Giannis: Bucks Entering ‘Make Or Break’ Portion Of The Season
For the Bucks to achieve their dual goals of reaching the playoffs and keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo happy enough to avoid a trade demand, they can’t afford many more losses like the one they had Wednesday night against Washington. As Eric Nehm of The Athletic details, Milwaukee couldn’t hold on to a three-point lead with 33.2 seconds remaining as CJ McCollum hit two late shots and Antetokounmpo’s last-second attempt bounced off the back of the rim.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said his team didn’t deserve to come away with a victory over the Wizards, who now have two of their eight wins against Milwaukee. He cited a lack of sustained effort by his players and a reluctance to share the ball.
“We had a lead. We had every shot we wanted at the end of the game,” Rivers said. “Our execution was flawless, even the last play. But the basketball gods sometimes don’t allow you to win when you don’t play right, and we’ve been great the last two games, and tonight, we didn’t pass the ball. We didn’t pass the ball to each other, and we didn’t guard the ball. And so when you play like that, you lose the game.”
Antetokounmpo told reporters Wednesday night that his conditioning and rhythm still aren’t where he wants them to be after missing eight games with a strained right calf. He remains on a minutes restriction but led the team with 33 points and 15 rebounds against Washington while playing 28 minutes.
Antetokounmpo added a comment indicating that he believes all his teammates may not share a similar commitment to winning.
“Sometimes, it’s just hard when maybe some people are trying to do the right thing, and other people are not trying to do the plays. It might be discouraging at times,” he said. “I’ve been a part of teams, the really good teams, that two, three, four guys try to do the right thing, and they do it, I think, and they pull everybody else. And I’ve been on teams that two, three guys try to do the right thing, and three, four guys not trying to do the right thing, and it pulls the team to the wrong direction.”
At 14-20, the Bucks start the new year in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. They’re just one-and-a-half games behind Atlanta and two-and-a-half games back of Chicago, so a spot in the play-in tournament remains within reach. However, they would need an incredible second half of the season to rise any higher than ninth place.
Nehm points out that a very challenging part of the schedule is about to begin. After hosting Charlotte on Friday, Milwaukee departs on a four-game Western swing to face the Kings, Warriors, Lakers and Nuggets. Eight of the team’s 13 January games are on the road, so the Bucks could be in a much different position when the February 5 trade deadline arrives.
“We’re 11th in the East,” Antetokounmpo said. “My whole career, when I’ve had winning seasons, like January to February before the break, you gotta stack up wins, and we have a tough schedule. I don’t think people understand this can make us or break us. And I don’t want to break. I want to be made.”
Trail Blazers Provide Injury Updates On Holiday, Thybulle, Henderson, Grant
Jrue Holiday has been “cleared for a progression of on-court basketball activities” as he works his way back from a right calf strain that has kept him out of action since November 14, the Trail Blazers announced in a press release.
The 35-year-old guard has only appeared in 12 games since being acquired from Boston in an offseason trade. He was a full-time starter before the injury and was averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 33.4 minutes per night.
The release from the Blazers doesn’t offer a timetable of when Holiday might return to action, stating that “availability will be determined based on functional response to loading and updated accordingly.”
The team also provides updates on several other players, stating that Matisse Thybulle is progressing toward a return after undergoing thumb surgery in late October. The release states that Thybulle has been “working on a progressive ramp-up” but is experiencing persistent symptoms of right knee tendinopathy. Thybulle appeared in four games prior to the surgery.
Scoot Henderson, who hasn’t played yet this season because of a hamstring issue, has begun “non-contact, on-court basketball activities.” The No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Jerami Grant, who has been sidelined since December 18 with left Achilles tendonitis, is traveling with the team on its current road trip and is considered day-to-day. The 31-year-old forward is viewed as a potential trade candidate ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Bulls Notes: Starting Lineup, White, Trade Deadline, Buzelis
As his team navigates three significant injuries, Bulls coach Billy Donovan unveiled a new-look starting lineup in Wednesday’s win over New Orleans, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required). Donovan went big to match up with the Pelicans, using Tre Jones as his lone guard alongside Isaac Okoro, Nikola Vucevic, Matas Buzelis and Jalen Smith. With Josh Giddey and Coby White unavailable to run the offense, Okoro led the way with a season-high 24 points in a 134-118 victory.
“Everyone knows their role on this team,” Okoro said. “No one is too big-headed or out there trying to be a superstar on this team. Everyone knows their roles, knows what they need to do to impact winning. So as long as guys know that, I think we’ll be in a good place. We have enough here. Just play with energy, play with a high spirit, do the things we can control. Of course, not having bodies out there is bad, but we have enough. Control what we can control.”
Donovan used 10 players in total with Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter, Kevin Huerter and Ayo Dosunmu coming off the bench. Getting contributions throughout the roster is going to be important as the Bulls face a stretch of six games in nine days, starting on Friday. Cowley notes that roles and responsibilities could change from night to night depending on the opponent.
“It’s a results-oriented business, but I look at it as a 48-minute game,” Donovan said. “Can we play to an identity covering for each other on defense, helping each other on offense, moving the basketball, playing the right way, not turning it over? To me, there are certain things we can do as a basketball team. Are we good enough to actually overcome and go win games? It remains to be seen, but I know if we don’t do those things, we have no chance.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Cowley points out that White began to feel tightness in his right calf after he played in back-to-back games over the weekend for this first time this season. The medical staff might keep him out of those situations once he returns. ‘‘That’s been a topic of conversation,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘That was the first back-to-back he played. He came out of it fine, but they are trying to go through every minute detail that he does every single day.’’
- In a separate story from Cowley, Donovan discusses the “30,000-foot view” that executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has of the team’s injury situation as opposed to his mandate to try to win every game. Donovan also indicated that the Bulls don’t appear to be close to making any deals with the deadline five weeks away. ‘‘In the conversations I’ve had with Arturas, we have not talked about the trade deadline at this point in time at all,’’ Donovan told reporters. ‘‘I would say that I don’t know how other teams evaluate it. The guys you are bringing up, are they in contract years? Is there a dive they do in their history? Some of these guys, you’re right, have been set back with some injuries. I don’t know necessarily how much it does or doesn’t hurt.”
- Buzelis talks about the thrill of draft day in the latest edition of “Journey to the CHI” on Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link). “As soon as I found out the Bulls were picking me … It was honestly the best day of my life,” the second-year forward said.
Scott Perry Hopes To Turn Kings Into ‘Sustainable Winner’
The results haven’t been encouraging in Scott Perry‘s first season as general manager of the Kings, but he remains focused on building “sustainable” long-term success, he said in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
Perry, who was hired to run the team in April, discusses numerous topics in the lengthy exchange, including his approach to the upcoming trade deadline. Sacramento owns the second-worst record in the Western Conference at 8-25 and has several veteran players who could interest other teams, such as DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schröder. Perry plans to listen to offers over the next five weeks, but he hasn’t determined that certain players will definitely be moved.
“I’m always going to work the phones,” he said. “I’m always going try to figure out how we can improve the team, both short and long term, if possible. But I want to be prudent and opportunistic in doing that. I’m not somebody who does things out of panic. So, it’s got to make sense for us. So, we’ll see.
“But obviously we know we’re far from a finished product, so we’ve got to be open to getting better. And this is one of the vehicles that you have at your disposal in trying to get better. It’s seeing that there’s a trade that makes sense and fits for not only you, but it’s got to fit for the other team or teams that you’re involved with.”
Perry recognized when he took the job that it wouldn’t be easy to transform a franchise that has only made one playoff appearance since 2007. That came in 2023, and the Kings have been trending downward ever since. They’re currently on pace for the worst record in franchise history, but Perry made it clear that he’s not looking for a “quick fix” to salvage this season at the expense of the future.
“I was hired to build a sustainable winner,” he said. “So, I’m sure there’s an anomaly somewhere, but I don’t know of many quote-unquote quick fixes that turn into being sustainable. And my vision, which is shared by top to bottom ownership and everybody in the building, is to build a sustainable winner. I think that takes a little more time than quick fixes. You got to make appropriate decisions in that at least give you the best chance to lay a foundation to grow into something that’s sustainable. And so that’s what we’re at.
“… What is a quick fix? It’s probably for that season or maybe one other season. But hopefully, my goal and vision is to get to the point that once you become a playoff team you can stay there for a while. And that’s when you get your chance to sustain it.”
Perry admits he’s still in the “evaluation stage” with the franchise as he tries to decide which players to keep. Amid the losing, one positive has been the performance of the team’s rookies. Second-round pick Maxime Raynaud has been a pleasant surprise, especially since moving into the starting lineup after center Domantas Sabonis was sidelined with a meniscus injury. First-round selection Nique Clifford is getting regular rotation minutes, and Dylan Cardwell has been a valuable big man off the bench on a two-way contract.
Perry calls all three rookies “very hard workers” with “very good basketball IQs” and indicated that they’re the type of players he wants to build around.
He also discussed the decision to give Keegan Murray a five-year, $140MM rookie-scale extension in October. Murray hasn’t posted outstanding numbers during his first three-plus NBA seasons, but Perry views him as another building block for the future.
“Another tremendously hard worker, high character guy,” Perry said. “In this league, you can’t have too many 6-8, 6-9 versatile players. The guy has shot the three-point ball at a high clip since coming to the league, even though his numbers are down this year. He missed the first month of the season and is taking a little while to get his rhythm back, too. We’re matching him up with everybody on the other end, but that’s a tribute to his defensive versatility. So, here’s a guy that we put on point guards and we put on centers and all positions in between and he doesn’t flinch. He takes on those assignments. That’s invaluable.
“When you talk about build a team, he’s young, he’s 25 years old. So now we’re coming into the window of hopefully what’s going to be the prime of his career. I see him as being a very important part of establishing that sustainable winning. You need high character, versatile two-way players – as many as you can get. He was here and he liked it here and it’s been good to work with him.”
Spurs Notes: Wembanyama, Champagnie, Vassell, Fox
Victor Wembanyama had a reassuring message for Spurs fans after being forced to leave Wednesday’s game with a hyperextended left knee, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only story. The injury looked scary as Wembanyama limped off the court early in the fourth quarter, but he doesn’t believe it’s serious.
“I’m feeling good, just sore,” Wembanyama said. “I’m confident. I was this close to coming back into the game. They had to hold me back. … It was just a hyperextension. It should be a minimal. … We are going to do everything tomorrow to make sure it is OK.”
Wembanyama expects to be available for Friday’s game at Indiana on the first night of a back-to-back, but he acknowledged that the team’s medical staff may not agree with his assessment. The injury occurred when he landed awkwardly while fighting for an offensive rebound. After having it checked out, he walked normally as he returned to the Spurs’ bench late in the game while wearing slippers.
“Have not been able to talk to the medical staff yet, but I think I saw what everybody else saw,” coach Mitch Johnson told reporters. “Obviously, he finished the game on the bench with his teammates, so I think that made me feel good. I have no idea what to say, but it was good to see him walk back out and be able to finish the game on the bench with his teammates.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- Julian Champagnie sparked a comeback win over New York with a historic shooting performance, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). Champagnie made 11 of his 17 three-point attempts on a night when his teammates shot just 3-of-21 from beyond the arc, and his 36 points were the most in NBA history for a player without taking a two-point shot.
- Champagnie started the game in place of Devin Vassell, who’s dealing with an adductor strain. Johnson said Vassell is expected to miss “more than a game or two,” Orsborn tweets.
- The Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox because of his reputation as one of the NBA’s best closers, and he displayed those skills on Wednesday by scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter after Wembanyama left the game, McDonald notes. The performance looked familiar to Knicks coach Mike Brown, who guided Fox for three years in Sacramento. “He’s just a great player, man,” Brown said. “The stuff that’s happening here with him, it’s not a surprise to me at all.”
Northwest Notes: Valanciunas, Murray, Edwards, Lillard
The Nuggets‘ unfortunate run of injuries continued as Jonas Valanciunas limped off the court in the third quarter of Wednesday’s win at Toronto, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. It was a non-contact calf strain for the 33-year-old center, who was making his first start of the season due to a knee injury that will sideline Nikola Jokic for at least the next four weeks. Starters Aaron Gordon, Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun are also recovering from injuries.
“I don’t know how serious it is. We’re just getting used to this,” coach David Adelman told reporters. “It just seems like every night, somebody has something. The cool thing about it is there’s somebody else to get an opportunity from it. And that’s how you have to look at it. Hopefully Jonas heals up correctly. Hopefully it’s not serious, just like I’ve said the other 19 times this month.”
Valanciunas was turning in a strong performance before being forced out of the game, with 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 23 minutes. He wore a walking boot as he left the arena, according to Durando, but was able to move under his own power.
“He was great. … He’s been sick,” Adelman said. “I saw a much different energy from him tonight. … If he ends up playing the 32 minutes I thought I was going to play him, you’re probably looking at 25 (points) and 12 (rebounds). That’s what he can do, especially when teams have small-ball lineups like (the Raptors) do.”
DaRon Holmes II played 22 minutes in just his fourth career game as Adelman only used eight players. Holmes figures to see extended minutes if Valanciunas has to miss time.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- With their roster currently depleted, the Nuggets are relying more than ever on Jamal Murray, who posted 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Murray, who’s among the NBA’s best players to never make an All-Star team, talked about the possibility of being selected for this year’s game, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “Obviously I’d love to be an All-Star, All-NBA, scoring champ, MVP,” he said. “I want to be all of them, right? But winning matters … if we win a championship but I don’t make All-Star … we win a championship …. that’s my mindset.”
- Anthony Edwards showed his displeasure during the Timberwolves‘ 24-point loss at Atlanta by throwing a towel in the air and walking to the locker room with about eight minutes remaining, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune (subscription required). Edwards didn’t talk to reporters after the game, and coach Chris Finch said the action was inappropriate. “Obviously frustrated with the performance and rightfully so, but he needs to stay out on the floor and root for his team,” Finch said.
- Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard told Allie Slifton of the Road Trippin’ Show that his rehab is “going great” as he works his way back from an Achilles tear (YouTube link, hat tip to Real GM). “I think it’s just one of those injuries where you’ve got to take your time — you know, it takes what it takes,” Lillard said. “The first couple of weeks to maybe two or three months is kind of frustrating because you’re so limited. But with patience, giving yourself grace, and doing the things necessary to continue progressing, you get to a point where you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Lakers’ Adou Thiero To Be Reevaluated In Four Weeks For MCL Sprain
The Lakers announced that Adou Thiero has suffered an MCL sprain in his right knee and will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks, Khobi Price of the Orange County Register writes in a subscriber-only story.
Price notes that it’s not clear when Thiero suffered the injury. He played in the team’s last six games and 15 of the past 18. He was on the court for four minutes in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s loss to Detroit.
The 21-year-old rookie forward had surgery on his left knee while he was still in college. That caused him to fall to the second round of the draft and forced him to miss the Summer League and preseason.
The recovery process caused Thiero’s NBA debut to be delayed until November 15. He has seen limited action in 15 games, averaging 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per night and shooting 38.9% from the field.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Thiero, who may have been able to increase his role with the shorthanded Lakers. Austin Reaves is sidelined for at least three more weeks with a calf strain, Gabe Vincent has missed the last six games with lower back pain, and Rui Hachimura is dealing with right calf soreness.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 12/30/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included a potential Ivica Zubac trade, Most Improved Player candidates, the Bulls' options with Coby White, the Rockets' approach to the trade deadline and more!
Celtics Notes: Simons, Holiday, Brown, Gonzalez
Anfernee Simons said it was odd to find himself in the visitors’ locker room as he made his return to Portland Sunday night, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Simons spent the first seven years of his career with the Trail Blazers before the Celtics acquired him over the summer in a cost-cutting deal that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland.
“It kind of felt a little weird,” Simons said. “Being a visitor and going to the opposing locker room, coming out of the other tunnel. But it was fun to see everybody that you built strong relationships with in the organization. It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
Along with a new team, Simons has been adjusting to a different role. After being a full-time starter with the Blazers for the past three seasons, he’s now a sixth man for Boston, averaging 12.8 points per game off the bench and playing just 23.5 minutes per night. He expected a long future in Portland after signing a $100MM extension three years ago, but he discovered that things can change quickly in the NBA.
“Obviously, it’s a business at the end of the day,” Simons said. “And at any point you can be here and then somewhere else. So you just have to enjoy each and every moment that you spend. And I think I did that last year. I enjoyed all the moments I had with our whole team, organization, and I won’t regret anything for sure.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Holiday wasn’t surprised that he was one of the players moved in Boston’s effort to escape the second apron, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe states in a subscriber-only piece. Holiday recognized that his contract, which pays $32.4MM this season and $34.8MM next year, was too pricey for a team with major cap and tax concerns. “I think we know basketball a little bit in terms of how the money is,” he said. “And how not everybody can stay and we knew there was going to be a change. You just don’t know what the change might be. But I don’t think I speculated or saw what was going to happen or where everybody was going to go. I think when you look at the business side of it, you kind of know that some changes are going to happen.”
- Jaylen Brown scored 37 points on Sunday, matching Larry Bird‘s franchise record of nine consecutive 30-point games, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Brown has taken over as the team’s primary scorer with Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury and is averaging a career-high 29.7 PPG.
- In a mailbag column, Robb examines the quick development of 19-year-old forward Hugo Gonzalez, who’s thriving in his rookie season with the Celtics after barely playing with Real Madrid last year. Robb also states that the team might be reluctant to commit big money to a center in the trade market with Neemias Queta playing so well. He cites Nets big man Day’Ron Sharpe as a potential low-cost option.
Bucks Operating As Buyers Heading Into Trade Deadline
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s windmill dunk that ended Saturday’s win at Chicago delivered the message he intended, writes Jamal Collier of ESPN. Antetokounmpo nearly sparked a massive fight as he broke an unwritten rule by scoring with the game already out of reach, but he saw a chance to make a statement — to his teammates and the rest of the league — that the Bucks aren’t going to go away quietly.
“I’ve been 13 years in the league,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after the game. “If we keep on losing, brother, probably half of the team is not going to be here. At the end of the day, I just want to be available, be healthy and help my team win. And if (a windmill dunk) is what has to happen for everybody to wake up and understand we’re fighting for our lives and we got to get our hands dirty, so be it.”
The dunk sparked a show of support, as Antetokounmpo’s teammates backed up his actions amid angry exchanges that continued while the teams made their way toward the locker room area. Whether it leads to a prolonged turnaround will depend on a number of factors, including Antetokounmpo’s health for the rest of the season and his continued desire to stay in Milwaukee.
At 13-19, the Bucks are 11th in the East, one-and-a-half games out of a play-in spot. Team sources tell Collier they continue to believe they can upgrade the roster before the February 5 trade deadline and be more competitive in the second half of the season. Collier hears that when the league’s unofficial trade season began two weeks ago, the Bucks’ front office approached it as buyers rather than exploring potential deals to part with Antetokounmpo.
The two-time MVP has been the subject of frequent trade speculation, even as he remains one of the NBA’s elite talents. He has often stated his desire to compete for another title, which may not happen with a Milwaukee team that hasn’t won a playoff series since 2022. Antetokounmpo has tried to quell trade talks, recently stating that he’s “locked in” with the team, and he reiterated that sentiment on Saturday.
“I’m here. I’m here. I’m here,” he said. “Don’t ask me that question. I’m here. It’s disrespectful towards myself and my teammates. I wear that jersey every single day. It’s disrespectful towards the organization, my coaching staff, myself and all the people that work hard for me to come out here and say, ‘I don’t want to be here.’ I’m here. I’m putting on the jersey. And as long as I’m here, I’m going to give everything I have, even in the last second of the game.”
Sources tell Collier that the Bucks have engaged in internal conversations about pursuing Kings guards Zach LaVine and Malik Monk as well as Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant. However, Collier notes that general manager Jon Horst has limited assets to offer on the trade market.
[RELATED: Bucks Keeping Eye On Zach LaVine]
[RELATED: Jerami Grant Among Potential Targets On Bucks’ Radar]
Milwaukee currently has only one tradable first-round pick, either in 2031 or 2032, but Collier states that Horst hasn’t been willing to part with that pick in any trade talks during the past year. League sources don’t expect him to consider moving it at this point unless it means getting a star-level player in return, Collier adds.
Collier notes that the rest of the roster outside of Antetokounmpo doesn’t offer much trade value. Other than Myles Turner, who signed as a free agent during the summer, the largest salaries belong to Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM) and Bobby Portis ($13.5MM), making it challenging to match money in a significant trade. According to Collier, rival executives may be putting other moves on hold until they have some clarity about how long Antetokounmpo will be staying in Milwaukee.
Collier adds that the Bucks’ assets will improve during the offseason, when they project to have tradable picks available in 2026, 2031 and 2033. But waiting until summer to improve the roster could mean wasting another prime season for Antetokounmpo and testing his desire to remain with a franchise that could miss the postseason.
“Right now, our character (as a team) is being tested,” Antetokounmpo said. “Me personally, I don’t want to be the guy worrying about (reports). My legacy is on the line. This is how I feel every single day when I walk in here.”