Injuries to two star players may be taking some of the excitement out of the trade deadline, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo were expected to be two of the top names on the market, but Morant suffered an elbow sprain that will force him to miss at least three weeks and Antetokounmpo left Friday’s game with a right calf injury that he expects will keep him out of action for four-to-six weeks.
Bontemps notes that the market for Morant was already shaky, in part because of his availability issues. He has played just 20 games this season and 79 total over the past three years. Morant’s contract, which pays him $42.2MM next season and $44.9MM in 2027/28, also limits his trade value, along with his diminished shooting — he’s currently connecting at 41% from the field and 23.5% from three-point range.
If Antetokounmpo does miss several weeks, the Bucks’ season could be a “lost cause” by the time he returns, Bontemps adds. Already sporting an 18-26 record, it would be easy for Milwaukee to fall down the standings and focus on the draft rather than trying to make a run at the play-in tournament. That could result in a high selection in a year with a loaded draft class, while seeing if Antetokounmpo is willing to commit to signing an offseason extension.
There’s more trade news to pass along:
- The Knicks‘ strategy for the deadline will likely include trading away Guerschon Yabusele, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link). Begley is the latest media member to suggest the Spurs as a possible destination for Yabusele because of his experience playing alongside Victor Wembanyama on the French national team. Begley mentions Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado as a possible addition for New York, and he doesn’t believe Karl-Anthony Towns will be moved.
- Trading Alvarado could be one of several moves for the Pelicans, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link), who says New Orleans continues to get calls about Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones and Saddiq Bey. No deals are close, but Siegel said there’s a belief around the league that the Pelicans will be active before the deadline.
- Head coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t expect the Clippers to be involved in any major deals, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link).“If a team’s trying to trade for you, then somebody wants you,” Lue said. “You could be in other guys’ shoes where nobody wants you, nobody wants to trade for you, and then you’re out of the league. … In our situation, I don’t see much movement. So I think we’ll be good.”
KAT and Yaba to ATL. Send back Porzingis/Daniels/Pelicans first round pick 2026. KAT played 16 minutes today because Mike Brown and his teammates think he is trash.
Quite lopsided in favour of NY that one. Pelicans aren’t giving that pic up.
Maybe win now, or maybe win later. Go for now. ATL could do it, they have pieces.
Rebuilding….definitely keeping that pic though. I don’t think KAT is moveable atm.
Ehh, Knicks are trying to win this year. They’re not trading KAT to get a center that’s never healthy.
I don’t think the Hawks are giving up the potential number 1 pick in the draft and their best defender for the right to pay KAT over 60 mill a year in the coming years.
Agrees – they just got rid of an overpaid offense-only ‘superstar.’ Why fall back into that trap?
No one is trading the #1 pick potentially. Not in This CBA, not for even Giannis.
Unless it’s for Derik Queen!
Dancing Queen? Young and sweet only 17?
KAT only played that low of minutes because of foul trouble , not because he’s trash
Knicks trade for Porzingis?! Now I’ve heard everything lol
Guerschon Yabusele, Dadiet, Diawara, PJ Tucker’s contract, draft rights to someone, cash and picks to NOP for Bey and Looney
Here you go KnickAI. This is it
I think Lue is reading the room wrong. 😆
If MDJ is good at his job he will wait until the Feb 5 deadline day but still play Kuminga if he is healthy, thus maxing out the chances to win in the meantime. The Bucks’ season is cooked, but the Warriors are 25-21.
Al, how about this: Josh Hart and Yabusele for Draymond?
The knicks have demonstrated very recently that they suck pretty badly without Hart, not sure why they would trade him away….
Sochan isn’t even playing this yr for Spurs. Sure would be great if Knicks could trade for him. Yabusele and Diadet ……. Not sure where Yabusele has value.
A big D PF would be nice to play next to Towns …
Alvarado isn’t a bad idea. Only what do they give up for him …… I rather have Bey and Looney.
Alvarado for what? Kolek has played great. And Deuce is back. Ditto Shamet. I don’t really think shifting the deck chairs is really necessary for the Knicks. They probably needed to get that dry patch out of their system now so they can finish strong.
Kolek is still inconsistent. I like him. But I want to get out of East more. Alvarado is from Bklyn and a vet. He can add more than Kokek at this time.
Alvarado isn’t better than Kolek. Come on. Deck chair shuffling.
He is right now. Experience is big for playoffs. Alvarado can shut down Kolek by himself right now.
Not only is he better in every statistical category there is. He can defend and understands NYC mentality. Does not faze him.
Again, this is deck chair shuffling at best.
Sochan could help the Knicks. What do they have to give up to shake Yabusele?
Man to be honest. I think moving him will be tough. Hopefully someone likes our young guys. Or Wemby looks out tor his homey lol.
Sochan for Yabusele and Dadiet is the move. SA can start building the French Bench behind Wemby. Alvarado is awesome but we already have a lot of small guards
French bench lol !!!!!! I like that
Giannis injury should not affect the interest teams have in him, any team that passes on him now for this injury and sees another team get him, they will regret it for many years to come, as simple as!
Portland should take Giannas. Dame will be bavk next year!
Yes because that worked so well in Milwaukee
Doc is the problem, not Dame or Giannis
Can we stop w trading Yabu to Spurs simply because he happens to be French. I liked them going after him before they got Kornet but he does nothing for them now. They just need a shooter
Spurs aren’t giving up olynyk for yabu, because why bring in a disgruntled player who wants minutes he can’t earn, and has a player option next year?
Giannis could barely keep a straight face when he self diagnosed himself to be out for 4-6 weeks right after the game. He knows that he’s going to New York, and he did a very poor acting job to make it look like he fought through injuries until almost the very end, but the matter of the fact is that he quit on his team before the game ended and headed back out of the locker room once he heard the crowd reaction and realized there’s a chance they could still win.
Even though Giannis is a couple of years away from being below mediocre, gotta feel bad for the poor bucks fans that are getting katted soon lmfahavo, and I don’t think that this trade puts them in actual contention for a championship. It only put them in the driver seat in the east. To beat the west you will need a much higher basketball IQ.l and systm
Giannis is forcing his way out through exaggerating injuries. He can’t stand losing and being booed by the home crowd, doesn’t want them to dislike him for demanding a trade. He probably sees sitting out as the best option until Milwaukee decides to rebuild and trade him.