The rumors circulating about the Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t amount to anything at the February 5 deadline, but that will only postpone speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee rather than ending it.
Jake Fischer, writing for The Stein Line (Substack link), says his sources around the situation still believe that a move to what he calls “a true title contender” is the most likely outcome for Giannis this summer, especially since many of those contenders will be able to offer more than they did at the deadline.
According to Fischer, many people around the league are also expecting the Nets to emerge as a legitimate suitor for the two-time MVP, either using a package built around Michael Porter Jr. and draft picks or one that keeps Porter in Brooklyn.
Fischer adds that how teams like the Rockets and Spurs fare in the playoffs could impact Antetokounmpo’s trade market too.
We have more from around the league:
- Ja Morant wasn’t traded at the deadline, with reports indicating that the Grizzlies weren’t ready to accept a package similar to the one the Hawks received for Trae Young. While there wasn’t a strong market for the Memphis point guard at the deadline, multiple teams believe that the Bucks have real interest in bringing Morant in, Fischer reports, whether as a successor to Antetokounmpo in their next phase of team-building or as a complement to him.
- Trade deadline moves by the Wizards and Jazz reduced the future financial flexibility of two of the projected cap space teams in 2026, leaving Chicago, Brooklyn, and the two Los Angeles teams as the summer’s probable cap room clubs. According to Fischer, the Bulls have signaled that their primary directive in free agency will be going after wings. The list of free agent wings ranges from unrestricted veterans like Khris Middleton and Tobias Harris to younger restricted FAs such as Bennedict Mathurin and Tari Eason. In addition to wings, the guard-heavy Bulls will also need to find a starting center.
- After removing his second-year player option in order to facilitate a trade from the Knicks to the Bulls, Guerschon Yabusele is expected to have a competitive EuroLeague market this summer, Fischer writes, noting that the French forward had considered signing with the Nuggets prior to joining the Knicks.
Going to Golden State for Jimmy and a drink bottle. Seriously though, OKC should see how they perform this playoffs while contemplating going in for Giannis too.
Big big payroll incoming and some young guys who most definitely still have appeal yet found it hard to stay on the court. Got a few picks.
Are the Nets “a true title contender?” Asking for a friend.
Antman and KD are absolute goners from their current teams. Ja and Zion are too. I can see a megadeal emerging…might Giannis to GSW be wrapped into it?
GSW are going to be contenders next year, Brooklyn are not. Jimmy wont even be fully back to normal for another 6-12 months after he is reactivated, why keep him if he’s not going to be fully back? Jimmy+Podz+picks might be all that’s needed, especially if OKC and SAS stay the course and stay out of the Giannis market.
Giannis has no interest playing on west coast. And there will be approximately 15 teams that make better offers than whatever the best warriors offer is.
Name those 15 teams. No one has more draft capital+actually wants G than GSW. Thunder and Spurs are OUT on him. You are coping.
I know situations are different but the Celtics without Tatum are being lead by Jaylen Brown who’s been fantastic and basically carried the team to the top in the east. They only just traded for Vuce and prior to that didn’t have much at the 4/5 spots. Cade and the pistons are in a similar position, at the top of the east off the back of 1 player. Brown has a slightly better supporting cast with White and Pritchard whereas Cade has Duren and role players basically.
My point is why does Giannas not get criticism for carrying this bucks team?
Giannas is easily better than Cade and Jaylen. The Bucks although not a great roster have some handy players. Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr, Kyle Kuzma and now Cam Thomas. But yet they suck and Giannas doesn’t get any discredit from the media/fans.
I think he’s a beast but he is also 32 and cant shoot. I wouldn’t be giving up everything to get him if I’m one of those top teams. He can carry is team he needs good players around him although he’s a top 5 player. As he gets older it’ll only get worse
I’ve been saying this on this site for the last 6 months and received criticism every single time. Giannis is not as good as everybody thinks he is, especially at his age. He has no mid-range game and no post-up game. Therefore, he’s always going to get hurt the way he plays. He’s not better than brown or cade at this point in his career. As you see 1 player is good enough to carry a team to the 2nd round. We have seen it with Jordan, Bron, Wade, Bosh, olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson. I could keep going on and on. Yet year after year there is always an excuse. He has won conference finals appearance. And the one NBA championship? If KD toe was not on the line he maybe don’t win one.
On top of that, the Bucks have tried to appease him by bringing in any and every player that he has requested. Signing his brother to the team. And like I said, most people don’t understand that winning playing high-level basketball. It’s more than just having pieces around you. When you sign your family members And friends to a team. It pretty much seals the deal on winning a championship because it affects the other teams and players knowing that there’s somebody on the team that does not deserve to be on the team. Candidates played it any more than that unless you’re on a team and understand how it works. It’s no different than somebody. Getting promoted at your job has no management experience. He most likely will not get the most out of the team even if it’s a high performing team.
Said all that to say I really think Giannis is still a really great player. It’s just unless he changes playing style. He can’t carry a team because he will always be hurt and teams can scheme to take him away in the playoffs
Yeah I don’t think I’d go as far as your gone by saying Cade and Jaylen are better. Plus the no post and midrange game thing.
I don’t know I think he’s still top 5 it’s just instead of providing that again this year in an easy eastern conference he’s chosen to wings complain and demand a trade basically.
Agree 1000% about the brothers thing. They shouldn’t be no where near the team I don’t care that it makes him slightly happier for them. They can be just as supportive a couple rows back. Plus as you say the affect that has on the rest of the team too. Look at Rollins and Deing those guys for the majority of their small careers were 12th men and been given more of an opportunity look alright, you don’t get that at all with old mates bros on the bench.
Idk I know the bucks situation sucks but he’s lowkey part at fault of that pressuring management to trade for a star and then said star getting injured, waived and going back to where he came from. LeBron gets hate all the time for the way he talks management into player movements but cause Giannas is foreign, funny, not as serious, didn’t leave whatever he gets the free pass
A little more sense, please.
You cant argue Giannis will be traded to a real contender and mention the Brookly Nets as a trade Partner, giving away their only good player.
I doubt that the warriors will be contenders next season. Father Time is finally catching up with Steph..despite how great he is. The warriors need a new star to lead them to another championship. Is that Podz or someone like Giannis.??..Who knows..What matters is that they need to clean house asap. Klay is gone. The bench isn’t what it used to be. Steph is close to retirement. Dray is still Dray for whatever that’s worth nowadays. The Dynasty has been over for awhile now. And no the Nets are not contenders either..even if that’s a joke, it’s a bad one. They are rebuilding and I’m pretty sure the warriors will be doing something similar soon.
“Steph is close to retirement.” lmao WRONG. You believe all these lies, but why?
He’s got a few good years left imo, maybe 2 or 3 if his body holds up. Now..it’s up to Dunleavy and the rest of management to decide if it’s worth building another championship run together before Steph finally hangs it up.
Steph has 6-10 years left, especially if he reduces his role and comes off the bench in his mid 40s. He has stated he will play to 50 if he can. He isn’t going to retire unless he gets a legit career-ending injury. Runners knee at his age just means he has to stop playing off ball and go back to normal PG again.
Hahahaha 10 years. Steph is going to play amazing ball at age 50.
Also, I do agree that Okc and the Spurs will try to keep their core together despite Giannis looking for a new contender to play with. Those two teams built their way up, the right way. The strategic and patient way. So yes, I do agree that they will stay away from bringing in a player like Giannis, because he’s the type of player that could ruin everything those two teams have built so far. Kinda sad tbh, because it’s starting to look like Giannis may never win another ring. He needs the perfect team built around him, especially when you consider his play style, age and recent injury concerns
Oh my god give it a rest with the Giannis stuff. He said he wants to be Milwaukee his whole career. These insiders are just engagement baiting you.