Bucks’ Antetokounmpo, Rivers Address Giannis Trade Rumors
Asked on Wednesday about an ESPN report that stated the Bucks and Knicks had offseason discussions about Giannis Antetokounmpo after he expressed some concerns about Milwaukee’s ability to contend for a title, the two-time MVP said he hadn’t read the story, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, Antetokounmpo spoke in more general terms about the trade speculation that has swirled around him in recent months and years.
“I’ve said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I’m here,” Antetokounmpo said. “I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go, and it’s definitely going to be hard. We’re going to take it day by day, but I’m here. So all the other extra stuff does not matter. I think I’ve communicated with my teammates, communicated with the people I respect and love, that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, I wear this jersey, the rest does not matter. I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me.”
Despite expressing confidence in the Bucks’ revamped roster and making it clear he’s not seeking a change of scenery at this point, Antetokounmpo stopped short of stating that he’s committed to Milwaukee for the long term.
“If in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that’s human too,” he continued. “You’re allowed to make any decision you want. But I’m locked in. I’m locked in to this team. I’m locked in to these guys, to this group, and to this coaching staff and myself.”
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers was also asked on Wednesday about ESPN’s report and made more of an effort to downplay it, framing the discussions Milwaukee reportedly had with the Knicks as a single conversation that was instigated by New York and didn’t go anywhere.
“I’ve been coaching 26, 27 years and one thing that I know is that 30 teams call 30 teams, all right?” Rivers said, per Nehm (Twitter link). “‘Hey, would you like to trade Chris Paul?’ And you say no. That does not constitute a conversation, all right? I read where it said ‘several conversations.’ Well, that never happened. It was a conversation where a team called and (general manager) Jon (Horst) has been saying no now for 11 years. I don’t know why this is a new story, but I guess it is.
“… I can tell you Jon has never called a team about Giannis. That has never happened. And until that happens, you really don’t have a story.”
Antetokounmpo has two more guaranteed years left on his current maximum-salary contract, with a player option for the 2027/28 season. Speculation about his future has intensified as of late because the Bucks have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past years and are coming off their worst regular season since 2017/18.
For his part, Antetokounmpo continues to perform at an MVP level, averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 34.2 minutes per game while shooting 60.1% from the floor in 67 outings last season.
Pacers Notes: Wright, McConnell, Bradley, Furphy
Pacers guard Delon Wright, who is competing to earn a spot on the team’s regular season roster, was forced to exit Tuesday’s preseason opener after spending just four minutes on the court, writes Devon Henderson of The Athletic.
Handling the ball just across the half-court line late in the second quarter, Wright went to change directions and took a brutal head-to-head shot from Timberwolves guard Jaylen Clark, who was attempting to sneak behind him for the steal. Wright was knocked to the floor and took another shot to his head when it struck the court (Twitter video link).
Wright, who had a bloody gash above his right eye as a result of the play, received treatment on the court and was eventually helped to the locker room. The veteran guard is with the Pacers on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract, but is viewed as a legitimate contender to become the 15th man on a team that has 14 players on fully or partially guaranteed standard deals.
Here’s more on the Pacers:
- Wright wasn’t the only Pacers point guard who had to leave Tuesday’s game early. As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star writes, T.J. McConnell exited in the second quarter due to a sore left hamstring and didn’t return. Indiana, of course, is already missing its starting point guard, as Tyrese Haliburton will spend the entire 2025/26 season recovering from an Achilles tear.
- Tony Bradley provided crucial frontcourt depth for the Pacers down the stretch last season, but with Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman back following injury absences, there may not be room on the roster for him this fall. Bradley, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, said this week that he knows “what’s at stake” during the preseason, and that he’s determined to do all he can to remain in the NBA after spending two full years out of the league from 2023-25. “I stayed motivated ever since I went down to the G League and came up,” Bradley said, according to Dopirak (subscription required). “My whole mindset is just different, how I see everything. I’m very motivated, always.”
- 2024 second-round pick Johnny Furphy had a very limited role as a rookie, averaging just 7.6 minutes per night in 50 games. However, he’s playing with more confidence ahead of his second NBA season and is making a case for a spot in the Pacers’ rotation, Dopirak writes for The Indy Star (subscription required). “He’s gotten stronger, he’s gotten bigger, I think he’s gotten taller,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s obviously a hard worker. He does a lot of things system-wise that really help us. Speed, rebounding, pressure on the rim, and defensively he’s improved. … He’s a fearless athlete. He attacks everything. He’s unafraid, tough, and every day he gets better.”
Knicks Hire Peter Patton As Shooting Coach
The Knicks have hired Peter Patton as a shooting coach, league sources tell James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Patton previously served as a shooting coach for the Timberwolves (2016-18) and Mavericks (2018-23). He joined the Bulls in 2023 as the team’s director of player development and spent the past two seasons in Chicago.
The Bulls decided in April not to bring back Patton for another season, which reportedly didn’t sit well with a handful of players on the roster. One report indicated that news of Patton’s exit left some players “beyond pissed,” while another noted that players like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis had improved their shooting under Patton’s tutelage and publicly praised him.
Patton is the latest addition to an overhauled Knicks coaching staff under new head coach Mike Brown. While New York retained several coaches from Tom Thibodeau‘s staff, including Jalen Brunson‘s father Rick Brunson, the team has also brought in several newcomers, led by associate head coach Chris Jent and defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, George, Watford, Starters, Grimes
Joel Embiid, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the spring, continues to trend in the right direction with the regular season around the corner. The Sixers center has increased his participation in practice and done some 5-on-5 work, according to Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).
Embiid still has to check a number of boxes before he’s given the go-ahead to suit up for a game, Bodner writes, adding that the former MVP is being evaluated daily by the team.
Embiid was limited to just 19 appearances last season due to knee issues. The seven-time All-Star didn’t play at his usual level even when he was available, averaging 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in those 19 outings, well below his career averages entering 2024/25 (27.9 PPG, 11.2 RPG).
Here’s more on the 76ers:
- Having undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee more recently than Embiid, forward Paul George isn’t quite as far along as his teammate. According to Bodner (Twitter link), George is still just doing individual workouts, though those the intensity of those sessions has increased and he’s expected to begin taking part in team activities in the coming days.
- Sixers forward Trendon Watford remains sidelined with a right hamstring issue and won’t play in Philadelphia’s next preseason game on Friday, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports. Watford, an offseason addition, is expected to do more on-court work within the next week, per Neubeck, who notes that imaging on the hamstring didn’t show any structural damage.
- The idea of a three-guard starting lineup is “on the table” for the Sixers, head coach Nick Nurse said today (Twitter link via Neubeck). Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes would all be part of the starting five in that scenario, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, with Jared McCain also factoring into the equation once he’s healthy.
- Grimes said on Wednesday that he has no hard feelings about his contract negotiations played out this offseason. The restricted free agent was on the market for three months and ultimately accepted his qualifying offer rather than working out a multiyear deal with the Sixers, so he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to be back here longer,” Grimes said (Twitter link via Pompey). “I wanted to be back here on a longer-term deal, but I’m happy to be here right now and do everything I can to help this team win.”
Southwest Notes: Coward, Vassell, Wemby, Mavs
It wasn’t exactly a memorable pro debut on Monday for Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward, who missed all seven of his field goal attempts, committed three fouls, and was a -22 in 18 minutes of action as Memphis lost to Detroit by a score of 128-112.
Still, while head coach Tuomas Iisalo acknowledged it was a “rough night” for the 22-year-old, Coward and the team were just happy that he was able to get back on the court for the first time since November 2024, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal relays. The former Washington State swingman missed most of last season and was held out of Summer League due to a shoulder injury.
“Now that I’ve touched an NBA court, you don’t really have to get your feet wet anymore,” Coward said. “It’s like your first time going swimming. Once you get in the pool, you’re straight. … Ultimately, it’s just getting the rhythm of the game. The shots I did take were shots I liked. That’s why I’m not worried about it. It wasn’t like I was rushing them or anything. They just weren’t falling.”
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- After dealing with knee and foot issues during the 2023 and 2024 offseasons, Devin Vassell made it through this summer fully healthy and is optimistic about having a bounce-back year in 2025/26 after his numbers dipped a little last season, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “It’s been huge,” the Spurs wing said. “Just being able to come into work every day and even have two-a-days to do certain things that I haven’t been able to do for a while, it’s been good. Strength-wise, conditioning-wise, on-court wise – it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been able to do that.” Vassell added that his goal is to play in all 82 games this season — his career high is 71 in 2021/22.
- Michael C. Wright of ESPN is the latest reporter to take an in-depth look at a transformational summer for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who explained why the blood clot that ended his 2024/25 season could ultimately be “beneficial.” Meanwhile, Jared Weiss of The Athletic explores how San Antonio’s plan for how to use Wembanyama has evolved, writing that the big man is acting as more of a creator on the wing and looking more like Kevin Durant than Anthony Davis.
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd provided a series of injury updates on Tuesday, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Among them: Dante Exum remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, and Brandon Williams, who suffered a hamstring strain early in camp, is still considered day-to-day.
And-Ones: Delfino, Positional Rankings, Top Storylines, More
Appearing on the “Doble Doble” podcast this week, former NBA forward Carlos Delfino confirmed that he is retiring as a player, as Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops writes.
Delfino, who turned 43 in August, was the 25th overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft and spent nine years in the league from 2004-08 and 2009-14 (he played in Russia in 2008/09). The Argentinian wing averaged 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 22.8 minutes per game across 507 regular season outings for the Pistons, Raptors, Bucks, and Rockets before injuries derailed his career.
Delfino eventually returned to action in Europe in 2017 and spent the next several seasons playing for non-NBA teams. A longtime international standout, he won an Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004 as a member of the Argentina national team that upset Team USA in the semifinals, then took home a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
We have several more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Law Murray of The Athletic ranked all 30 NBA teams based on their depth charts at each position, with the Thunder (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; Cason Wallace) taking the No. 1 spot at point guard while the Timberwolves (Anthony Edwards; Terrence Shannon Jr.) sit atop the shooting guard list. The Rockets (Kevin Durant; Tari Eason), Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo; Bobby Portis), and Nuggets (Nikola Jokic; Jonas Valanciunas) ranked first at small forward, power forward, and center, respectively.
- What storylines will be the biggest of the 2025/26 season? Chris Mannix of SI.com makes his predictions, including whether or not Antetokounmpo will finish the season with the Bucks, how much better the Magic will be with Desmond Bane, and whether the concept of playoff reseeding will gain any momentum based on the relative strength of the Western Conference.
- An international basketball league that has been in the works for the past couple years still plans to launch in 2026, but LeBron James‘ business partner Maverick Carter is no longer involved in the venture, according to Ben Horney and Daniel Roberts of Front Office Sports. The report from Horney and Roberts provides some details on the big names who are investing in the league, including tennis star Novak Djokovic and former WNBA star Candace Parker.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic‘s projections for the bottom half of the Eastern Conference in 2025/26 include the Sixers, Celtics, and Pacers finishing 10th through 12th with 37, 36, and 31 wins, respectively. However, he acknowledges that Philadelphia might have a wider range of potential outcomes than any other team in the NBA.
Lakers Notes: Vincent, Ayton, LaRavia, Smart
The Lakers didn’t have their “big three” available for their second preseason contest, a 111-103 loss to Golden State. It was an improvement from their 22-point loss to Phoenix. With Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves sitting out, Gabe Vincent led the way with 16 points and five assists.
“We came with more intention,” Vincent said, per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times. “We were more focused. Obviously it’s different with those three not playing. They’re a huge part of our team and everything that we do. But next man up.”
We have more on the Lakers:
- They were outscored by 25 points by Golden State with Deandre Ayton on the court but it’s going to take time for the Lakers to incorporate his skills, Law Murray of The Athletic writes. Murray notes Ayton is going to be very dependent on his play-makers to get him shots, unlike Anthony Davis. He’s not going to get a lot of touches to create shots for others or spread the floor with outside shooting, but it’s not time to panic about Ayton’s ability to help the team, Murray adds.
- Jake LaRavia contributed 10 points and three assists against the Warriors and said he’s “already pretty comfortable with the role that I have” with his new team, Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets. LaRavia left the Kings and signed a two-year deal with the Lakers at the start of free agency.
- Marcus Smart participated in the live play portions of practice on Tuesday, per coach JJ Redick, Khobi Price of the Orange County Register tweets. Smart has been limited in camp due to Achilles tendinopathy. “He looked great. He was moving great,” forward Jarred Vanderbilt said, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “But like I said, his main power is that he’s vocal. So being able to help the guys. Communicate, that’s a big part of defense also. Being physical is one of them, but also being vocal, being able to communicate. I think he does both at a very high level. So, he can definitely help us on that end of the floor.” Smart signed with the Lakers after getting bought out by Washington.
Atlantic Notes: Wolf, Nets, China, Tatum, Gordon, Edgecombe
Danny Wolf, the former University of Michigan big man, is already showing off his play-making ability, Bridget Reilly of the New York Post writes. During the Nets’ first preseason game, the 27th overall pick of the draft dished out five assists in 15 minutes.
“I mean, when the coaches trust me with the ball in my hands, it’s up to me to make a play,” Wolf said. “I think a few times, I got a little too sped up and made a few — I made an errant pass and kinda lost the ball on a ball screen. But when coach Jordi [Fernandez] draws me up or tells us to run a play and it breaks off, it’s up to you to make a play, and I tried doing that to the best of my ability.”
Wolf’s 4.2 assists per game with the Wolverines last season represented the second-best average ever for a college player listed at seven feet or taller, according to Reilly.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets are playing the Suns in preseason games at China on Friday and Sunday, the first NBA games in that country in six years. The Nets began their 17-hour journey to China on Monday afternoon. “When you get there, I think it’s a complete time difference overall, so for the first few days you’re on the opposite schedule,” Michael Porter Jr. told C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News. “That’s a challenge when you go that far, but other than that, I’m excited to bring the NBA to China. I know there’s so many fans, so it’ll be fun. It’ll be fun to get our first taste against another NBA team in the Phoenix Suns, so we’ll really get to see where we’re at.”
- While he mends from a torn Achilles, Celtics star Jayson Tatum will have added duties at the collegiate ranks. He’s been named Duke’s Chief Basketball Officer, according to GoDuke.com. In the newly created position, Tatum will volunteer his time as a special advisor to head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke program, bringing his insights and professional basketball experience to player development, leadership, and life as an elite athlete. “I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be Duke’s first Chief Basketball Officer,” Tatum said in a statement. “This program means so much to me, and I had an unbelievable time here. I already watch every game, come back whenever I can, and connect with Coach Scheyer often. To have the chance to formalize my relationship with the program and broaden my ability to impact the players and culture means the world to me.”
- Eric Gordon has played with VJ Edgecombe on the Bahamas national team. Gordon, entering his 18th season, is eager to embrace a mentorship role with the Sixers’ lottery pick, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (subscription required). “At my age, in my phase of my career, you have to mentor,” Gordon said. “That’s without a doubt. I’ve been around VJ the most. I’ve known him for quite a while. Of course, I will be looking forward to not just helping him, but also all the young guys. … But when I’m in the game, I’m going to have to do my part: Knock down shots, spread the floor, let guys operate the length [of the court] on their own.”
Knicks Notes: Brunson, Giannis, Rotation, Clarkson, Hart
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson will have to get used to Mike Brown‘s offensive system, which will be more uptempo than the pace that former coach Tom Thibodeau preferred. There have been mixed results in the first two preseason games, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News writes.
“I’m comfortable,” Brunson said. “We’re still adjusting, and that’s the process of this entire season. You’re not just gonna be who you are at the end of training camp. You’re gonna continue to get better throughout the season. So I think the longer that we go through this and understand what’s needed and asked of us, the better we’re gonna be.”
Brown is already seeing progress.
“Jalen, he’s starting to adjust. You can see it,” Brown said. “I think this is gonna be good for him. You can see how much space he has when he brings the ball, and again, if you want to pressure a guy like Jalen with that much space, there’s a pretty good chance that he can make you pay for it.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Regarding the report that the Knicks had discussions with the Bucks regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, The Athletic’s James Edwards III and Fred Katz examine whether it would make sense for the Knicks to acquire the superstar and whether it might happen down the road. Both note that the Knicks simply don’t possess the draft capital and young talent that the Bucks could obtain from other contenders like the Rockets and Spurs.
- Edwards rolls out his preseason edition of predictions regarding the team’s depth chart and rotation. He continues to believe Brown will start Mitchell Robinson at center in a bigger lineup with Josh Hart coming off the bench. Edwards predicts that Miles McBride and offseason additions Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele will also play regularly off the bench, with the 10th man in the rotation being a fluid situation.
- Speaking of Clarkson, he’s energized to play for a contender once again after being stuck on a rebuilding Jazz team, he told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “That’s something you chase. That’s a different high, man, if you want to put it like that,” he said. “The level of detail, every play matters. I really want to get back there and I want for sure to take every step day to day, but Coming here, one of the reasons why is I wanted to compete in the playoffs and be on a winning team that’s playing for something.”
- Hart did not practice once again on Tuesday. He’s been battling back spasms in recent days and his status is considered day-to-day, Edwards tweets.
Blazers Sign, Waive Sean Pedulla
5:33pm: Pedulla has been waived and is expected to join the Remix, Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report tweets.
1:01pm: The Trail Blazers have added guard Sean Pedulla to their training camp roster, the team announced today in a press release.
Pedulla reportedly reached an agreement with Portland back in June on an Exhibit 10 deal. He’ll likely be waived before the regular season begins and become an affiliate player for the Rip City Remix, the Blazers’ G League team.
A 2024 All-ACC honoree at Virginia Tech, Pedulla transferred to Mississippi for his senior season in 2024/25. The 6’1″ guard averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game across 36 contests for Ole Miss, earning a spot on the All-SEC third team. He suited up for Portland’s Summer League team in July, appearing in five games and registering averages of 5.0 PPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.8 RPG in 12.3 MPG.
The Blazers had a full 21-man preseason roster entering the day, but waived forwards MarJon Beauchamp and Andrew Carr, along with center Liam Robbins, in order to open up room for Pedulla.
Beauchamp, Carr and Robbins, who all signed non-guaranteed camp contracts with Portland last week, look like good candidates to end up with the Remix in the G League.