The Dallas Mavericks (19-27) host the Minnesota Timberwolves (28-19) on Wednesday evening. It’s the first game of a back-to-back for the Mavericks; they unexpectedly had three days off when their Sunday game was postponed due to weather. Dallas has won four out of their last five, with the lone loss coming last Saturday to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Timberwolves are on the other side; they lost five in a row before snapping out of it with a Monday win over the Golden State Warriors
Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
WHAT: Trying to slow down Anthony Edwards
WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
Dallas has an annoying injury report, but that’s been the entire stinking year. Cooper Flagg was ruled out due to an ankle injury or injury management, whatever you want to call it. I expect him to play tomorrow. Klay Thompson is out as well with knee soreness. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Dereck Lively are of course out. Anthony Edwards was the only Timberwolf on the injury report of note and he is playing.
This is going to be a close game somehow, I just have zero idea how that actually happens. Naji Marshall’s been given the green light and I expect more of that. PJ Washington needs to string together some decent games too. Dallas is going to have a hard time on the boards but if Ryan Nembhard can get the offense in a flow for the Mavericks, maybe they hang around and surprise the Wolves, who are talented but inconsistent as hell.
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
We don’t know how many more times LeBron James will play in the arena he called home for 11 years. As such, the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled out all the stops to make sure that the current Los Angeles Lakers star knew that what he’s done for the team and community is appreciated.
First, the crowd gave him the loudest ovation during pregame intros, which included a special welcome from the Cavs’ mascot, Moondog.
Then, the Cavs welcomed him back with a tribute video at the first timeout with highlights of his 25-straight point game against the Detroit Pistons in 2007. It was a fitting tribute, given that the current Cavs were sporting the same uniforms the team wore then.
Cavs welcome LeBron back with highlights of his 25-straight point performance against the Pistons in 2007. pic.twitter.com/m5RKXP0rtO
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James has the ability to keep playing the game at a high level, even if his athleticism has taken a notable decline in the last few seasons. Whether or not someone of his caliber wants to keep going if he isn’t able to play at the level he used to remains to be seen. James doesn’t have anything more to prove in this game.
Could Brooklyn Nets swoop in and steal Giannis Antetokounmpo from the New York Knicks … using the Knicks own first round picks? Wouldn’t that be juicy?
Well, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, Dave McMenamin agree there’s indeed a possibility of a Nets offer in the Wednesday edition of their Hoop Collective podcast.“ Windhorst took the lead…
Will the Brooklyn Nets make an offer for Giannis?
No aggregation from Swamp Dragons, clipped straight from the source. Nets have 10 tradable firsts, 11 by draft day.
“I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer,” Windhorstr said, noting the assets Sean Marks & co. have accumulated, particularly draft picks which are likely to the coin of the realm as well as good young players in any deal for the 31-year-old two-time MVP and one Finals MVP. A number of those assets — three remaining unprotected firsts in 2027, 2029 and 2031 as well as an unprotected swap in 2028 — were all part of the Nets haul from the June 2024 trade for Mikal Bridges.
“Brooklyn has 10 tradeable firsts and Michael Porter Jr. and 11 tradeable firsts as of draft night. Do we think Brooklyn will make an offer,” the ESPN’s top NBA insider asked amidst a back-and-forth between the three writers. “I think Brooklyn will seriously consider making an offer.”
Both Bontemps and McMahon agreed with Bontemps offering this: “A top five player becoming available … a lot of things are going to be discussed that you don’t know about and you don’t expect to hear. Players like this do not become available very often and while there are concerns about Giannis out-years on the contract, about his calf, all this stuff at the end of the day, he’s a top five player on the planet and those five players are still going to return big value in a trade.”
All of this was in a roundtable of discussion of which NBA teams would make a move for the near 7-footer who has finally made it clear he wants a new home. as their colleague Shams Charania reported earlier in the day
So far, the Knicks and Miami Heat are seen as the leading candidates, but the Knicks and Bucks tried and failed to come to an agreement during an exclusive trade window last summer. A big impediment was that Leon Rose had traded all those picks (plus two in last year’s draft) and a couple of seconds to Brooklyn in the Mikal Bridges trade. The Nets also have $15.3 million in cap space
Giannis, whose never played for any team other than the Milwaukee Bucks in his 11-year career, is going to be eligible for a five-year, $275 million extension come October no matter who controls his contract with.
Windy and Bontemps discuss the risks involved with that extension.
“Also, if you’re trading for Giannis who’s 31 years old, you’re also trading for the right to pay him $270 million in an extension this fall,” said Windhorst. “If you’re going to do that, you’re going to have to commit to that, do we agree on that?”
“Yes,” agreed Bontemps. “Can’t imagine many teams that would want to take Giannis on for the price it would take to get him that would only want him for a year and a half.”
Windhorst did say
The Nets of course, with the smallest payroll in the league and Joe Tsai and Julia Koch’s deep pockets — a combined net worth approaching $100 billion, wouldn’t likely flinch at Giannis price tag. He currently makes $54.1 million. However, agreeing to the full amount and term of an extension would mean paying him more than $60 million at age 37.
Marks made it clear at the Nets Media Day in September that if they were to defer from their rebuild, there would have to a belief that whoever they acquired would have to dramatically change the franchise’s course, not an incremental move up the standings.
“If you’re going after max level talent, they’ve got to automatically and absolutely change the trajectory of your team. This this can’t be ‘well, let’s go get this and lock ourselves in to being a six or seven seed.” he said. (Emphasis added.)
Windhorst et al didn’t offer any thoughts on whether Antetokounmpo would want to join Brooklyn, particularly since the Nets are currently one of the league’s worst team and he reportedly wants to join a winner. In previous reporting, ESPN and others have suggested that the Bucks front office would try to work with their franchise player to get him to a team he likes. How much patience the front office and new owner would have remains to be seen.
The ESPN trio weren’t the only pundits suggesting Nets interest but the most prominent voice, Jake Fischer, told The SteinLine that he could see the Nets as well as the Hornets and Jazz playing a facilitator roles.
Growing belief that we’ll see Brooklyn, Charlotte and Utah play facilitator in a few of these more complicated frameworks. Sources say Nets, Hornets, Jazz have all been reiterating in ongoing conversations that they’re willing to help grease trades in exchange for draft capital.
The Nets could have as many as 13 firsts going forward, including the 10 tradeable ones, as well as as many as 20 seconds (While the Nets may have more than enough seconds, they could swap out seconds from traditionally good teams like the Lakers and Celtics for picks likely to be higher. The Nets currently have three Laker seconds plus a Celtics second and a Warrior second.)
With the Phoenix Suns exceeding expectations a little more than halfway through the season, many have now started to give them their flowers for a successful season. Dealing with key injuries to guys like Jalen Green and, now, Devin Booker has had this team fighting top-tier teams while limited. Many guys on this roster have had to step up and shine in bigger roles, and one of those guys has been Dillon Brooks.
Brooks, who was a solid third option for the Memphis Grizzlies, was once said to be “under no circumstances” would be brought back. A player who was mocked by fans after a bad playoff series with the Shanghai Sharks then went to Houston and changed his narrative around the league. He is once again trying to rebuild here in the Valley this season, where he has certainly won over the fanbase by storm.
With his infectious energy and the effort this team lacked for years, he has finally built a name for himself in shifting the culture in the Valley. He has done that so well that he has started to get praise from former NBA players, even one of the Valley’s best, Charles Barkley.
Charles Barkley says Dillon Brooks deserves to be an All-Star
“What’s different than what he does than Draymond? What Dillon Brooks is doing for the Phoenix Suns is similar and comparable to what Draymond does for the Warriors when they were rolling, and he was like the third or… pic.twitter.com/hrI41Dkscg
Now what Barkley says in this snippet is fact. Brooks has been the culture shifter here and the perfect puzzle piece to mesh everything. If you need him to go out and get you a game-winning stop, he will. If you need him to be the leading shot taker because four top scorers are out, he can do that. This man is the do-it-all box of fun the fanbase has been salivating for to have on the core, and he is finally here.
Not to mention that Brooks is having a solid year, stats-wise. He is averaging a career-high 20.5 points this season, on a team where he is given more opportunities. Even if he is not close to 40% from three-point land like last year, in a bigger role, he is still shooting just shy of 35%, which is still impressive given his growth as a player. All of that, with 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals, looks like a great resurgence season for the man.
The main question is, will that be enough? We already saw, with the fan voting, how low Devin Booker ranked on the scale compared to the other Western Conference stars. I know fan voting isn’t all of it, but it seems like an uphill battle, especially with how deep the conference is.
Brooks is an all-star for this team and is a key part of the engine that keeps it going. He deserves it, but so do so many players, and the spots are so limited. That being said, with how many other stars are in this conference, I think he will not get there. But what are your guys’ thoughts?
Lakers forward LeBron James finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers against the Cavaliers on Wednesday in Cleveland. (Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Lakers teammates and coaches clapped. LeBron James stared stoically at the video board. Instead of acknowledging the Cleveland crowd showering the Lakers star with applause after a video tribute on Monday, James lifted his jersey over his face.
He wiped his eyes.
More than two decades after the Cavaliers drafted him first overall in 2003, James returned to his hometown and had one of his worst games ever as an opponent in Cleveland. He finished with 11 points, five assists and six turnovers in the Lakers’ 129-99 blowout loss while Luka Doncic shook off a first-quarter injury scare to lead the team with 29 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The Cavaliers (29-26) played a video tribute for James in the first quarter, finishing the montage of his career with the message “Welcome Home.” James clutched the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the final image.
The video tribute played during a tense moment for the Lakers' bench as Doncic had just hobbled off the court with what looked like a serious leg injury. The star guard had slipped off the side of the court and into the Lakers' bench after shooting a fadeaway three-pointer with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter. Doncic was hopping backwards on one leg after he took the shot and fell off the edge of the court. He immediately grabbed at his lower left leg. The Lakers needed to call a timeout for trainers to help Doncic to his feet. He hobbled toward the locker room, putting almost no weight on his left leg.
Cleveland’s home court is raised above the arena floor to accommodate for an ice hockey rink underneath. It’s the only arena in the NBA with the unique set up. Miami Heat guard Dru Smith suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament sprain from slipping off the court in 2023.
Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, returned with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter without any additional braces or wraps on his leg. He finished the first half as the Lakers’ leading scorer with 15 points and five assists, but the team still trailed by two.
The Cavaliers shot a sizzling 53.8% from the field in the second quarter to turn a four-point first-quarter deficit into a two-point halftime lead, 57-55. They made seven of 11 three-pointers in the third quarter and outscored the Lakers by 20 in the frame. James was subbed off midway through the fourth as the rout continued.
James missed a point-blank layup on his first shot. The sigh of disappointment from the packed crowd was almost louder than the polite applause he received when he was introduced in the starting lineup.
The TV outside the visitor's locker room cycled through photos of Lakers players and staff members who have history in Cleveland. Bronny James, who was born in Cleveland while his father played for the Cavaliers, was welcomed with a photo of him sitting on stage during the Cavaliers’ championship celebration in 2016.
His homecoming came with eight points, including two three-pointers and a one-handed dunk.
LeBron James drives to the basket for a dunk against the New York Knicks on April 14, 2004 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers’ eight-game “Grammy” trip continued against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. It’s the Lakers’ lone regular-season matchup at Rocket Arena, meaning it could be one of the last NBA games James plays at the arena he used to call home for 11 seasons.
James holds several Cavaliers career regular-season records, including games played (849), points (23,119), assists (6,228), rebounds (6,190), steals (1,376) and triple-doubles (64). Every time he comes back to northeast Ohio, he’s showered with adoration from Cavaliers fans – many of whom hope he’ll play for Cleveland one more time before retiring.
Here are James’ 11 greatest moments with the Cavaliers:
NBA debut
There have not been many NBA debuts as anticipated as James’.
How did he respond to the hype? By exceeding expectations – which became a common theme in James’ career after being the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft.
James stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in his debut on Oct. 29, 2003. And even though the Cavaliers lost to the Kings, James provided early glimpses of what he’d become in his legendary career.
LeBron James looks on against the Washington Wizards during the NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2006 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. NBAE via Getty Images
First 50-piece
One of the highlights from James’ second season was his first 50-point game, when he finished with 56 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a loss to the Raptors on March 20, 2005.
James made the first of 21 consecutive All-Star and All-NBA teams after his second season.
Playoff debut
James led the Cavaliers to their first playoff appearance in eight years in his third season.
He not only impressed in his playoff debut, recording a triple-double (32 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists), but the Cavaliers also won their first-round series against the Wizards in six games.
LeBron James makes the game-winning shot against the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. NBAE via Getty Images
25 straight
Against a Pistons team looking to make its third NBA Finals in four years and competing in its fifth consecutive Eastern Conference finals, James put on a performance for the ages.
In a pivotal Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills, James scored 25 straight points for the Cavaliers – and 29 of the team’s final 30 points, including a go-ahead layup with three seconds left in double overtime – to secure the win. He finished with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Game 5, with the Cavaliers winning Game 6 to clinch their first NBA Finals berth in franchise history.
Franchise leading scorer
James has been the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for nearly three years after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Feb. 7, 2023.
But nearly 15 years prior, he became the Cavaliers’ all-time leading scorer at 23 years old, passing Brad Daugherty, in a March 21, 2008, win over the Raptors.
James averaged 30 points per game during the 2007-08 season.
Redeem team
He may not have been in a Cavaliers uniform during the achievement, but James won the first of his three Olympic gold medals as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, also known as the “Redeem Team.”
LeBron James celebrates a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
First MVP
After leading the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 66-16 record during the 2008-2009 season, James received his first NBA MVP.
James has been named the league’s MVP four times, including twice with the Cavaliers (2008-09, 2009-10).
First playoff buzzer-beater
James’ first buzzer-beating game-winner in the playoffs was in Game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference finals, when he knocked down a 3-pointer as time expired over Hedo Türkoğlu to secure a one-point win.
Four of James’ five playoff buzzer-beaters came while playing for the Cavaliers.
Leading way in 2015 NBA Finals
It may not have led to the Cavaliers’ first NBA championship – that came a year later – but James led Cleveland to its first Finals wins in franchise history while leading a short-handed Cavaliers team that was without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.
James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists in the championship series the Cavaliers lost in six games to the Warriors.
LeBron James is congratulated by his teammates as he holds the Larry O’Brien trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors, 93-89, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday, June 19, 2016. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Cavaliers’ first NBA title
The Chasedown block on Andre Iguodala.
Averaging 41 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, 3.5 steals and three blocked shots in Games 5 and 6.
Leading the first 3-1 comeback in Finals history.
James not only led the Cavaliers to their NBA title over the Warriors in 2016, ending Cleveland’s 52-year professional sports title drought, but did so in a way he felt made him “the greatest player of all time.”
2018 Finals, Game 1
The game is remembered for George Hill missing a go-ahead free throw, and J.R. Smith dribbling out the clock to force overtime in a game the Warriors eventually won.
But James’ performance in Game 1 of the 2018 Finals was an instant classic: 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“Oh man, that’s above my pay grade,” Atkinson said when asked whether he’s conceptualized coaching James.
“I know what he means to this community and this organization. I do know that. After that, my focus is on this roster and trying to improve this team that we have.”
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Atkinson doesn’t know what it’s like to coach a James-led team, but he does have experience coaching against them. Atkinson has been on coaching staffs that have gone up against James in either the playoffs or the Olympics five times. Atkinson’s team hasn’t won any of those matchups. Most recently, that includes the 2024 Olympics when Atkinson served as an assistant coach for the French men’s national basketball team.
“I’m going to ask him tonight if he orchestrated those last plays against us in the gold medal game,” Atkinson said. “I have a feeling he did.”
Even though James has lost a step athletically, he hasn’t tactically. That has allowed him to continue being an All-NBA caliber player into his 40s.
Whether or not the Cavs pursue James in the off-season or earlier remains to be seen. What we do know is that James’s current head coach, JJ Redick, hasn’t found a downside in coaching someone of James’s stature.
“I haven’t found it challenging,” Reddick said of James.
“At age 41, in his 23rd season, he loves new challenges. What we tried to do as a coaching staff is challenge him in different ways. That could be three-point volume or getting more transition opportunities for our team. It could be very specific stuff like that. It could be continuing to be a fantastic leader. … To me, it hasn’t been hard to coach him. You just have to kind of understand what he needs and then coach him that way.”
For now, Atkinson will continue to coach against James. Whether or not that changes in the future remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Atkinson isn’t taking games like Wednesday’s for granted.
“This is the best,” Atkinson said of this game. “You’re playing agianst LeBron and Luka (Doncic). These are the fun games with LeBron. I mean, you never know how many times you get to compete in the same arena.”
The Warriors have made it known to the Bucks that they are willing to offer a Jonathan Kuminga/Jimmy Butler-headlined package with draft picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell @SIChrisMannixhttps://t.co/Kve6z871is
NBA trade rumors: Warriors updates on possible Giannis move
ESPN's Brian Windhorst believes the Warriors could have a promising offer, as they also own all of their picks.
He compared their assets to Oklahoma City nearly a decade when they traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook for picks and said "everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer if it comes."
According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo "is ready for a new home ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline" and he added that he thinks Milwaukee is "more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline."
"Everyone else is gonna have to try to beat a strong Golden State offer [for Giannis] if it comes."@WindhorstESPN explains why the Warriors would be a major player if Giannis ever becomes available 👀 pic.twitter.com/jgRPEt3iP1
Kuminga, 23, was drafted by the Warriors with the No. 7th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft. He has one-year (team option) remaining after this season after signing a two-year, $46.8 million deal with the Warriors on Sept. 30, 2025.
Butler, 36, arrived in the Bay Area from Miami nearly a year ago on Feb. 6, 2025, as a result of a five-team trade that sent Detroit Pistons' Kenyon Martin Jr. and a 2028 second round pick to the Utah Jazz for Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a 2031 second round pick.
That same day, Butler signed a two-year, $110.96 million contract extension with Golden State.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contract
Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star, signed a three-year, $175.37 million veteran contract extension with Milwaukee on Oct. 23, 2023.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealt a rough hand this season. Injuries have already caused them to deploy more starting lineups than all of last season. And while they still don’t have Darius Garland or Max Strus, they will at least get a few rotational players back in the lineup tonight with De’Andre Hunter and Sam Merrill.
Merrill has been dealing with a hand injury since earlier in the season. He’s been banged up multiple times this year, but it hasn’t stopped Merrill from having the best start to a season of his career. He’s averaging 13.8 points while shooting a red-hot 45.5% from deep on 7.8 attempts per game.
Hunter, on the other hand, hasn’t been as hot. He’s struggled to find his rhythym this season, shooting a career-low 30.6% from downtown and fitting out more than he’s fit in. Some knee soreness throughout the year hasn’t helped. Hopefully, Hunter can put it together now that he’s back in the lineup.
This was a positive update for Hunter and Merrill. Sadly, it wasn’t all good news for the Cavs. There are no updates for Strus or Garland — and we learned of another Evan Mobley calf strain yesterday. Mobley missed nearly two weeks with a calf injury in December and has suffered another strain to the same leg.
Mobley is expected to be re-evaluated in 1-3 weeks. He’s historically been a fast healer, but calf injuries are no joke in today’s NBA. I don’t expect the Cavs to push their luck or gamble with fate when it comes to Mobley’s latest injury.
Cleveland has their longest road trip of the season coming up after tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers. They’ll travel West, playing against the Suns, Trail Blazers, Kings, and Clippers. They return home for a game against the Washington Wizards before the All-Star break.
Earlier Wednesday, Shams Charania reported that two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home” and that the Milwaukee Bucks have begun listening to trade offers for their franchise icon.
Entering play Wednesday, Milwaukee has lost three straight games and has fallen into a tie for 11th place in the Eastern Conference – 3.5 games back of the final play-in spot.
With the NBA trade deadline set for Feb. 5, the Bucks don’t have much time to evaluate the market for Antetokounmpo, but it’s difficult not to imagine how a trade of this magnitude could reshape the competitive landscape for the rest of the season.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, let’s take a closer look at what Antetokounmpo would bring to a new team, and what kind of offensive environment best maximizes his impact.
What Giannis Actually Brings to the Floor
We know that Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA’s premier stars – he’s one of 15 players in league history to win multiple MVP awards. Still, it’s important to define what he will bring to his new team beyond his reputation and past accolades.
Since the pandemic, Antetokounmpo is one of only three players in the NBA to average 25-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists in a single season – the others being Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid. Only Antetokounmpo and Jokic have accomplished that feat multiple times in that span.
Any team acquiring Antetokounmpo wouldn’t simply be paying for his past contributions. This season, Antetokounmpo is one of 14 players averaging more than 25 points per game while also posting a +3.0% Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation. Only Antetokounmpo and Jokić are also averaging at least 8.0 rebounds per game from that group of players.
In practical terms, this means Antetokounmpo isn’t just a high-volume scorer – he’s making a higher percentage of difficult shots than the league average, even after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defense being played on those attempts. That combination of volume and efficiency is rare.
Factor in that he’s also a capable passer and one of the game’s best rebounders, and it becomes easy to see how a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber could immediately elevate a good team into the championship conversation – especially if that team has the right offensive pieces around him.
Which Championship Contender Has the Most to Offer for Antetokounmpo?
Back in October, Antetokounmpo told the media, “I want to win another championship. I want to win another medal for the national team. Legacy is very important for me… You got to play to win. I don’t play to be around and get paid.”
If we are looking only at potential destinations that could put Antetokounmpo in a championship-level environment, the team that has the most to offer the Bucks might be the least motivated to acquire him.
The Thunder have the most first-round draft capital in the NBA across the next three seasons, in addition to a roster replete with impressive young stars, such as Ajay Mitchell and Aaron Wiggins, who could potentially thrive in larger roles or serve as cost-controlled rotation pieces.
However, Oklahoma City currently leads the league in Net Rating by a substantial margin and proved this past summer that their current core is capable of winning a title as presently constructed. Consequently, it seems highly improbable that the Thunder would engage in any serious trade talks for Antetokounmpo.
Most Realistic Landing Spots
Assuming the Thunder aren’t interested, two most logical landing spots for Antetokounmpo appear to be the Knicks or the Heat.
The Knicks won this season’s NBA Cup but have plateaued since that point. In their last 21 games, they rank 18th in Net Rating and own a 10-11 record. Miami is 11-10 during that span, ranking 17th in Net Rating, and have been vocal about trying to acquire a franchise cornerstone type player for years via free agency or trade.
When the Bucks were at their peak in 2021 and 2022, they surrounded Antetokounmpo with great perimeter shooting. As a team, Milwaukee ranked fifth in 3-point% in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. Put simply, Antetokounmpo is at his best when surrounded by above-average shot makers who can maintain offensive spacing.
Looking at NBA StatsHub, the Knicks appear to have a roster construction that is best suited to acquire Antetokounmpo. They currently rank third in the NBA in 3-point% as a team and have four players with a +3.0% FGOE who are attempting at least 3.0 shots from beyond the arc per game.
Meanwhile, the Heat rank 11th in 3-point%, with Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins among the only consistently capable perimeter shooters they could surround Antetokounmpo with. The Heat also finished below .500 last year and haven’t made it out of the first round of the playoffs since 2023 – they are likely an additional piece or two, beyond Antetokounmpo, from being a legitimate title contender.
Why a Giannis Trade Might Not Happen… Yet
All of that being said, it’s entirely possible that Antetokounmpo will not be traded before next week’s Feb. 5 deadline. Milwaukee doesn’t control its first-round draft picks from 2027 to 2031, which likely necessitates them receiving a package in return that would allow them to remain competitive immediately.
According to Yossi Gozlan, the Bucks could also extract more draft capital from both New York and Miami if they wait until this offseason, rather than rushing a trade in the next seven days.
The Takeaway
A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would be one of the most seismic roster moves in recent NBA history, but whether or not it actually happens before the February 5 trade deadline remains an open question.
What is clear, using FTN’s NBA StatsHub, is that Antetokounmpo’s value extends far beyond star power. In the right offensive environment – one built around shooting efficiency and adequate spacing, he could immediately elevate a franchise into the championship conversation.
Houston is a dozen games above .500 and played its way into the top four in the West despite playing the entire season without starting point guard Fred VanVleet.
Now the Rockets are down another starter for the rest of the season: Center Steven Adams has undergone season-ending left ankle surgery, a story first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by others, including Adams himself.
Adams sprained his ankle 10 days ago against the Pelicans and has been out since with a Grade 3 sprain, according to the team. Adams needing surgery was always a possibility.
While his counting stats are not eye-catching — 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds a game, on 50.4% shooting — his elite offensive rebounding was critical to a team with the fourth-best offense in the NBA despite having the 17th-ranked True Shooting Percentage. Adams averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds a game, leading a Rockets offense that grabs the offensive board on a league-leading 40.6% of their missed shots — those second chances are what drive Houston's offense. The Rockets have a +11.2 net rating when Adams is on the court this season.
In the four games without Adams since his ankle injury, that offensive rebound rate has fallen to 35%, and the Rockets' offense is 16th in the league in that stretch.
Look for coach Ime Udoka to give Clint Capela more run, plus lean into small-ball lineups with Jabari Smith Jr. at the five. Also, expect the Houston front office to at least explore trading for a center before next week's trade deadline.
This season has been a wild one for the Phoenix Suns as they look to embrace this new identity under head coach Jordan Ott. Even with key injuries, they have had a successful start to the season and have shocked many fans by exceeding expectations. One of their infectious leaders on this front is Dillon ‘The Villain” Brooks, and he has been getting a lot of heat recently.
As we all know, dating back to his Memphis Grizzlies days, Brooks has always been one to play with toughness or an edge. He is scrappy on defense, always trying to force turnovers. Not only that, but he is going to let you hear it on the court by chirping you out and getting under your skin. The ultimate definition of Brooks is the guy you want on your team, but you hate going against, and it’s totally understandable.
That being said, having this reputation leads people to associate you with a bad or “dirty” player, which Brooks is not. Yes, he plays with a fire lit underneath him 24/7, but that type of aggressiveness is what gets him hot and is also a great motivator for his teammates. Unfortunately, this reputation continues to follow Brooks to the Valley this year.
This season, he has received 14 technical fouls, and we are a little over halfway through. To me, this is just utterly absurd. Some are definitely technical, but looking at the one that was called yesterday, it is clear that some targeting of Brooks is occurring. If anything looks controversial, they immediately call it on Brooks, and then the league rescinds it the following day, just like last night.
Dillon Brooks’ (PHX) technical foul at 0:27 in the 2nd quarter on 1/27/26 (vs. BKN) has been rescinded upon league office review.
This type of behavior is utterly disrespectful to Brooks and the Suns in many different ways. For starters, it just shows the referee’s incompetence toward a particular player. As we can see here, the league has rescinded eight technical fouls this year, three of which have belonged to Brooks.
Assuming the league documents every rescinded tech with a post here, a total of eight have been rescinded in 2025-26.
It’s happened to Dillon Brooks three times. No one else has had it happen more than once. pic.twitter.com/qgG1v3M8Tf
Even the flagrant Brooks received yesterday was outright ridiculous, as he was clearly trying to get a loose ball and showed no intent to hit Nic Claxton in the groin, but that is a completely different story.
Absolute reputation flagrant call on Dillon Brooks for his fourth of the year.
He was CLEARLY going for the ball, not trying to hit Nic Claxton.
Not only that, but two of those rescinded technical fouls have been called by the same referee. That man would be Curis Blair, who clearly either has an issue with Brooks or does not want to deal with his antics. When one player receives multiple techs and is called back numerous times, it clearly shows this is an officiating issue with the Suns.
Two of the three rescinded technical fouls were called by the same referee: Curtis Blair.
Even Brooks himself had some words following the game on the tech he received from Blair. He knew it would be rescinded; as he said, the following two he got called on from him were also. If that is not a clear issue where the player knows he is being targeted, then what is?
Dillon Brooks said to @DuaneRankin what the explanation was between him and official Curtis Blair about the flagrant and technical fouls he picked up
“Well that’s getting rescinded. The same foul that Curtis (Blair) gave me before, and a month ago that got rescinded. It’s going… pic.twitter.com/Hx1UVfnxxh
This team’s whole identity is physical play, and it’s outright wrong to watch it get punished for playing with effort and heart. We see it every night, even when the Suns had their scuffle at the end. Brooks was not involved, so luckily, he was not given anything, but Grayson Allen received a technical foul for also doing nothing. His reputation as a “dirty” player has died down since he arrived in Phoenix, but that still lingers in the refereeing world, I guess.
"I feel like as the game went on, the line between a no-call & an altercation got really thin."
"When we allow that physicality, from both teams, there's no way to not have an altercation like that."
These technical fouls also cost the Suns points they do not deserve to lose, and can shift the momentum of a run or a late-game scenario.
Brooks is also in a scary situation, resulting in receiving so many technical fouls. Under league rules, if he were to receive 16 technical fouls, he would be suspended for 1 game. With the latest one rescinded, this leaves him with two get-out-of-jail-free cards before he has to pay the price.
Unfortunately, I think Brooks will get this suspension, as we have seen the referees not care about him. It would be nice now that the league has taken back three of his technical fouls to approach refereeing Suns games differently. Especially if the man himself knows the call is getting rescinded, don’t call a pity foul just because of his name.
It may come before the Feb. 5 trading deadline, or it may come in the offseason, but Antetokounmpo has reportedly indicated that he’s ready to move on from the Bucks. Milwaukee, understandably, has started to listen to offers and may consider shipping the two-time Most Valuable Player before the deadline.
Yet, even if a deal cannot be reached by then, the Bucks could still move Antetokounmpo over the offseason, when suitors would have more financial flexibility and draft capital available to package in an offer.
With that said, which teams can actually present compelling cases to land the versatile star?
Here are potential landing spots for Giannis Antetokounmpo:
This is going to depend on what the Bucks are actually prioritizing in a return, but no team may have a better case than the Heat. Miami has more depth than star power and has some younger players with promise who could be part of a Bucks rebuild.
The centerpiece would be 2024-25 All-Star guard Tyler Herro (26 years old), who has had injury concerns, but who has been a steady scoring threat when on the floor. Second-year center Kel’el Ware (21) is another intriguing player who has excellent rebounding ability; Ware ranks sixth in the NBA in rebounds this season (420), despite at least 200 minutes fewer than the players ahead of him. Ware has had motor concerns, but he’s an excellent lob threat and can stretch the floor with shooting range.
Miami can also offer one of Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) or Nikola Jović (22) and some first-round draft picks. And, if Miami can move Andrew Wiggins in a trade to the Golden State Warriors, the Heat could potentially recoup another pick to package in an Antetokounmpo deal.
This has reportedly been Antetokounmpo’s preferred landing spot, given its market size, ability to compete for championships and proximity to international airports that can get him to his native Greece with relative ease.
And while the Knicks do have some interesting assets that could entice the Bucks, it’s going to depend on Milwaukee’s preference. For one, the easy assumption is that forward-center Karl-Anthony Towns would be a seamless swap, but Milwaukee just signed center Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract that keeps him with the Bucks through the 2027-28 season, with a player option for the following year.
Turner and Towns have similar skill sets, and Towns feels like a redundancy in Milwaukee. The Bucks are probably more intrigued by wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, with whom New York might be less willing to part. The Knicks would almost certainly require the addition of a third or fourth team to facilitate the deal.
The Bucks reportedly prefer younger talent and draft capital, neither of which the Knicks necessarily have, at least right now. Towns is 30, Bridges 29, Anunoby 28. Backup point guard Miles McBride is 25, but he would need to be a secondary piece in any deal. For this to work, the Knicks would need to get creative in finding ways to sweeten their package.
This looks like another interesting spot because the Hawks do have a balance of both young talent and draft capital. For one, the Hawks already own a massively valuable draft pick, an unprotected 2026 first rounder that’s the most favorable between the Pelicans and the Bucks. New Orleans currently has the NBA’s third-worst winning percentage and the Bucks are 18-27. There’s the high likelihood that this pick will be a high lottery selection.
The Hawks may not want to part with that selection, but Atlanta nonetheless has plenty of draft capital and swaps it can offer.
The Bucks, though, may want to get talented forward Jalen Johnson in return. The Hawks have built their team around Johnson and may not make him available. That would complicate things, as Zaccharie Risacher, rookie Asa Newell and Luke Kennard likely won’t be enough to sway Milwaukee.
This is a team that has been a massive surprise and one that may be a sneaky contender in the East. Point guard Immanuel Quickley has shined recently, winning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Monday, Jan. 26. Guard RJ Barrett will also likely be available.
That won’t be enough. The Bucks will likely not consider any deal with Toronto unless it includes 2024 All-Star Scottie Barnes, who’s 24. Brandon Ingram is a solid player who would otherwise be a decent asset, but he’s 28 and not as versatile as Barnes.
But Toronto has viewed Barnes as the key franchise cornerstone, and ideally would love to pair him with Antetokounmpo. The Raptors will likely need to get creative to involve teams to strengthen their offer – assuming Barnes is untouchable.
Headed into the start of last season, Paolo Banchero was widely seen as one of the more promising, young players in the NBA. Given his recent struggles, that has changed somewhat, though he still holds significant promise.
Banchero is 23 and was an All-Star two seasons ago, but his scoring has dipped considerably (21.6 points per game, down from 25.9 last season). The Magic have lost 14 of their last 24 games, and the franchise might feel that Franz Wagner, 24, is the player they want to build around.
The issue is that the Magic don’t have much in the way of draft capital and younger players that could tempt Milwaukee. Put another way: the Bucks would have to really like Banchero for this to work.
What about teams that are already contenders like the Houston Rockets or San Antonio Spurs? Could they tear up their current (and successful) builds for a push to compete?
There’s always the possibility of the infamous mystery team that could be lurking. The reality is, of the 29 teams in the NBA aside from the Bucks, all but one or two of them are probably discussing if there’s a viable path to get him.
The Detroit Pistons are having a season we haven’t seen in over a decade.
They’re competitive, they’re exciting, and they’re legitimately one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. But with reports surfacing that Giannis Antetokounmpo is looking to leave the Milwaukee Bucks, Trajan Langdon needs to pick up the phone.
Giannis isn’t just an All-Star — he’s a future Hall of Famer in his prime. A two-time MVP and NBA champion. This isn’t a guy who could be a co-star for Cade Cunningham. It isn’t someone who might make the All-Star team.
When was the last time a player of this caliber became available? These opportunities are once-in-a-generation. The Pistons haven’t had a player of Giannis stature since Isiah Thomas, and even then, you’re comparing all-time greats.
Yes, I know, acquiring Giannis will require opening the vault and paying up. Whether it’s draft picks (not so important at the end of the first round) or young players (more important because they can be cheap + good), Milwaukee is going to want a lot because, well, it’s freakin’ Giannis.
If you’re Langdon, and you truly think this team is ready to compete for a championship with a move like this, you have to weigh everything. I love Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland. Are they going to give you more — even combined — over the next two seasons compared to what Giannis can give you on his own?
Probably not.
Sure, the fear of the player option in 2027-28 is valid. Giannis could, and probably should, opt out to get one more massive contract. That’s a legitimate concern.
But you’re also getting two guaranteed years of a Hall of Fame player in his prime. Two years to go try and win a championship — including this year in the most downtrodden Eastern Conference in recent memory.
It’s two years to prove to Giannis that Detroit is where he wants to finish his career. And if he does leave? You’ll have made your best players better, changed the culture and shown the league that Detroit is serious about winning.
The Thunder are the odds-on favorites to win their second-straight title, and for good reason. They’re young, talented, deep and they play like demons on both ends. The gap between the best team in the East and the best team in the West is real.
I’m not of the belief that the Pistons, as currently constructed, are living in the same air space as Oklahoma City. The Thunder have put together a better season without their ALL-NBA FORWARD in Jalen Williams for most of it. They’re that good.
Adding Giannis helps close that gap. Suddenly, you’re not just the best team in the East. You’re a legitimate threat to beat anyone in a seven-game series. You have two superstars who can match up with anyone AND you keep your elite defense because you have a guy in Giannis who can guard 3s, 4s and 5s.
With a few veteran moves on the margins to fill the holes that you’d deal away for Giannis, you can easily have the experience and the talent to win it all.
The Pistons championship window has just opened, and it’s understandable to not want to push all of your chips in this soon. But, those windows don’t stay open forever. Contracts and personalities and lapses in player development cause teams to fall off schedule all the time in the NBA.
The time to be aggressive is when you have a foundation worth building on — which the Pistons finally do. Maybe the Pistons can get him, maybe they can’t, but to simply sit back and watch your chief rivals work to acquire one of the generation’s best players would be irresponsible.
I’m not telling you the Pistons must trade for Giannis.
Talk around the league is heating up again about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, with growing chatter that the Bucks star would prefer a trade before the deadline if things in Milwaukee continue to slide. The rumors are back, the speculation is loud, and familiar questions about how long this partnership can last are resurfacing.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OejatbQjDy
Still, the betting markets aren’t buying the panic. Giannis Antetokounmpo next team odds continue to point strongly toward the "Greek Freak" staying in Milwaukee, signaling that bettors see far more smoke than fire when it comes to a midseason move.
Kalshi is a regulated financial exchange where you trade on real-world event outcomes. Instead of traditional odds, prices are listed as percentages (0–100%), representing the market’s estimated probability of an event occurring.
The favorites
Milwaukee Bucks or retires
This relationship is clearly strained, but it’s not breaking at the deadline unless someone blows the Milwaukee Bucks away with an offer. Giannis Antetokounmpo is frustrated, the roster is broken, and everyone involved knows this group isn’t close to contention.
Milwaukee is listening because it has to, not because it’s eager to move him. Trading Giannis midseason only makes sense if the return is massive, and if that deal doesn’t show up, the Bucks are fine dragging this into the summer when more teams and picks are on the table.
For now, the most likely outcome is Giannis staying put through the deadline, even if the long-term future feels shaky. This is tension, not a fire sale.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are no longer just a team being floated in rumor; they’re one Giannis has actually shown interest in if a deal could be made. That alone keeps New York near the top of this market.
The problem is cost. Milwaukee isn’t rushing into a deadline deal, and any trade for Giannis would require the Knicks to gut their depth and unload significant draft capital. This wouldn’t be a clean add-on next to Jalen Brunson — it would be a full-on roster reset.
New York makes sense, and the interest appears mutual. But unless the Bucks decide to move him now instead of waiting for the summer, the Knicks remain a long shot rather than a likely landing spot.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets show up in this market because they can. The Rockets have young talent, future draft capital, and the flexibility to make a serious offer if Milwaukee opens the door wider. From a pure assets standpoint, they’re one of the few teams that could meet the Bucks’ asking price.
What’s missing is momentum. There’s no reporting tying Giannis to Houston, and no indication the Rockets are actively pushing for a deal ahead of the deadline. Until that changes, they remain a theoretical option — a team with the means to get involved, not one driving the conversation.
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Milwaukee Bucks or retires
New York Knicks
Houston Rockets