Giannis Reportedly ‘Ready For New Home’; Bucks Listening To Offers
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home,” either at next week’s trade deadline or this offseason, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania.
According to Charania, multiple teams have made “aggressive” trade offers for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have begun listening to those pitches. While rival clubs have gotten the sense that Milwaukee is more open than ever to weighing offers on or before February 5, the Bucks have conveyed that they’re willing to wait until the summer to address the forward’s future if their asking price isn’t met, Charania writes.
Sources tell ESPN that the Bucks are believed to be seeking “blue-chip young talent” and several draft picks in any deal involving the two-time MVP. Waiting until after the 2026 draft lottery to make a deal could give Milwaukee a clearer sense of exactly which picks teams are prepared to offer for Antetokounmpo, Charania notes.
Antetokounmpo told The Athletic earlier this month that he’ll “never” come out and say he wants a trade, and that it’s not in his nature to make such a request. However, Charania hears that Giannis and the Bucks have had “honest and open conversations” about the future and that the 31-year-old has suggested to the team “for months” that he thinks it may be time to part ways.
The Knicks reportedly spoke to the Bucks about a possible Antetokounmpo trade last offseason after Giannis identified New York as a preferred landing spot. Those talks didn’t go anywhere, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv tweets that the Knicks will be among the teams aggressively pursuing Giannis now that Milwaukee is apparently prepared to open up the bidding to a larger group of suitors.
The Heat will also be in pursuit of Antetokounmpo, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. As we relayed earlier today, a Marc Stein report named Miami as a possible frontrunner for the Greek star, with Stein citing a “vibe of confidence” coming from the Heat.
Although the Knicks and Heat will be among the teams trying to land Antetokounmpo, neither club is loaded with the type of draft assets that the Bucks would presumably be seeking in a blockbuster of this magnitude. The Knicks don’t currently have any tradable first-round picks, while Miami can offer just two first-rounders as a result of a protected 2027 pick owed to Charlotte that creates Stepien rule complications.
As Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron points out (via Twitter), both teams would be better equipped to pursue Giannis in the offseason, when the Heat could offer up to four first-round picks (one would be conditional) and the Knicks could offer two.
The Warriors are also considered a likely suitor for Antetokounmpo, with Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints referring to him as Joe Lacob‘s “dream” trade target. The Raptors are another club with legitimate interest in Giannis, Siegel adds.
Toronto controls all of its future first-round selections, while the Warriors’ 2030 pick (top-20 protected) is the only one of their first-rounders that’s been moved so far. Golden State could still offer first-rounders in 2026, 2028, and 2032, and could even include that ’30 pick by attaching 21-30 protection.
Trade speculation has swirled around Antetokounmpo for years and has gained steam since last spring, when the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third straight year as star point guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear.
Milwaukee’s front office aggressively reshaped the roster around Giannis in the offseason, waiving and stretching the final two years of Lillard’s maximum-salary contract in order to bring in center Myles Turner, one of the top free agents on the market. But those moves haven’t paid dividends for the Bucks, who fell to 18-27 on the season on Tuesday and are three-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks have scoured the trade market during the season and made players like Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis available as they look to improve their roster, but they haven’t gained traction on any deal they like. Charania suggests Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future and Milwaukee’s lack of appealing trade assets have complicated that search for roster upgrades.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported over the weekend that rival teams believed the prospect of an Antetokounmpo trade was becoming more realistic. Reiterating that point today, Fischer says (via Twitter) multiple sources viewed last Wednesday’s loss to Oklahoma City – and Giannis’ comments after the game – as a point of no return for the Bucks and their longtime star.
Charania reported last week that Antetokounmpo’s frustration level was at an “all-time high” and writes within his latest story that the uncertainty around the forward’s future has resulted in some unease and tension in the Bucks’ locker room.
Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined by a calf strain and appears unlikely to suit up again before next Thursday’s trade deadline. The Bucks haven’t provided a projected timeline for his recovery, but Giannis predicted after sustaining the injury last Friday that he’d be out for four-to-six weeks.
With Milwaukee struggling to win games and Antetokounmpo not expected to play anytime soon, the team could be incentivized to pivot to tanking mode – with or without a Giannis trade – during the second half of the season in order to secure a favorable pick in the 2026 draft. The Bucks don’t control their own selection, but they’ll have the last favorable of the Pelicans’ first-rounder and their own — given that New Orleans holds a 12-37 pick, even the lesser of those two picks should end up firmly in the lottery.
Antetokounmpo is earning $54.1MM this season, with a guaranteed $58.5MM salary for 2026/27 and a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28. He’ll be eligible to sign a new maximum-salary extension as of this October.
Karl-Anthony Towns Benched In Crunch Time Amid Trade Rumors
The Knicks closed out a win without Karl-Anthony Towns for the second time in four days, writes Jared Schwartz of The New York Post. On Saturday against Philadelphia, it was because he fouled out, but in Tuesday’s victory over Sacramento, coach Mike Brown made the decision to keep Towns on the bench for the final 6:51 and let Mitchell Robinson finish the game at center. The strategy worked as New York turned a four-point lead into a 16-point win after Towns departed.
Towns said of Brown’s decision. “We got a win, that’s the most important thing.”
Trade rumors have begun to emerge regarding Towns, whose offensive numbers have declined sharply in his first season under Brown. He finished with 17 points in 27 minutes last night while shooting 5-of-15 from the field and had a team-worst minus-3 rating.
After being acquired in a deal with Minnesota shortly before the start of last season, Towns teamed with Jalen Brunson to be the focus of the Knicks’ offense as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals. He averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds while earning third-team All-NBA honors.
The coaching transition from Tom Thibodeau to Brown seems to have affected Towns more than any other player. His stats have fallen to 20.5 PPG and 11.4 RPG and his shooting numbers (46.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range) are the worst of his career.
“At the end of the game, we had a group out on the floor that was playing well,” Brown explained. “It was a tight ballgame, so I just rode that group to the end of the game, which I’ve done before. We have Deuce (Miles McBride) out there, who’s not a starter, Mitch out there, who’s not a starter. We needed to get the win.”
Robinson’s emergence has been a factor in Towns’ reduced playing time, as he posted a plus-25 rating in 27 minutes against the Kings. However, Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post notes that the Knicks’ focus on keeping Robinson healthy for the playoffs and avoiding any further issues with his left ankle means his availability is frequently in question.
There have been conflicting reports on whether the Knicks are actually exploring a Towns deal, but it doesn’t seem likely to happen until Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s future is resolved. With a $53.1MM salary this season that rises to $57MM in 2026/27, Towns could be a valuable piece in a potential deal for the Bucks star.
Stein’s Latest: Sochan, Knecht, Pelicans, Kessler, Towns, Ellis, Dinwiddie
The Spurs have given Jeremy Sochan and his representatives permission to explore a potential trade, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required).
Sochan was selected with the ninth pick in the 2022 draft and was a consistent starter during his first two seasons in San Antonio. He has been pushed out of the rotation as the team has improved and has only appeared in 27 games this season, averaging 4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.1 minutes per night. Shooting continues to be an issue for the 22-year-old power forward, who is only connecting at 46.9% from the field and 28.7% from three-point range for his career.
The Knicks have been speculated as a potential Sochan suitor in their search for low-cost frontcourt help. He has a $7.1MM expiring contract and will be a restricted free agent this summer if he receives a qualifying offer.
Stein shares more inside information from around the league:
- Second-year Lakers small forward Dalton Knecht could also be on the move, according to Stein. He was a first-round pick in 2024, but is only seeing 12.5 minutes per night in 36 games this season and hasn’t played at all outside of garbage time over the past two weeks. Knecht was sent to Charlotte at last year’s deadline as part of a Mark Williams deal that was later rescinded.
- The Pelicans are seeking a “Desmond Bane-type offer” to part with Trey Murphy III or Herbert Jones, Stein states. Memphis received four future first-round picks and a first-round pick swap when Bane was sent to Orlando last summer. While New Orleans continues to flounder at the bottom of the West, both players are under long-term contracts, so there’s no urgency to move them.
- League sources tell Stein that the Jazz are confident about re-signing center Walker Kessler, who’s out for the season following left shoulder surgery. The Wizards are expected to pursue Kessler to team with Alex Sarr, according to Stein, but Utah will be able to match any offer for the restricted free agent.
- Teams around the league are watching the Knicks to see if they’re willing to consider moving Karl-Anthony Towns before the deadline or if they’re holding onto him as an asset for a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, Stein adds.
- Stein hears that an estimated 14 teams have expressed interest in Kings guard Keon Ellis. In an earlier column, Stein cited Ellis as possibly the most likely player to be traded before the deadline.
- Former NBA guard Spencer Dinwiddie said on a recent podcast that he’s interested in signing with the Rockets, Stein relays. Dinwiddie is a free agent after parting ways with Bayern Munich earlier this month, but Stein states that Houston is unlikely to consider any signings until the deadline passes.
Heat May Have Best Chance For Giannis Antetokounmpo Deal By Deadline
There are mixed signals on the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, with sources from two teams telling Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required) they believe a deal is possible before next week’s deadline, while a representative from another club expects the Bucks to wait until the offseason to get serious about parting with their franchise player.
League executives contacted by Stein consider the Heat to have the best chance at putting together a tempting deal for the Greek star. There’s also a “vibe of confidence” coming from Miami about a potential Antetokounmpo trade, according to Stein.
Stein states that the team’s best offer would be centered around Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and draft assets.
Herro is coming off an All-Star season, but injuries have limited him to 11 games so far this year and he’s currently dealing with a rib issue. He is only 26 and under contract for one more season at $33MM, and he would provide a reliable scoring threat to replace much of the production Milwaukee would lose by parting with Antetokounmpo.
Ware could be a long-term foundational piece for the Bucks’ frontcourt. The second-year center has shown a lot of promise and is averaging 11.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game at age 21, but he’s also been a frequent target of public criticism from Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. Ware has two seasons left on his rookie contract and will become eligible for an extension next summer.
Miami controls all its future first-round draft capital, except for a pick that was sent to Charlotte in last year’s Terry Rozier trade. That pick is lottery-protected in 2027 and unprotected in 2028.
It appears the weight of constant trade speculation surrounding Antetokounmpo — coupled with his continued absence due to a right calf strain — is having an effect on the Bucks, who fell to 18-27 with Tuesday’s loss to Philadelphia, Stein adds.
“I can’t wait until all the deadlines and stuff pass … because we’re Rumor Central,” coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s unbelievable. Some true, some not true. I don’t know what half of it is true, but it’s a distraction at times for sure.”
Raptors Notes: Poeltl, Shead, Respect, Murray-Boyles
The Raptors are considered one of the contenders that might make a bold move prior to the trade deadline. Head coach Darko Rajakovic has one name atop his wish list but that player is already in the organization, Michael Grange of Sportsnet tweets.
“There’s one guy that I really, really like that I would like to join our team. His name is Jakob Poeltl, that guy can definitely help us,” he said.
Toronto’s starting center has been sidelined since Dec. 21 due to a back injury and he remains out indefinitely. Poeltl recently received targeted pain relief treatment, per the team, and went through a non-contact workout on Tuesday, Grange notes.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Jamal Shead‘s omission from the Rising Stars competition is an “egregious snub,” Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. He observes that Shead is fourth in minutes and first in net rating for a team that’s 10 games over .500 and third in the Eastern Conference standings. Shead is averaging 7.2 points and 5.6 assists in 22.4 minutes per game. Shead took the news in stride, Lewenberg adds in another tweet. “I think everybody that made it is having really good years and contributing to their teams. So, I’m not really worried about that,” he said.
- The Raptors are gaining respect around the league after going 4-1 on their West Coast trip, including a 103-101 win over the Thunder, The Athletic’s Eric Koreen writes. They’re among the top five in the league in defensive rating despite the absence of Poeltl, their only true rim protector. Koreen suggests they’re resembling the 2021/22 Raptors, a team with modest preseason expectations that finished fifth in the East.
- Collin Murray-Boyles (left thumb contusion) is listed as questionable to play against the Knicks on Wednesday, Omer Osman tweets. The lottery pick, who is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, has missed Toronto’s last four games.
Southeast Notes: Larsson, Young, Bane, Johnson
Pelle Larsson has thrived in a starting role for the Heat this season, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald notes. The second-year player has made 26 starts this season and the Heat are 16-10 in those contests.
“We trust Pelle,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “Pelle is the guy that we can incorporate him in our starting lineup, and you instantly see the difference. For organizations and players around the league, you want a guy like Pelle. If he gets 15 [points], that just adds to your offense. But you know what he’s bringing day in, day out.”
Head coach Erik Spoelstra says Larsson keeps the offense humming by playing within his role.
“Pelle helps our offense so much,” Spoelstra said. “This kind of style that I’m talking about, like Pelle helps everybody because he cuts when you need to cut, he spaces with energy, he drives it hard, he runs hard. He does all the things that keep the engine of our offense going.”
The Heat hold a $2.3MM club option on Larsson’s contract for next season, which becomes guaranteed on opening night.
We have more on the Southeast Division:
- Heat two-way player Jahmir Young has been named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played between Jan. 19-25, according to the league (Twitter link). Young averaged 32.3 points, 10.3 assists and 2.3 steals in three games last week for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
- Magic guard Desmond Bane has changed representation, Orlando Sentinel beat reporter Jason Beede tweets. He will now be represented by Glushon Sports Management — the same agency that represents Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner. Bane, who is in the second year of a five-year, $197.2MM contract, was previously repped by Gersh Basketball.
- The Athletic’s Mirin Fader takes an in-depth look at how Hawks wing Jalen Johnson worked his way into an All-Star level player. He’s averaging 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists this season as the team’s new franchise cornerstone.
Pacific Notes: Booker, Green, Reaves, Collins, Zubac
With Devin Booker (ankle) and Jalen Green (hamstring) currently out of action, the Suns are looking for ways to survive this stretch. Booker is averaging a team-high 25.4 points and 6.2 assists per game and his presence alone helps generate better looks for his teammates, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic notes.
“When he’s in the game, I think it simplifies the way we get open looks,” wing Grayson Allen said. “We still do a good job most of the time of generating open looks for each other without him in the game, but it’s just harder and it’s harder to sustain for a 48-minute game.”
Green has only appeared in four games this season — he played just four minutes on Friday after experiencing right hamstring tightness and didn’t suit up against the Nets tonight. Green has either reinjured or tweaked the hamstring three times since initially straining it in training camp.
“When he’s ready to play and he feels good, he’ll be back out there,” coach Jordan Ott said. “He’s been out for a while. He’s going to have to learn his body and he wants to be sure, too. He’s 23 years old. He wants to feel right. We’re going to have to work through some of that.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers have ruled out Austin Reaves for their game against Cleveland on Wednesday, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel tweets. The Lakers have expressed optimism that Reaves, who has been sidelined by a left calf strain after suffering the injury on Christmas, can return during their current road trip. The Lakers will make three more stops after Wednesday before returning home from their eight-game journey.
- Clippers big man John Collins has an expiring $26.58MM contract, which could act as a nice trade sweetener. However, Collins is hopeful that he’ll remain with the organization through the trade deadline and re-sign with L.A. in the offseason, he told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports.com. “I’m hoping things are great. It feels like we are,” he said. “It feels like we’re doing well and speaking and all of that stuff. So I try not to think about that too much because it’s really out of my control. But from what I see right now, it’s looking good. Playing well doesn’t hurt.” Collins is averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this month for the resurgent Clippers.
- Ivica Zubac will carry a five-game double-double streak into the Clippers’ game against the Jazz tonight. His best outing during that stretch was an 18-point, 19-rebound performance in a win over the Lakers on Thursday. “They were going small and I thought Zu did a really good job of just showing his presence as a big man,” coach Tyronn Lue said, per Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. “It was huge for us.”
Clippers President Lawrence Frank Agrees To Multiyear Extension
The Clippers have caught fire over the past five weeks and now their top executive is reaping the benefits. President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank has agreed to a multiyear contract extension, four league sources tell The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Sam Amick.
While terms haven’t been disclosed, the extension is believed to be for four years. Other senior staff members are also expected to be offered extensions, The Athletic duo adds.
Frank, 55, has served as the Clippers’ front office president since 2017. He was an assistant coach with the Clippers from 2014-16 after head coaching stints with the Nets and Pistons.
Vardon reported in early December that owner Steve Ballmer was expected to give Frank and other front office members extensions despite the team’s poor start and aging roster. The seemed like a highly questionable decision when the Clippers hit rock bottom at 6-21 after a loss to Oklahoma City.
However, the team has orchestrated a turnaround since defeating the Lakers on Dec. 20. That victory began the Clippers’ current 15-3 run, moving them within three games of .500 and into 10th place on the conference standings, positioning the team for a play-in berth.
That resurgence has been led by Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 31.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals in his last 15 games and James Harden, who has averaged 25.1 points, 8.0 assists, and 4.3 rebounds during the streak.
Cavaliers Waive Two-Way Player Chris Livingston
5:26 pm: Livingston recently suffered a hand injury that will likely keep him out for about a month. That prompted Tuesday’s move, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.
4:48 pm: The Cavaliers have waived two-way player Chris Livingston, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.
Livingston signed his two-way deal in late October and appeared in just three games with the Cavaliers this season. He has seen action in 16 NBA G League contests with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game.
The 58th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Livingston spent his first two NBA seasons on a standard deal with Milwaukee, the team that drafted him. He rarely played for the Bucks, averaging just 4.7 minutes per game across 42 total appearances over that span.
The 6’6″ small forward played well for the Bucks’ Summer League team last July, earning a new one-year, minimum-salary contract in Milwaukee after having been waived two weeks earlier. That contract was fully guaranteed, but the Bucks decided to release him again ahead of the regular season due to a roster crunch.
Cleveland, which has been dealing with a number of injuries, can now add another player on a two-way deal. Forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin and wing Luke Travers are the Cavs’ other two-way players.
Kings Rumors: Ellis, Poeltl, Kuminga, DeRozan, LaVine
A “ton” of teams have called the Kings to inquire about Keon Ellis, according to James Ham of Locked On Kings (YouTube link), who identifies the Timberwolves, Pacers, Celtics, and Knicks as a few of the clubs his sources suggest are worth monitoring as suitors for the fourth-year guard.
“From what I have heard, (they) have all called on Keon Ellis,” Ham said.
Ellis is an intriguing trade candidate because his $2.3MM expiring contract makes him an attainable piece for just about any NBA team, including clubs like Minnesota, Boston, and New York, who are operating above the first tax apron. If he’s dealt, Ellis’ Bird rights would travel with him and he’d become extension-eligible on February 9, just a few days after the trade deadline.
One weekend report suggested Ellis is among the players most likely to be moved at the deadline, with the Kings said to be seeking a late first-round pick.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Discussing the possibility of the Raptors making a play for center Domantas Sabonis, Ham said the Kings have “zero interest” in acquiring big man Jakob Poeltl, who has battled back issues this season and is under contract through 2029/30 (YouTube link). “‘We’re not getting into the Jakob Poeltl business’ is what I was told,” Ham said, though he observed that the same source didn’t say anything about the Kings not getting into the “RJ Barrett business.” Barrett was drafted by the Knicks when current Kings general manager Scott Perry was in New York’s front office.
- Responding to speculation that the Raptors would seek Ellis along with Sabonis in a trade with the Kings, Ham says a source told him “unequivocally” that Toronto and Sacramento haven’t discussed Ellis to this point.
- The Kings are no longer willing to include any draft picks in a trade offer Jonathan Kuminga, but they remain interested in the Warriors forward, Ham confirms (YouTube link). “I do know for a fact that the Sacramento Kings have offered, in the past, DeMar DeRozan straight up for Jonathan Kuminga,” Ham said. Golden State would need to include one more player in that hypothetical deal in order to stay below its hard cap, but it doesn’t sound like the Warriors have real interest in DeRozan anyway.
- Zach LaVine would “absolutely love to move on from Sacramento,” according to Ham (YouTube link), though his maximum-salary contract will be a major impediment. Ham suggests there was a “ray of hope” about a potential deal with the Bucks involving Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, but that outcome seems less likely as a result of Milwaukee’s recent struggles and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s latest calf strain.