause can lock a team into a bad contract with no way out.

Locking the idea of untouchable into a contract doesn't hold the same meaning as the unspoken label.

This is why, league-wide, the idea of being untouchable has long been the best measure of value. Value being attached to a player comes from many things, the most important being:

Age: If you are a young player, the potential you hold brings value beyond just your performance. This applies mostly to rookies, guys like Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and Tre Johnson.

Performance: If you perform well and consistently, teams looking to win will offer a lot to acquire you. This applies to players like Paul George, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.

Contract: If you perform beyond the value of your contract and are locked into long-term deals, contending teams will look to acquire you because you take less salary. This applies to players like Ryan Rollins, Jaylon Tyson, and Jalen Duren.

That being said, there is a select group of players who fit each of these categories. These players are those who are labeled as untouchable. According to each category, I will give my top-5 most untouchable players in the NBA (and some honourable mentions).

Top-5 most untouchable NBA players:

5: Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks):

Cooper Flagg has made an impressive showing in his rookie season. Being the number-1 overall pick, he had high expectations, expectations that he blew out of the water. When Flagg made his debut, he was the youngest active player in the NBA, but he sure didn't play like it.

Flagg was, without a doubt, the best player on the Mavericks this season. He did well scoring the ball, averaging 21 ppg on solid efficiency. His jumpshot, while not effective yet, was promising. Flagg's defense is what really stood out. Flagg was one of the top wing defenders in the NBA. He displayed great footwork and the ability to use his athleticism to make tough plays and block shots. He was very distinguished, rarely making sloppy mistakes.

Flagg's showing his rookie year made it clear that he is the future of the Dallas Mavericks, and that he, without a doubt, has superstar potential. This combination leads Flagg to be the 5th most untouchable player in the NBA.

4: Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons):

Cade Cunningham had a slow start coming into the league, but he has definitely figured it out. Being a former 1st overall pick, Cade was drafted as the future of the Pistons, a team that had no direction. And while it took a couple of years, Cade has whipped the Pistons into shape, becoming one of the best players in the NBA in the process.

Cade Cunningham has become one of the best passers in the NBA, while also scoring an efficient 24 ppg. Cunningham has also drastically improved on the defensive end, becoming one of the league's leading guard shot-blockers. Cade's performances have led to the Pistons winning 60 games, being the top record in the Eastern Conference.

Cade leaping into being a top-10 player in the NBA, and his display of being able to lead a contending team, all at the age of 24, led him to being the 4th most untouchable player in the NBA.

3: Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves):

Anthony Edwards has ingrained himself as a consistent top-10 player in the NBA and has been considered by many to be the best Shooting Guard. Edwards walked into a struggling Timberwolves team with no hopes of contention, and by his fourth season, he led them to back-to-back conference finals.

Edwards is a stud. He is one of the league's premier scorers, being one of the flashiest in the process. Edwards became known for his gravity-defying dunks and continuously draws millions of viewers to his highlights. When people started saying he couldn't shoot, Edwards responded by leading the NBA in 3-pointers made. He is also no slouch on defense, being an elite perimeter defender.

Being a 24-year-old superstar who has shown he can lead an unstable team into contention year in and year out, Edwards is the future of the Timberwolves, and the 3rd most untouchable player in the NBA.

2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder):

Let's be real, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has an argument to be the best player in the world. Not only has he consistently outperformed all of his competition, but he has also become the key piece of what may become a dynasty. Shai has just entered his prime and has already won an MVP (potentially 2), a championship, and a Finals MVP.

Shai is the best scorer in the NBA. He is currently having the second-most efficient high-volume scoring season from a guard in NBA history, only behind 2016 Stephen Curry. He has already led his team to a championship, 3 straight 1 seeds, and historic levels of greatness. Not many players can say they led their team to 68 wins despite their co-star missing most of the season. Quite frankly, the Thunder had 6-foot-5 Jalen Williams starting at center for a good chunk of the year, and still had a top-5 net rating ever, thanks to consistent MVP scoring performances from Shai.

Having a Hall of Fame resume at the start of your prime is something almost nobody can say they have. Although many will disagree, Shai is a legend of the game and will continue to lead the Thunder to great things, making him the 2nd most untouchable player in the NBA.

1: Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs):

This one is cut and dry. Victor Wembanyama (Wemby), in only his third season, is a top-2 MVP candidate, the best two-way player in the NBA, the first-ever unanimous DPOY, and arguably a top-3 player in the world.

Wemby has real GOAT potential. Many believe that he will be the greatest defensive player of all-time when it is said and done. He has the skills and shooting ability of a guard at 7-foot-4. His mix of defense and scoring, as well as his relentless determination to constantly improve and unnatural frame, gives arguably the best goat trajectory since LeBron James in 2003. He has already led the Spurs to 62 wins, making them second in the West, and the Spurs have the second-best championship odds.

This one is not much of a question. You don't trade Victor Wembanyama. Landing a player like Wemby is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that under no circumstances can you pass up. Wemby holds unlimited opportunity in his career and is no doubt the most untouchable player in the NBA.

Honourable Mentions:

Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets):

Jokic is a top 3 player in the NBA and deserves his flowers, but his age relative to players above him limits his untouchable value. Jokic is also limited by his lack of effectiveness on the defensive end.

Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers):

Luka is a similar story to Jokic. He continually dominates his competition, consistently being a top-6 player, but his lack of 2-way value and his struggles with staying healthy lead me to leave him out of the top 5.

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors):

This mention is less of a league-wide standing, but more a contextual placement. It's true Curry is past his prime days and is getting worse year by year, but he is considered NBA royalty, specifically to the Warriors. There is 0 chance the Warriors would ever trade Curry, and they will continue to pay him top-dollar as long as he wants to continue playing.

Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics):

Jayson Tatum may have been argued for top-5 last season, but his Achilles injury and his age creeping up did remove him from being in the top-5.

Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers):

Tyrese Haliburton is a unique case. He nearly led his team to an NBA championship in an all-time great playoff run, but he still hasn't shown he can be a true top-5 player. He also suffered an Achilles tear similar to Tatum's, so for now, he is out of the top-5.