Rival Teams Skeptical Giannis Will Request Trade?
While he cautioned that it’s too early to say what might happen, and things could change later this month, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently said on a Bleacher Report live stream (YouTube link) that rival teams have become skeptical that Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will request a trade out of Milwaukee.
“Honestly, right now I’d say the prevailing sentiment from rival teams that I’m speaking to — around the combine two weeks ago, two and a half weeks ago — there was no shortage of optimism, of hope, of excitement from other teams that they were going to be able to potentially make an offer to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into their franchise, into their building,” Fischer said (hat tip to RealGM).
“Of late, I’d say that that confidence has been replaced with skepticism. To a man, from talking to agents, team executives, whoever, there is not a lot of belief right now at this juncture. It’s only June 5th — anything could happen — and I’ve been told all along that if there is a decision, a formal decision made to shut or open the door on trade conversations for Giannis this summer, that it would likely happen closer to the end of June and when the offseason really, really begins.
“But I’d say for now, for now, talking to people around the league, the assessment and the expectation is that they’re going to believe it when they see it — that someone who has valued being the franchise face, that the central linchpin of the Bucks franchise, is going to want to play somewhere else.”
The two-time MVP is reportedly mulling his future in Milwaukee and is expected to let the Bucks know at some point soon whether he remains committed to the team or would prefer to seek a change of scenery. While Shams Charania of ESPN reported a few weeks ago that Antetokounmpo is more “open-minded” than in the past about taking the latter route, there has been no indication to this point that he’s looking to leave the Bucks.
Fischer’s comments echo reporting from Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who wrote that NBA personnel he’s spoken to recently have been expressing less confidence about Giannis asking to be traded this summer.
2025 NBA Offseason Preview: Miami Heat
Many NBA general managers and team presidents speak in platitudes during their postseason and preseason media sessions, but when Heat president Pat Riley met with the press last spring and fall, he took the opportunity to directly challenge his players to improve their availability and to become better versions of themselves.
Some players responded well to Riley's candor. After being dubbed "fragile" by the longtime Heat president last May, Tyler Herro had a career year in 2024/25, making his first All-Star team and blowing away his previous career highs by appearing in 77 regular season games and averaging 23.9 points per contest.
Riley's remarks proved less inspiring for other key Heat players, however. Jimmy Butler, who was filmed during the 2024 playoffs claiming that the Heat would've beaten the Celtics if he were healthy, reportedly chafed at Riley's recommendation that he "keep (his) mouth shut," and was irked by Miami's unwillingness to give him the maximum-salary extension he sought, due to concerns about his injury history.
While Butler dismissed the idea that his relationship with Riley or the Heat was strained ahead of the season, the situation came to a head by December, with the star forward agitating for a trade out of Miami and earning three separate team-imposed suspensions for "conduct detrimental to the team" and "intentionally withholding services."
With Butler in and out of the lineup and trade speculation swirling around the six-time All-Star for weeks, the Heat actually weathered the storm pretty well. Miami was above .500 (25-24) at the trade deadline, and after sending Butler to Golden State for a package that included Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Davion Mitchell, the team was optimistic about finishing the season strong, having removed a major distraction from the equation.
Instead, it almost seemed as if the Heat's adrenaline wore off and they found themselves suddenly feeling the aftereffects of the drama that had engulfed the club for the better part of the season. Miami lost 17 of its next 21 games, and while the drop down the standings wasn't as precipitous as it could have been if the bottom of the Eastern Conference were a little more competitive, the Heat slid from sixth to 10th, which is where they ultimately finished the season despite reeling off a six-game winning streak in March and April.
The Heat subsequently made history twice in April, first by becoming the first No. 10 seed to make it through the play-in tournament to clinch a playoff spot, then by being on the wrong end of the most lopsided series in NBA postseason history. The playoff berth meant their first-round draft pick would be sent to the Thunder, which was perhaps a better outcome than the alternative -- if the pick had landed in the top 14 and stayed with Miami, the Heat would've owed an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Oklahoma City.
With their '26 pick in hand, the Heat have more potential paths they could take this offseason and beyond. But tanking has been a rarity during the Riley era, so it's likely the front office will do its best in the coming weeks to figure out a way to turn this club - just two years removed from an NBA Finals appearance - back into a contender as soon as possible.
The Heat's Offseason Plan
Bam Adebayo is viewed as a long-term cornerstone in Miami, having taken over the title of team captain following Udonis Haslem's retirement. Herro, who had long been the subject of trade speculation as the Heat pursued stars like Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell in recent years, perhaps solidified his place alongside Adebayo with his breakout 2024/25 performance. But no one else on the roster should be considered entirely safe entering this summer.
Windhorst: Cavs Listening To Offers For Darius Garland
Appearing on 850 ESPN Cleveland (Twitter video link), ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said the Cavaliers are listening to trade offers for point guard Darius Garland and are “open-minded” about the possibility of moving him if it improves their roster.
“The interesting thing about the Cavs is a year ago, there was some belief that Darius Garland may want to get traded,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “That was definitely out there, that if Donovan (Mitchell) extended his contract then maybe Darius would want to get traded. And the message that was very hard out there, (president of basketball operations) Koby (Altman) was on the record I’m pretty sure even saying, ‘We’re not trading Darius Garland.’
“A year later, I think there’s some belief that Darius Garland might be available under the right circumstances,” Windhorst continued. “And I don’t think Darius Garland wants to go anywhere. I think Darius Garland is very happy with how things have developed in Cleveland and he really likes it, he likes the role that he’s got.
“But I think the Cavs are listening and open-minded without actively trying to think that they need to change their roster.”
In a separate podcast appearance with ESPN Cleveland’s Chris Oldach (YouTube link), Windhorst clarified that the Cavaliers are concerned about the roster-building restrictions of being a second-apron team, which is why they’re active in trade talks.
“What I’m trying to say here is that executing a significant trade is going to be hard for them,” Windhorst said. “They’re definitely open to it. I definitely think they’re willing to discuss options. I think last year, ironically, when they were coming off a quote-unquote more questionable season, they were much less interested in adjusting and listening to options than they are now.
“Talking to teams out there, I think the Cavs are much more open-minded regardless of what Koby said. However, it’s not that they’re open-minded necessarily because they think this team needs to be renovated. They’re open-minded because they realize once the second apron comes a lot of doors get closed.
“... I think they’re active without being aggressive,” Windhorst added.
Windhorst’s reporting is more or less confirmation of what Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com recently reported, that the Cavaliers are more open to entertaining offers for Garland and Jarrett Allen than they have been in the past, though Windhorst didn’t explicitly mention Allen by name.
Garland, 25, made his second All-Star appearance in 2024/25, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals on .472/.401/.878 shooting in a career-best 75 regular season games (30.7 minutes per contest). However, he aggravated a toe injury in Cleveland’s first-round sweep of Miami, wound up missing four playoff games, and was hindered in his return to the court during the Cavs’ second-round loss to Indiana.
Fischer’s Latest: Raptors, Maluach, Barrett, Suns, Triano
The Raptors are among the teams who “highly value” Duke center Khaman Maluach ahead of this month’s NBA Draft, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, it remains to be seen if the 7’2″ big man will be available at No. 9, which is the lottery pick Toronto currently controls.
If Maluach — who is ranked No. 6 on ESPN’s big board — is unavailable, rival teams have gotten the impression the Raptors might target a different center, Fischer writes. For what it’s worth, Derik Queen (No. 13), Joan Beringer (No. 15) and Thomas Sorber (No. 18) are the next three centers on ESPN’s board.
Here are a few more items of interest from Fischer’s latest rumor round-up:
- As we relayed on Friday evening, Fischer pointed to Raptors wing RJ Barrett as a potential salary-matching piece if Toronto decides to make a play for Kevin Durant. Citing sources, Fischer also confirms a report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype stating that Barrett’s name came up in the Brandon Ingram trade talks between the Pelicans and Raptors. Toronto ultimately acquired Ingram in February by sending New Orleans Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk, one first-round pick and one second-rounder.
- New head coach Jordan Ott intends to meet with the Suns‘ current assistants in the coming days, according to Fischer, who says there was a “strong belief” during the search process that Phoenix would ask associate head coach David Fizdale to remain on staff under the new hire. However, it’s unclear if Fizdale will be amenable to that arrangement after receiving multiple interviews for the head coaching job. Cavaliers assistant DeMarre Carroll — who has worked with Ott on three different teams — and Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley are also viewed as candidates to join Ott’s staff, Fischer writes.
- Following up on a report from his Stein Line colleague Marc Stein, Fischer hears former Suns and Raptors head coach Jay Triano is finalizing a contract to join the Mavericks as an assistant under Jason Kidd. The Knicks are interested in speaking to Kidd for their coaching vacancy, though Dallas would have to grant New York permission for that to happen.
And-Ones: Silver, Gasol, Burke, Nunn
Commissioner Adam Silver says the NBA’s efforts to launch a new league in Europe with the help of the FIBA governing organization are ongoing, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
Given the massive amount of logistics required by leagues on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to make this dream a reality, Silver warns that nothing is imminent, but that doesn’t mean progress isn’t happening.
“We’re at least a couple years away from launching,” Silver says. “It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we’re consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners.”
The goal is for the new league to feature 16 teams, and Silver said that the NBA has been in touch with the EuroLeague and specific teams within it for partnerships. Silver says there’s a desire for some amount of collaboration with the existing league, and that the 2028 Olympics will be a good measuring stick for progress.
“That might be a good launching pad for an announcement around a new competition,” he teased. But, in the end, patience is going to be the most important thing. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”
We have more from around the world of hoops:
- As someone with a wealth of experience in both the NBA and EuroLeague, Pau Gasol is intrigued by the idea of the NBA expanding into Europe, writes the Eurohoops team. Like Silver, he understands it’ll be a lengthy process, but expressed cautious excitement about what such a collaboration could offer. “I see an initiative to improve the European basketball model, and it’s an opportunity for our sport to grow. We’ll see how it shapes up and how it progresses,” Gasol said, per Dídac Piferrer of MARCA. However, he cautions that European basketball needs to become more stable before such a venture can be successful. “The European basketball model must evolve and improve. Economically, it’s not sustainable, and the vast majority of teams are losing money,” he added.
- With Doris Burke‘s place in ESPN’s announcer rotation unclear beyond the NBA Finals, Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle has voiced his support for the longtime broadcaster, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Carlisle praised Burke for the role she has played in laying down a foundation for future female broadcasters, and was disappointed that the rumors of her uncertain future cast a shadow over Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with all that stuff, but I just want to say thank you to Doris for the example that she has put forth for young women like my daughter and all these people who are changing the game,” Carlisle said. “She has changed the game, and that’s the reason that she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a couple years ago.”
- Former Laker and Heat guard Kendrick Nunn has received the EuroLeague Players Association’s Players’ Choice Awards MVP for his play with Panathinaikos in Greece, per Eurohoops.net. Nunn averaged 21.2 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from three on 7.2 attempts per game as the team went 22-12 in EuroLeague competition and reached the Final Four of EuroLeague playoff competition. The veteran guard also won the EuroLeague’s official MVP award in April.
De’Aaron Fox Hopes To Sign Extension With Spurs
Despite playing just 17 games with the Spurs following a mid-season three-team trade, De’Aaron Fox is already thinking long-term, according to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle.
Starting August 3, Fox will be eligible for a four-year extension worth up to a projected $229MM, and according to Lerner, he is looking forward to signing that offer if San Antonio puts it on the table. Asked if he was optimistic about reaching terms with the Spurs, he said, “I would definitely hope so.”
Fox, who currently has one year and $37MM left on his contract, looks to be an integral part of the Spurs’ outlook as they continue to search the market for impact players to add to the core anchored by Victor Wembanyama.
Armed with the second and 14th picks in the 2025 draft, as well as several young veterans like Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan on deals that could be valuable on their own or as salary-matching pieces in larger trades, the team has a wide range of options to consider this summer.
There are concerns with how Fox, reigning rookie of the year Stephon Castle, and projected No. 2 pick Dylan Harper will coexist as three guards with shaky jump shots and – in the case of Fox and Harper particularly – a skill set best suited to having the ball in their hands, but it’s unlikely that Fox would be the odd man out after the former All-Star pushed for a trade to the Spurs last season.
In his 17 games for San Antonio last season, Fox averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 27.4% from three. While the scoring and shooting numbers would rank as some of the lowest of his career, he was both adjusting to just the second NBA team of his career and also dealing with tendon damage in the pinkie of his shooting hand, an injury that eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
“I’m doing well. The surgery went fine,” Fox said when asked about the injury. “I’ve been cleared so I played a little five-on-five and I’ve done contact stuff, so I’ll be ready for next year.”
Atlantic Notes: Durant, Hauser, Nets, Sixers
The Raptors are considered by “numerous NBA figures” to be a potential suitor for Suns star Kevin Durant, Jake Fischer reports for The Stein Line (Substack link), especially if their well-documented interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn’t come to fruition.
Fischer writes that the pieces the Raptors have assembled would make for a more realistic trade package for Durant, who is not necessarily expected to receive an extension from the team that trades for him, than for Antetokounmpo. If the Bucks star reaches the market, the trade packages teams will put together could put the Raptors out of the running, but with Phoenix likely looking to stay competitive around Devin Booker, the Raptors’ collection of young veterans could prove enticing.
Fischer points to Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri‘s aggressiveness in trading for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, which led to a championship, though this version of the Raptors roster is much less ready to win now than that one was. That said, the team did pursue Durant in 2022, Fischer writes, and there’s a belief that the Raptors have some internal pressure to take real steps forward this coming season. That could lead to the team shopping RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and others.
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics are facing an offseason that will require some serious introspection to figure out which players should be retained until Jayson Tatum eventually returns from his torn Achilles, SI’s Chris Mannix said during an NBC Sports Boston appearance. The most likely player to be moved, according to Mannix, is backup wing Sam Hauser. Hauser, an excellent shooter and decent defender, is entering the first season of a four-year, $45MM contract extension, a deal that would cost the team significantly more in luxury tax penalties if he remains on the roster. Mannix adds that rookie Baylor Scheierman could be tapped to fill in Hauser’s role if coach Joe Mazzulla thinks Scheierman ready for it.
- After a down year, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer doesn’t rule out the Sixers attempting to move one of Joel Embiid or Paul George if the team’s struggles continue. However, those contracts are likely to be difficult to trade, given their size and length. Within the same mailbag, Pompey fields a question about the idea of drafting Khaman Maluach with the No. 3 pick, noting that going that route would be an indication that the 76ers have more concern about Embiid’s future than they’ve indicated to this point. Pompey doesn’t view it as a likely scenario.
- The Nets have conducted pre-draft workouts for Johni Broome (Auburn), Taelon Peter (Liberty University), and Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M), according to Nets Daily (via Twitter). While the latter two players are viewed as undrafted free agent targets, Broome is considered a likely late-first or second-round pick. The 6’10” SEC Player of the Year and All-American averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game for Auburn during his senior year.
Suns Notes: Izzo, Ott, Durant Trade, Coaching Staff
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo has seen the jokes about Suns owner Mat Ishbia stockpiling on Spartan alumni, especially following Phoenix’s hiring of new head coach Jordan Ott, but he doesn’t think the correlation is all it’s cracked up to be, writes Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic.
“It looks like Michigan State Southwest, but the truth of the matter is, it’s not that,” Izzo told Rankin in a phone interview. “He’s just got to figure out what it takes to win and I think he’s figured out some of the things he’s done, positively and negatively. He’s got to get some stability. He’s got to figure out his roster and I think you’re going to see Mat more and more visible.”
With Ott marking Phoenix’s fourth coach in four years, stability will be key to moving the Suns into a new, more successful era.
Izzo also praised the Ott hire, saying of the first-time head coach, “He’s great, a really smart kid. Works his ass off. He’s a guy that has enjoyed the process. He’s really a thorough guy.”
We have more news from Phoenix:
- Ott has been effortlessly commanding respect from players since he entered the NBA as a video coordinator with the Hawks, writes The Athletic’s Doug Haller. As Haller details, Michigan State assistant coach Dwayne Stephens was immediately impressed by Ott’s comfort level in Atlanta when he visited him in 2014 and saw him working with his first NBA team. “That’s probably when I first realized that this dude has an opportunity to be one of the premier coaches in that league,” Stephens said. According to Spartan athletic director Kevin Pauga, Ott commands a room not with a boisterous presence, but with an undeniable mindset: “You get five minutes (with him), you’re like, ‘Oh, this guy is smart as hell.'”
- With Kevin Durant trade speculation heating up, Rankin lists five of the teams he considers most likely trade partners for the Suns. Those teams are the Rockets, Timberwolves, Knicks, Pistons, and Spurs. Rankin believes it’s unlikely the Spurs would consider the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft in a Durant deal, but thinks the 14th pick could be on the table.
- Rankin also looks at potential candidates to join the Suns’ coaching staff as assistants under Ott. David Fizdale, who has been on the staff with the previous two coaches (Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer) is one clear choice. Fizdale had been under consideration for the head coaching position before Ott won it. Mark Bryant and Othella Harrington both coached under Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks and could find themselves looking for work if New York overhauls its staff. Adam Caporn of the Wizards, the Suns’ Brent Barry, Indiana’s Jenny Boucek, and former Ott coworkers Adam Harrington and Phil Handy round out the list for Rankin.
Southwest Notes: Mavs, DSJ, Brown, Spurs, Pelicans
Acquiring a point guard is one of the top priorities for the Mavericks in the 2025 offseason, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. With star Kyrie Irving recovering from ACL surgery and not expected to get back on the court until at least January, the team will need help at the position this fall.
In a mailbag for the Morning News, Curtis discusses how Chris Paul will likely be a name to watch for Dallas, citing NBA Insider Marc Stein who listed him as a potential option along with Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday. The latter two players are still under contract but their respective teams may entertain offers for them, given roster construction and salary cap considerations.
After a rocky season as a part-time starter for the Suns, Curtis doesn’t consider upcoming unrestricted free agent Tyus Jones a serious target, writing, “Jones has proven he can run an offense, but there are better options on the market this offseason.”
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Dennis Smith Jr. is set to work out with the Mavericks next week as part of a veteran mini-camp, notes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. The athletic, defensive-minded guard is just one of a number of free agents who will take part in the mini-camp, but he could fill a need for the Dallas team that drafted him in 2017 and help complement the team’s budding defensive identity. Smith recently participated in a similar camp for the Sixers.
- One name to watch as the Spurs continue to search for stars to put around Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox is Jaylen Brown, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix said during an NBC Sports Boston appearance (YouTube link). While Giannis Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Spurs, Mannix believes they may not be comfortable with the price they’d have to pay to acquire the Bucks star, which could lead them to look elsewhere. “I think if you’re Boston, you’re not going to… get a Stephon Castle in a potential Jaylen Brown (trade),” Mannix said. “You would get a No. 2 pick back in return, you would get some of the pieces… the Devin Vassells, the Keldon Johnsons, future first-round capital. That’s something I’d watch.” There’s no indication at this point that the Celtics will make Brown available.
- The Pelicans conducted pre-draft workouts for UNC’s RJ Davis, Arkansas’ Johnell Davis, Wisconsin’s Steven Crowl, and Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson, reports The Athletic’s Will Guillory (via Twitter). Of the four players, UNC’s Davis ranks the highest on ESPN’s top-100 board, coming in at 93rd.
- New Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars views the two teams in the NBA Finals as reasons to believe New Orleans can follow a similar small-market path, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. The first step in that process is building the proper culture and making the team feel like a first-class organization. “Taking care of the players. Taking care of their families. The way you do business. The way you travel. Everything. People have to feel good about coming into the building,” Dumars said.
Knicks Notes: Kidd, Finch, Thibodeau, Brunson
After Marc Stein reported earlier today that the Knicks are expected to seek the Mavericks‘ permission to talk to head coach Jason Kidd about their head coaching job, Ian Begley of SNY.tv and ESPN’s Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon have confirmed as much. New York is “conducting active due diligence” on Kidd, according to Charania and MacMahon.
The question remains whether or not the Mavericks will grant that permission. Sources tell ESPN’s duo that Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and team owner Patrick Dumont haven’t yet discussed whether to allow Kidd and the Knicks to speak to one another. It’s also unclear whether Kidd would have interest in leaving Dallas for New York — he did interview for the Knicks’ job in 2020 before Tom Thibodeau was hired, as Charania and MacMahon note.
Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is also part of a small group of head coaches already under contract whom the Knicks have interest in, according to Begley. It’s unclear if the Knicks plan to ask the Wolves about talking to Finch, but I can’t imagine Minnesota being very enthusiastic about the possibility.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Following up on ESPN’s reporting about the Knicks dismissing Thibodeau after getting input from players, Begley notes that while that player input was a factor in the team’s decision, Knicks players were respectful of Thibodeau during their end-of-season exit meetings and have a “great deal of admiration” for him. They did point out during those meetings, however, that there were things Thibodeau did during his tenure that could be improved, Begley adds.
- There will be plenty of Jalen Brunson-related subplots to monitor during the Knicks’ head coaching search, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required). As Braziller observes, Brunson has blossomed into a star under Thibodeau and spoke highly of the veteran coach. It remains to be seen how much input the point guard might have in the team’s hiring decision and what the coaching change will mean for his father, assistant coach Rick Brunson.
- The Knicks aren’t expected to make an immediate head coaching hire, a league source tells Steve Popper of Newsday, who details the pressure and expectations that Thibodeau’s replacement will face.
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who is the president of the National Basketball Coaches Association, admitted this week that he was shocked by the Knicks’ decision to fire Thibodeau. “Thibs went in there and changed so much,” Carlisle said (Twitter link via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). “You look at all that and what happened yesterday. When I first saw it I thought it was one of those fake AI things, like, no way. No way possible.”