SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration hearing with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner will be paid a record $32 million this year instead of the team's $19 million offer.
Jeanne Charles, Walt De Treux and Allen Ponak made the decision one day after listening to arguments.
Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had held the record for the highest salary in an arbitration case decided by a panel, winning at $19.9 million in 2024 in a case decided by Charles, De Treux and Scott Buchheit.
A two-time All-Star, Skubal will be eligible for free agency after the World Series. The 29-year-old left-hander is 54-37 with a 3.08 ERA in six major league seasons.
Skubal was 13-6 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, striking out 241 and walking 33 in 195 1/3 innings while earning $10.5 million. His 0.891 WHIP topped qualified pitchers.
Players have won the first three decisions this offseason. Right-hander Kyle Bradish was awarded $3.55 million instead of the Baltimore Orioles’ offer of $2,875,000, and catcher Yainer Diaz received $4.5 million instead of the Houston Astros’ $3 million proposal.
Los Angeles will receive guard Bennedict Mathurin and forward Isaiah Jackson in the deal. Indiana's protected 2026 first-round pick and unprotected 2029 first-round pick will go back to the Clippers.
The Pacers have the worst record in the Eastern Conference this season, but their draft pick is protected in picks 1-4 and 10-30.
The Clippers traded guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland earlier this week.
The Washington Wizards’ splashy moves before the trade deadline signal a brighter future, but don’t expect any immediate payoff as they visit the East-leading Detroit Pistons tonight.
Injured duo Trae Young and Anthony Davis will be given generous recovery time as Washington eyes a high draft pick, and my Wizards vs. Pistons predictions expect Jalen Duren and a relentless Detroit squad to cash in.
Get a look at this mismatch with my free NBA picks for Thursday, February 5.
Wizards vs Pistons prediction
Wizards vs Pistons best bet: Jalen Duren Over 29.5 points + rebounds (-105)
Jalen Duren’s growth as a legit No. 2 guy next to Cade Cunningham has been one of the biggest reasons for the Detroit Pistons' stunning season — and his first All-Star nod signals recognition for what he’s bringing to the table.
Tonight’s matchup against an inexperienced Washington Wizards squad is a perfect opportunity for Duren to give his numbers an extra boost, and I’m grabbing this combo Over. He’s already taken his scoring average from 11.8 points per game last season to 18 this year, and the consistency has been eye-catching, as he has scored 18+ points in eight of his last nine contests.
His rebounding is rock-solid, too, with a 10.7 rebounds per game mark that ranks sixth in the NBA, and he finished with 14 boards in an overtime victory vs. Washington back in November.
There’s upside for this pick, as Cunningham is listed as questionable and could be given some extra rest for his wrist injury. While that would take away Duren’s premier setup man, it could also propel the Pistons’ big man into a larger offensive role.
The Wizards have coughed up some big totals lately, including 132 points to the Knicks and 142 points to the Lakers, and I’m counting on Duren to make an impact here on both ends of the floor.
Wizards vs Pistons same-game parlay
Despite the predictably huge spread, I’m riding with a Detroit squad that’s 20-5 at home. The Pistons are 17-12 ATS against Eastern Conference opponents, and I see the hosts scoring freely against this Wizards defense, which is allowing 122.7 PPG.
Kyshawn George has started February with a couple of quiet outings, but he’s averaging 15.3 PPG, and he went past this O/U points number in nine of his 11 contests last month.
Wizards vs Pistons SGP
Jalen Duren Over 29.5 points + rebounds
Pistons -14.5
Kyshawn George Over 14.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thompson Tags In
Ausar Thompson is another Piston who could punish Washington's shaky defense. He’s shooting 51% from the field, so he’s capable of nailing this Over without a big jump in volume, and Detroit is dealing with injuries on the wing.
Over/Under: Over 225.5 (-110) | Under 225.5 (-110)
Wizards vs Pistons betting trend to know
The Wizards are 9-14 ATS on the road this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Pistons.
How to watch Wizards vs Pistons
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Monumental SN, FDSN Detroit
Wizards vs Pistons latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers will be the team facing the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Australia next season, the league said Thursday.
The league had announced last year that it will be playing a game in 2026 in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue that holds about 100,000 spectators. The Rams were also announced last year as the home team for that game, part of a multi-year commitment to play in Melbourne.
“The 49ers are a popular franchise within the Australian market, and this rivalry game solidifies what we know is going to be an incredible NFL experience for our fans down under,” said Charlotte Offord, NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager.
The date and kickoff time will be announced later.
The Rams have had marketing rights in Australia since the NFL started its international marketing program in 2022. ___
CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 02: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball up court during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Center on January 2, 2021 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ayo Dosunmu’s time as a basketball star in the state of Illinois has come to an end.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported this morning that the Chicago Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Just in: The Chicago Bulls have traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DOzVoArBsL
Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips were traded in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks, per Charania.
Dosunmu played four and a half seasons for his hometown team, appearing in 324 games and starting 164. The Chicago native finishes his Bulls career with averages of 10.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.3 APG on 50.4% FG and 37.7% 3PT.
The 38th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu was thrust into the Bulls’ starting lineup as a rookie. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Ayo’s trade value was at an all-time high this season, which explains why the now rebuilding Bulls would move on from a beloved fan favorite. Dosunmu has shot a career-best 45.1% from beyond the arc while averaging 15.0 PPG in 45 games in 2025-26.
Ayo Dosunmu this season:
15.0 PPG 3.0 RPG 3.6 APG 51.4% FG 45.1% 3PT 85.7% FT
One of four active Illini in the NBA, the 2021 Bob Cousy Award winner and consensus first-team All-American now joins fellow Illini Terrence Shannon Jr. on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shannon Jr., the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in 54 games for Minnesota over his two seasons in the league. He’s currently battling a left foot strain that has sidelined him for more than a month.
While at Illinois, Shannon Jr. brought Illinois to an Elite Eight and was named to the First-team All-Big Ten twice. He was named a Third-team All-American in 2024 as well.
Both Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jerseys are honored by the program and hang in the State Farm Center rafters.
The T-Wolves, led by superstar Anthony Edwards, (32-20) sit at 5th place in the Western Conference. The addition of Dosunmu and return of Shannon Jr. will surely make Minnesota one of the most electrifying watches in the NBA.
ZAPOPAN, Mexico (AP) — The Mexican state of Jalisco on Thursday issued a health alert and mandated the use of face masks in schools as a measles outbreak hit the state capital, a key host city for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The measures come on the heels of an epidemiological alert issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) earlier this week over the spread of the preventable disease across the Americas, particularly in Mexico, which leads the region with 1,981 cases confirmed by authorities this year and more than 5,200 suspected cases.
Jalisco is the epicenter of the outbreak, with 1,163 cases confirmed this year and 2,092 suspected cases, according to Mexico's government.
The measles outbreak in Mexico began last year in the northern state of Chihuahua, after a Mennonite child fell ill while visiting relatives in a region in Texas that was suffering an outbreak. Cases surged in Mennonite communities — which have high rates of vaccine hesitancy — and have rippled out across Mexico in the country's biggest outbreak in decades. Scientists say rising outbreaks across the hemisphere are linked to declining vaccination rates.
Jalisco health authorities announced Thursday that masks will be required in Guadalajara schools across seven specific neighborhoods for the next 30 days.
Jalisco was the first Mexican state to take such measures as medical groups urged the local government to take urgent action, marking the country’s first such public health mandate since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Classes were also recently suspended in 15 schools in Jalisco and the central state of Aguascalientes due to outbreaks of the highly contagious airborne virus.
On Thursday, students and teachers in areas surrounding Guadalajara showed up to classes masks and long lines would through vaccination centers set up in local government buildings.
The outbreak comes as Mexico prepares to host visitors from across the world for the World Cup, which will be held simultaneously in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Guadalajara is one of the main venues in Mexico for the soccer tournament.
Canada lost its measles-free status in November and the U.S. and Mexico face the risk of meeting the same fate. Both governments have requested a two-month extension to try to control the outbreak, although in January the Trump administration withdrew from the World Health Organization, under whose umbrella PAHO operates.
In the first three weeks of this year, 1,031 additional measles cases were confirmed in seven countries in the Americas with no deaths reported — a figure 43 times higher than that recorded in the same period last year — PAHO said Wednesday in a statement.
The Mexican government has spent weeks encouraging the population to get vaccinated against the measles, which is preventable with two doses of the vaccine, and announced the launch of vaccination sites in places such as airports and bus stations.
Late-game collapses have become far too regular for the Toronto Raptors, as they fell apart in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves last night.
Luckily, they’ll be able to quickly put that behind them as the Chicago Bulls come to town. Chicago is in the middle of a fire sale ahead of today’s trade deadline, making Toronto a big favorite.
My Bulls vs. Raptors predictions and NBA picks are betting that one player in particular will take advantage of Chicago's depleted roster tonight.
Bulls vs Raptors prediction
Bulls vs Raptors best bet: Brandon Ingram Over 21.5 points (-115)
The Toronto Raptors have made some baffling decisions late in games, costing them several wins recently, including last night against the Timberwolves. That has me looking at Brandon Ingram.
You can bet the Raptors feed Ingram to overcompensate for last night. Additionally, he’s averaging 23 points while shooting 41.5% from deep over his last eight games.
Then there’s the matchup with the Chicago Bulls. Between injuries and trades, it’s hard to recognize this team. One that already ranked 25th in defensive rating.
Mix in no RJ Barrett, and BI should go Over 21.5 points for the sixth time in nine games.
Bulls vs Raptors same-game parlay
Here's what's going on with the Bulls. Josh Giddey is out, and two starters from their last game, Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White, have been traded away.
They had already allowed 116+ points in five of their last six games. If the Raps can’t get to that number tonight, something is wrong.
Still, someone will have to score for Chicago, and I’m looking at Jalen Smith. Chicago's big man has topped this number in five of his last six games, and the Raptors have little to no presence in the paint.
Bulls vs Raptors SGP
Brandon Ingram Over 21.5 points
Jalen Smith Over 12.5 points
Raptors team total Over 115.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Bulls and Raps on parade
The Bulls don't play much defense, and the Raptors should have tired legs. I'm betting on some easy buckets in this game.
Bulls vs Raptors SGP
Brandon Ingram Over 21.5 points
Collin Murray-Boyles Over 10.5 points
Jalen Smith Over 12.5 points
Matas Buzelis Over 19.5 points
Bulls vs Raptors odds
Spread: Bulls +8 | Raptors -8
Moneyline: Bulls +270 | Raptors -340
Over/Under: Over 224 | Under 224
Bulls vs Raptors betting trend to know
The Bulls have only cashed the first-half moneyline in 17 of their last 50 games for -19.70 units and a -30% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. Raptors.
How to watch Bulls vs Raptors
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Bulls vs Raptors latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 01: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Nick Richards #2 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on April 01, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After more and more reports came out in the last 24 hours that the Bucks were increasingly likely to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo through the deadline, the most recent intel from ESPN’s Shams Charania also indicated they were going to move on to other trades. Almost immediately after, we got notification that Milwaukee had completed their first deal of 2026, sending veterans Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to Phoenix for big man Nick Richards and former Wisconsin Badger Nigel Hayes-Davis.
A name that might be familiar to casual NBA fans, Richards was a speculative trade target for Milwaukee last year before Charlotte flipped him to Phoenix. He developed into a solid rim-protecting center during four-plus years as a Hornet, topping out at just under 10 PPG and eight RPG, plus good block numbers for a 22–26 MPG guy. The Suns packaged Josh Okogie and three second-round picks for the 6’11” Kentucky alum in January 2025, then he assumed their starting center gig from Jusuf Nurkic, who was later traded to the Hornets in a separate deal. He maintained his typical production, but Phoenix pivoted this offseason: first, they acquired the 10th pick in last year’s draft as part of their return for Kevin Durant, using it to select Duke center Khaman Maluach. Then, in their third trade with Charlotte of 2025, Phoenix dealt a future first for another Duke center, third-year vet Mark Williams.
That all left the 28-year-old Richards on the outside looking in of Phoenix’s big man rotation. He was on the floor for each of their first 21 games, but for more than 10 minutes in just nine of them. Since December 1st, he’s seen only seven games of action, and only once for more than 8 minutes. He hasn’t played since January 13th. This year, he’s averaging 3.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.5 BPG on 49.3% shooting, far below his career 63.1% FG%. But he has a reputation as a good interior defender and occasional lob threat, who also developed a decent touch from floater range prior to this season. Perhaps he’ll develop some P&R chemistry with Kevin Porter Jr. or Ryan Rollins. He’s on an expiring contract worth $5m, and if the Bucks decide they want to keep him around, they’ll be able to use his Bird rights for a new deal over the summer. Our pals at Bright Side Of The Sun had a preview of him before the season that you may want to read.
Hayes-Davis is a name that will definitely be familiar to Wisconsin basketball fans after a stellar career as a Badger. He was a key reserve as a freshman on Wisconsin’s 2014 Final Four team, then a starter and the third-leading scorer on their 2015 squad that fell to Duke in the national championship game. Adding Davis to his surname in 2021 to honor his stepfather, the 6’7” forward spent nine games with three teams way back in 2017–18 before taking his talents to Europe. Throughout multiple seasons in Turkey, Lithuania, and Spain, including with powerhouses Fenerbahce and Barcelona, he became one of the Euroleague’s top performers, setting a single-game scoring record with a 50-point game in 2024. After leading Fenerbahce to their second Euroleague title last year and winning Final Four MVP, NBA teams became interested again.
Phoenix snapped him up on a minimum deal, but in 27 games stateside, he hasn’t looked the part of an NBA player: he’s averaging 1.3 PPG on .326/.125/.500 shooting in just 7.2 MPG. The now 31-year-old hasn’t factored into the Suns’ rotation either: after logging double-digit minutes four times in their first five games, he’s mostly been a deep reserve, with 24 DNPs. Since the new year, he’s only seen garbage time in six contests. It’s possible Milwaukee will just waive him to open up their 15th roster spot, since they have plenty of breathing room beneath the luxury tax threshold. Regardless, he is a free agent this summer as well.
Anthony was signed to a veteran’s minimum this summer after being waived-and-stretched by Memphis, who acquired him as salary ballast in the Desmond Bane trade. Though he had a productive first couple weeks in a Bucks uniform (11.1 PPG on .516/.333/.500 shooting in his first seven games), he soon began to struggle in his typical 15–20 minutes per game. His shooting numbers cratered to 42.4% from the field and a career-worst 30.6% from deep. Even right before Kevin Porter Jr. came back from his opening night injury, he was largely out of the rotation until the last few weeks due to further Bucks injuries. He actually had a few nice nights in that span, but his Milwaukee tenure will go down as disappointing. But for a minimum contract, it’s no real skin off the Bucks’ back.
Coffey was signed to an Exhibit 9 deal and given a standard contract after preseason, but the six-year vet never made an impact in Milwaukee. He saw scarce rotation minutes in the opening few weeks, did basically nothing with them, then was relegated to garbage-time duty until January. Somewhat surprisingly, his contract became guaranteed earlier last month as the Bucks probably hoped they could flip them at the deadline, so it worked out. He too re-entered the rotation due to injuries since mid-January, and actually started Milwaukee’s last two games. He had his best game of the year yesterday evening with 16 points and five boards on 7/8 shooting. Maybe that pushed this deal over the finish line!
All in all, this is a good deal for the Bucks. They took two unproductive vets and turned them into a big man with some real NBA credentials. We’ll see what this means for Bobby Portis and Jericho Sims, the latter of whom has been underwhelming. Financially, this adds about $2.4m to Milwaukee’s payroll, decreasing their tax room from $11.5m to $9.1m. Their standard roster remains full. The motivation here for Phoenix is to duck the tax: Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors reports that they’ll drop $2.5m beneath the tax line.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 10: Chris Boucher #99 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors during Preseason on October 10, 2025 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics used the closing hours of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline to finalize a trade sending center Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Update: Reports indicate that the Jazz are also getting a Denver 2027 2nd round pick for taking on Boucher’s salary.
Boston’s decision to cut ties with Boucher comes as no surprise, bringing the organization to just $3.6 million above the luxury tax threshold. It also opens a roster spot for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to explore expanded minutes for role players such as Luka Garza and Amari Williams, as the team awaits the arrival of newly acquired center Nikola Vučević.
Boucher initially joined the Celtics as a solution to the team’s need for frontcourt depth. He signed a one-year, $2.3 million deal with Boston in the offseason, but as the season progressed, he gradually fell out of the rotation. Boucher failed to match the 16 minutes he logged on Opening Night in any of his next eight appearances, which were scattered over more than three months. He averaged 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists, serving more as a veteran presence than an on-court contributor with a defined role in his brief stint with the team.
During Boucher’s final appearance in a Celtics uniform, the 33-year-old played the final four minutes of a 112-93 blowout win over the Sacramento Kings last Friday. As the clock wound down, Boucher broke one of basketball’s unwritten rules by calling for a pass from Josh Minnott and knocking down a buzzer-beating 3-pointer with the game already decided, scoring his first points in more than two months. Sacramento’s Russell Westbrook made a beeline toward Boucher, while Mazzulla, visibly frustrated, walked off the floor midway through a brief postgame scuffle between the two teams.
He was subsequently listed as out due to personal reasons for the team’s two most recent games against Dallas and Houston.
The trade marks the first transaction between Boston and Utah since former Celtics executive Austin Ainge reunited with his father, Danny Ainge, now the Jazz’s team president.
This story will be updated as additional details emerge.
Wing unable to complete training session on Thursday
Daly the leading alternative if Exeter player ruled out
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has given England a late injury scare before they start their Six Nations campaign against Wales on Saturday after pulling up in training.
The Exeter wing was unable to complete England’s session at Pennyhill Park due to a leg injury with Steve Borthwick’s medical staff investigating its extent on Thursday night.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 31: Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 31, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jose Alvarado is no Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Jose Alvarado is a New York Knick.
Alvarado might have been the most rumored target not named Giannis for the Knicks all season long, and unlike their attempt at prying Antetokounmpo, the Knicks had enough to trade for Alvarado, finally pulling the trigger hours before the trade deadline.
The Knicks are sending Dalen Terry, two second-round picks and cash to the Pelicans for Alvarado, sources said. https://t.co/Dqb6As7uAI
Shams Charania of ESPN reported that New York acquired the Brooklyn native for Dalen Terry, who the Knicks acquired for Guerschon Yabusele last night, two second-round picks, and cash.
Alvarado, who is averaging 7.9PPG, 3.1APG, 2.8RPG, and 0.9SPG this season, brings a level of toughness and physicality the Knicks have missed at times this year. And while plugging in a 6-foot point guard into a rotation that already includes the undersized Jalen Brunson and Deuce McBride may seem both redundant and unnecessary, this is still a short-term upgrade considering the Knicks brought in a proven rotation player for Yabusele, who had been unproductive in his limited minutes thus far.
Alvarado also gives the Knicks more flexibility in the kinds of lineups they can field. If head coach Mike Brown chooses to do so, he can now play McBride next to Brunson much more, without worrying about back-up point guard minutes. His ball-handling abilities will be a breath of fresh air for a team that lacks playmaking and creativity. That should allow him to thrive both next to Brunson, as well as the other starters, and more specifically, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has looked and performed better next to Tyler Kolek, a more traditional point guard. Additionally, Alvarado also gives them an additional point-of-attack defender, something they’ve badly needed.
His counting stats may not stick out, and his splits of 41.8%/36.3%/83.3% aren’t going to wow anyone either. But his contagious energy, combined with having his hometown crowd behind him, should lead to some fun and memorable moments.
To reiterate, Jose Alvarado is truly appealing to me on the condition that he opts in to his deal and extends six months after a trade. That would help the Knicks enter the upcoming offseason below the second apron, setting them up to finally go above it for the 2027-28 season
Ultimately, this move will be judged on two things, though.
One, obviously, will be how he plays. Seeing as Yabusele spent most of the season looking like one of the worst free-agent signings this decade, that likely won’t be a very high hurdle.
And two, Alvarado also gives them an additional point-of-attack defender, something they’ve badly needed. The 27-year-old has a $4.5 million player option for next year, and as Jeremy Cohen cleverly pointed out, if he can opt in, it would give the Knicks some much-needed flexibility, as it would help them enter the offseason below the second apron.
Feb 4, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on from the bench during the first quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
After gauging offers for several days for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping their two-time MVP through today’s trade deadline. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news today, with several others following up to confirm the story.
This has been the prevailing sentiment over the past couple of days. Jamal Collier of ESPN put out an article today that backs up much of the other reporting, saying the Bucks felt no pressure to deal Giannis at today’s deadline:
“The Bucks don’t feel the pressure to move Giannis Antetokounmpo on Thursday, team sources told ESPN hours ahead of the deadline. Rival executives have grown dubious in the past 24 hours about whether the Bucks would actually move their franchise star after more than 12 seasons together.“
Jake Fischer later spoke to a team executive who said the Bucks were “never serious” about trading Giannis at the deadline.
The Bucks got right to work adding new pieces to the squad after the news, with Shams reporting that the Bucks are sending Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for center Nick Richards and wing Nigel Hayes-Davis. This deal fits right in line with what Collier said the Bucks would do from this morning:
“Milwaukee has still scoured the market for a potential upgrade to its roster, sources told ESPN, hoping to benefit from a team looking to offload salary in the future.”
Bucks fans likely no longer have to sit in dread by their phone, waiting for a potential Giannis deal to go down. After months of ESPN’s prognosticators saying the best offer was from Golden State, or that it was 60/40 he would head down to South Beach, the silence will be bliss. This isn’t a full-fledged guarantee that they won’t revisit a potential deal in the offseason, but at least Giannis should be in green and white for the rest of the 2025–26 season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to remain a Milwaukee Buck.
At least through the end of the season. Then this summer, the entire soap opera starts up again.
The Milwaukee Bucks have formally told suitors they will not be trading Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline, something that clearly had been building for a couple of days but now has been formalized, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Things were clearly headed this direction when the two most aggressive suitors for Antetokounmpo — the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves — pivoted in the last 12 hours and began making other trades. The Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta, and the Timberwolves traded Rob Dillingham and others to Chicago for Ayo Dosunmu.
For years — and even up until about a month ago — Milwaukee brushed aside any team calling to check on Antetokounmpo's trade availability. However, the team's struggles and Antetokounmpo's frustration with that changed the dynamic.
After finally agreeing to listen to offers for Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee's front office spent the last couple of weeks taking calls and surveying the market. However, they gave other teams the impression that this was more of a fact-finding mission to gauge the market for Antetokounmpo, rather than a genuine desire to trade him, league sources told NBC Sports.
If maximizing their return was the Bucks' primary goal, waiting until the offseason to trade Antetokounmpo was always the logical play. However, these kinds of blockbuster deals gain their own momentum, and logic sometimes flies out the window.
It will be a little awkward in Milwaukee the rest of the season. Not because Antetokounmpo will be disruptive or a bad teammate, but because it's in the best interest of the organization to tank and get as high a draft pick as they can. Milwaukee will have the second-best pick among those owned by the Pelicans, Bucks, and Hawks — right now, the Pelicans have the second-worst record in the league, the Bucks the ninth, and Atlanta is 14th. Milwaukee should try to tank its way to improved lottery odds, but when Antetokounmpo's calf heals, he will want to play and win games, not sit out. Those could be interesting conversations.
The Antetokounmpo trade saga is not done. These conversations will resume in the offseason, when more teams — specifically the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers — will have more draft assets to trade and greater flexibility to make moves.
For now, the Bucks have already moved on, trading Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis. This is a small trade of teams swapping expiring contracts, but it's a sign that the Bucks are done with Antetokounmpo trade talks.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 02: Nick Richards #2 of the Phoenix Suns looks on before the game against the Sacramento Kings at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 02, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Kings 129-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was said to be quiet for the Suns this trade season, as they were exceeding expectations and did not want to ruffle feathers in the rotation. That being known, though, it was always indicated that one move would happen for the team, one to duck the luxury tax. By doing that, they had to trade Nick Richards, and the Suns were active in making that move, finally finding a way to do so.
The Suns traded Nigel Hayes-Davis and Nick Richards to the Milwaukee Bucks for Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey.
The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis, sources tell ESPN.
This deal was very beneficial for the Suns, as it helped them accomplish multiple goals. By doing this, the Suns save $ 2.5 million, allowing them to avoid the tax.
Not only that, but it allows them to move off two guys who were not in their rotation and have some flexibility. Richards was the third center (sometimes fourth), and Hayes-Davis was a fun offseason story but never panned out. Even if Coffey and Anthony are not standouts, either would give the Suns a new look.
All 4 players in the Milwaukee/Phoenix trade are on expiring contracts.
Phoenix is $2.2M below the tax and has room to sign a 15th player.
Even with this move, Phoenix can still sign one more player to the roster. If they do not want to waive either Anthony or Coffey to see what they have, they can still sign either Jamaree Bouyea or Isaiah Livers.
This trade by the Suns will almost certainly create a spot for Jamaree Bouyea in the near future.
Ultimately, this is a win-win for the Suns. They did not want to be the bad guys and waive Hayes-Davis or Richards, so they moved off them and still have the flexibility to do so. Luckily, as well, Phoenix did not have to add any draft capital to shed this money. Many teams over the past few days have had to (Cavs with Lonzo, Magic with Tyus), so for the Suns to do this, it is a huge win. Especially since they already have limited draft capital, I am happy they did not have to give any up.
Coffey and Anthony are some fun pieces to add to. Anthony, a former lottery pick, has been a streaky shooter, but could bring some fun to this team if kept. Coffey has also been a target for me in the past. He has slowed down a bit defensively compared to the Clippers, but he could be another body for depth, especially with the injuries to this team.
When you look at who they had to move to, it’s not that big of a deal. Mainly, this was a salary-making move to help duck some unnecessary spending this year and to set up the offseason. Now, there is $8 million more available for Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams, key free agents for this squad.
What do you guys think, though? Let us know your thoughts down below
