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Dodgers golden era could end sooner rather later

Enjoy this while it lasts.

Because when a salary cap or some other mechanism to limit spending is implemented – and it will be implemented – the golden era of Dodgers baseball will be over.

This isn’t to say the Dodgers won’t remain one of baseball’s smartest franchises. They will. This isn’t to say they won’t still be considered a destination team for free agents. They will.

Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate their victory against the Toronto Blue Jays during the bottom of the 11th inning to win the MLB World Series in game seven in Toronto, Canada, 01 November 2025. EDUARDO LIMA/EPA/Shutterstock
Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds the MVP award after the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in eleven innings in Game Seven to win the MLB World Series. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock

Thinking that a bright front office and winning culture will allow the Dodgers to maintain their current level of dominance, however, fails to appreciate how special the current roster is and the role money played in building it.

How good are these Dodgers?

They won a second consecutive World Series last year, and their players later acknowledged they didn’t even play well. Think about this: How much better does a team have to be than its competition to play so-so and come out on top in a sport in which the best team usually doesn’t win the championship?

In Major League Baseball right now, there are the Dodgers and there is everyone else. 

That doesn’t mean I believe the owners want to impose a salary cap because of concerns about competitive balance. Many of these same owners have never seemed to care enough about winning to place a competitive product on the field, and that was the case even before Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers and handed them a blank check to build their current super team.

Ice Cube delivers the World Series Trophy during the victory celebration at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Whether the owners are making good-faith arguments doesn’t really matter. They want to control the cost of labor, and they will. The current collective bargaining agreement will expire Dec. 1, and the players will almost certainly be locked out. In the negotiations for a new deal, time will be on the owners’ side. Both the players and owners will be hurt if games are lost in 2027, but the owners are better positioned to withstand the damage. They have more money.

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Why the owners want to do this is another subject to be explored on another day. The point is that when the Dodgers return from the anticipated lockout, they will return to a new reality, whether it’s with a salary cap or more severe luxury-tax penalties. The regulations designed to break up their team might not take effect immediately – there’s an assumption in the industry that teams will be granted a grace period of a couple of seasons to become compliant – but those rules will eventually be in place.

Dodgers management has downplayed the possible effects of spending restrictions by pointing to the numerous advantages they have. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates with his teammates after the final out as the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays. EDUARDO LIMA/EPA/Shutterstock

“We have an organization that whatever rules or regulations, constructs are put in front of us, we’re going to dominate,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Roberts was right – up to a point. The Dodgers have a well-stocked farm system that regularly produces plenty of serviceable major leaguers. They have a robust analytics department. They have a capable front-office leader in Andrew Friedman. They have a clubhouse peacekeeper in Roberts. The restrictions on spending won’t apply everywhere, and if the Dodgers continue outspending their rivals in those areas, they could remain the sport’s leading franchise.

But prevent them from spending $400 million annually on players and they will go from being a historically dominant team to just an extremely well-run team. A club that should win the World Series every season will become a club that could win the World Series every season. That’s a significant difference. 

This isn’t football. Ohtani can’t be involved in every offensive play, as, say, Patrick Mahomes was for the Chiefs when they won Super Bowls. There’s a reason baseball didn’t have any back-to-back champions in the 25 years between the Yankees and Dodgers. Safeguarding against the dumb luck that presents itself in the sport, particularly with an expanded postseason field, requires a team to be much, much, much better than everyone else. Building in that kind of margin is close to impossible without an enormous advantage in financial resources.

Kiké Hernandez holds the World Series Commissioners Trophy during the World Series celebration at Dodger Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Dodgers will always have their stars, and when Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman slow down or retire, they will still be able to replace them. But the players a level below will be affected. Bringing in high-level supporting actors such as Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman will become more difficult. And when the Dodgers make mistakes, they won’t be able to just throw money at the problem, as they did this winter when they signed Edwin Diaz to make up for the Tanner Scott gaffe.

More of their roster will have to be homegrown. If the Dodgers were already living in that world last year, Alex Freeland might have been starting for them in the World Series instead of Edman. They would have lost a little here, a little there, and suddenly, the gap between the Dodgers and every other team wouldn’t have been as large as it was.

Whatever happens, the Dodgers should remain the best team in baseball. But they won’t be what they are now, which is one of the most powerful teams in history, if not the most powerful. The clock is ticking on this version of the Dodgers. Enjoy this while it lasts.

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Dodgers betting on short-term dominance leading to long-term success

Short term, reasons for optimism are obvious around the Dodgers. 

The club is running things back with virtually the same core that spearheaded consecutive World Series championships over the last two seasons. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz were added in blockbuster free-agent signings this winter. And as prohibitive title favorites again in 2026, the Dodgers, who are enjoying an already-polished golden era of baseball, could be primed for an even brighter shine.

The more uncertain question hanging over the club now: How long can it keep this level of dominance going?

The club is running things back with virtually the same core that spearheaded consecutive World Series championships. AP

After all, for all the Dodgers’ star-level talent, their roster is aging, with half of their projected lineup already 33 or older. Within the next two years, foundational pieces including Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández –– plus, very likely Tucker, if he exercises his opt-out clause –– will all be out of contract, creating key voids across the diamond. At some point, their lucrative long-term commitments to Mookie Betts (who is signed through his age-39 season), Will Smith (signed through his age-38 season) and maybe even Shohei Ohtani (signed through his age-38 season) could start to feel more burdensome than beneficial, too.

Mix in the looming threat of a salary cap that MLB owners are expected to push for during next winter’s CBA negotiations and the Dodgers’ future could soon face renewed challenges.

“You have to account for some age,” manager Dave Roberts said recently. “This team is not gonna be together forever.”

This, however, is where club officials have voiced confidence in the team’s extended time horizon –– citing their dual objectives to maximize the championship window they are in now without, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman often terms it, “falling off a cliff” further down the line.

“You don’t want to be flippant about what we have right now in this moment in time,” Friedman said last week. “That being said, we have to try to balance it with three, four, five years out.”

“You have to account for some age,” manager Dave Roberts said recently. “This team is not gonna be together forever.” IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If MLB’s current financial structure were to remain unchanged, of course, the Dodgers’ long-term plans would be simple. They could likely maintain their historic spending levels. They could fill holes with free-agent signings. They could lock a new core of stars up to long-term deals.

Alas, that’s unlikely to be the case.

With the league’s current CBA set to expire Dec. 1, a labor battle is already beginning to brew between MLB and its players’ union. The industry expectation is that the owners –– in part as a reaction to the Dodgers’ financial dominance of the sport –– will push for a salary cap. And even if they don’t get one, it’s possible that harsher luxury-tax penalties or other mechanisms to curb spending could be introduced.

If MLB’s current financial structure were to remain unchanged, the Dodgers’ long-term plans would be simple. Getty Images

To this point, the Dodgers are still waiting to see what the future will look like.

They have baked some of the uncertainty into their recent decision-making process. For example, the team’s general preference this winter was to avoid any free-agent contracts of more than three years, per sources, in part because of a growing expectation that if the league were to institute a salary cap, it would come with a multiyear adjustment period to allow bigger-spending teams like them to gradually become compliant.

At the same time, several key organizational voices have downplayed the impact a salary cap or altered economic landscape would make on the team’s ability to remain an annual contender.

“We have an organization that whatever rules or regulations, constructs are put in front of us, we’re going to dominate,” Roberts said at last month’s winter meetings, after saying publicly he would be OK with a salary cap. “Let us know the landscape, and then I’ll bet on our organization.”

The Dodgers farm system is touted as one of the best in the sport. AP

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“I don’t know what the rules may be,” team president Stan Kasten echoed. “But I think we have an organization staffed with people who can help us contend every year.”

The primary source of that optimism –– in a salary-cap world or not –– is rooted in the Dodgers’ highly touted current farm system, which is widely considered among the strongest in the sport. 

Regardless of what MLB’s future rules might be, the club is focused on making it’s seemingly unstoppable run of annual dominance continue for as long as possible. Getty Images

While the club lacks an abundance of surefire future stars (outfielder Josue De Paula, a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport, is the biggest potential exception), rival evaluators have highlighted the overall depth and upside of the Dodgers’ current pipeline. Of the various top-100 prospect rankings published by baseball outlets in recent weeks, the Dodgers have had anywhere from four to seven players ranked.

In the outfield alone, the Dodgers have up to eight names they forecast as potential big-league options in the next 2-3 years (including De Paula, Eduardo Quintero, Zyhir Hope, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III, Zach Ehrhard and recent top-round picks Charles Davalan and Kendall George). That was another reason why, when it came to their negotiations with Tucker specifically, they preferred a shorter-term deal; betting that at least a couple of their up-and-coming prospects will prove to be productive MLB hitters once Tucker is gone.

It’s possible that harsher luxury-tax penalties or other mechanisms to curb spending could be introduced. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock

“Infusing young players over that time is going to be really important for us to be able to maintain (this level of success),” Friedman said.

That sentiment would become even more true if MLB stiffens its spending rules. In that environment, developing young talent would be crucial to building cost-effective roster depth. It would also provide opportunities on the trade market, which would only figure to grow in importance.

“There are many people who value our minor-league depth, right at the top of the industry,” Kasten said. “And we’re gonna need that.”

In the outfield alone, the Dodgers have up to eight names they forecast as potential big-league options in the next 2-3 years. Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Indeed, for the Dodgers, it all comes back to the fear of “the cliff” –– and making sure the team’s current dynasty, 13-year playoff streak and seemingly unstoppable run of annual dominance continues for as long as possible.

Regardless of what MLB’s future rules might be.

“There’s just so much unknown around that,” Friedman said. “I’ve now been through a lot of CBAs and have tried to get cute leading into a CBA. Like, ‘OK, this is where it might be going.’ (Right now), we have no idea. We are sitting in the cheap seats on that. So for us, it’s about, whatever the rules are, reading and reacting to it and doing everything we can within the rules to be as good as we can be.”

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Using StatsHub to Break Down the Possibility of a Giannis Trade

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.
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Rockets center Steven Adams has season-ending ankle surgery

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.

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Erling Haaland sparks Manchester City win over Galatasaray to seal last-16 place

Pep Guardiola often bemoans the schedule so Manchester City ­entering the last 16 directly and missing the home-and-away knockout playoff round pleased the manager.

City ended in eighth place due, in part, to Benfica’s 4-2 win against Real Madrid, the Portuguese side being led by his old adversary, José Mourinho, to whom Guardiola will be happy to offer a thank you message.

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NHL Rumors: Insider Names 3 Trade Fits For Oilers' Mangiapane

Edmonton Oilers forward Andrew Mangiapane is undoubtedly a trade candidate to watch between now and the deadline. It is no secret that the 29-year-old forward has struggled with the Oilers and could benefit from a fresh start.

In a recent article for The Athletic, NHL insider Pierre LeBrun named the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues as potential trade fits for Mangiapane. 

"I wonder about teams such as the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators or St. Louis Blues as fits. The fact that Mangiapane has another year on his deal might actually be more appealing to those teams, none of whom are sitting in a playoff spot," LeBrun wrote. 

The Jets stand out as an interesting potential option for the Oilers. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use another skilled winger in their top nine. If Mangiapane bounced back in Winnipeg, he would give their forward group a nice and much-needed boost. 

When looking at Ottawa's group, Mangiapane could be a solid replacement for Nick Cousins on their third line. It would also be understandable if the Senators tried to add to their roster ahead of the deadline, as their playoff hopes are not fully gone yet.

The Blues could be a good landing spot for Mangiapane as well. The Central Division club has struggled to produce offense this season and should be open to adding to its forward group because of it. With this, they are in a position to buy low on a former 55-point forward. 

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Dillon Brooks is fighting an uphill battle against his own reputation

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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What About the Rebuild of the St. Louis Cardinals Stadium & TV Deal?

A lot has been said about the rebuild of the St. Louis Cardinals and for good reason. The roster has been a work in progress in recent years, but what about the status of Busch Stadium and the St. Louis Cardinals TV deal? Both will play a role in the future of the team and where it goes from here.

I haven’t seen much discussion about what Bill Dewitt Jr. and Bill Dewitt III had to say during the recent Winter Warmup, but several comments addressed one big issue now and one that might become a big issue in the next few years. The need for the current Busch Stadium to get upgrades and renovations and the status of the St. Louis Cardinals TV deal.

When asked where the St. Louis Cardinals stand with the TV deal that remains to be resolved, Bill Dewitt Jr. said “From an internal business standpoint, it’s fairly disruptive in the sense that we’re trying to figure out whether we do another deal with FanDuel sports and have the status quo…or move over to MLB Media which a number of teams have done…both options are on the table still…we’ve been triaging the situation for awhile…having said that, from a fan’s standpoint, there shouldn’t be much interruption at all”. He inferred that no matter which road they chose, they’re hopeful that St. Louis Cardinals might end up on new platforms like YouTube TV, Amazon, etc. I saw an estimate by MLB.com today that teams like the Cardinals moving from a cable deal to MLB Media might result in huge loss of revenue. It said “For the clubs that lost their RSN deals, the broadcast deals replacing them have, on average, paid out about 50% of what clubs had received from their former cable deals.”

Bill Dewitt Jr. was also asked about how upcoming stadium improvements might be affected by the competitiveness of the team. He said “I would say it’s related, but not necessarily directly linked. We’re dealing with a stadium that’s 20 years old and it’s served us incredibly well. We plan on being here for a long, long time…but we’re going to have to do a project that’s multi-faceted at some point here in the near future and that time frame is dictated more by the physical reality of things than it is the competitive cycle, but you’d love to time it up…if we’re a huge playoff contender and a likely deep October type of team, you’d love for that to coincide with stadium renovations…but I don’t think they’re directly linked”. When asked about the timing of stadium upgrades, he said “sooner rather than later”, but he went on to talk about how they’re studying the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals interactions with the state of Missouri before they decide how they want to move forward. The context of their statements makes it clear that they have no plans to lobby for a new stadium in the near future, but upgrades to the current Busch Stadium are desirable over the next few seasons.

When you try to get a 10,000 foot view of the status of the St. Louis Cardinals right now, you can see that there are a lot of moving parts and much uncertainty. The DeWitt family says they are committed to making good baseball decisions now and they vow to invest in the team even more when it’s clear the Cardinals are ready to make a deep October run, but I have to wonder how the loss of TV revenue and the need for investment in Busch Stadium will factor in to the overall economy of the club. A perfect scenario would be for the stadium to get the upgrades it needs and a new more prosperous TV deal gets put in place when the St. Louis Cardinals new core is developed and ready to compete for titles again. Navigating from where we are today to that point is tricky. That’s a lot of “rebuilds” that need to be done right and soon.

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Cody Bellinger 'fully confident' in Yankees heading into 2026 season: 'I'm excited to run it back'

While it took longer than some would've hoped, the Yankees re-signed star Cody Bellinger last week to keep him in the Bronx for the foreseeable future.

Bellinger, who had discussions with multiple teams, agreed to return to New York on a five-year, $162.5 million deal that includes opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons. The new contract also includes a full no-trade clause and a $20 million signing bonus.

But it wasn't the money that sold Bellinger on coming back to the Yanks after his first season with the team, it was his belief in the group itself.

"It feels good. I came last year. The locker room and everything is a really special environment. Yankee Stadium was a special place to play and I really enjoyed my time," Bellinger said. 

"This year, after lots of conversations with Scott [Boras] and the free agent processes, it's an interesting process for sure and it's exciting as well. Ultimately once it all came to fruition there at the end, I'm very excited. I'm very excited to be back. I'm feeling good. I'm ready to get up to Tampa and get going."

When Bellinger rejoins the Yanks at spring training within the next two weeks, there will be plenty of familiar faces. In fact, most of the starting lineup will be the same as it was last season. 

That detail was attractive to Bellinger as he has full confidence in his Yankees teammates and believes they can go further than they did in 2025.

"Actually, I feel really good with that," Bellinger said. "Obviously, it might not be what everyone wants to hear, but I really do love the group that we had. We had a special unit, we had great chemistry that I don't think could be understood unless you're in the clubhouse. We all play for each other. On top of that, we have some important pieces coming back. We all played well.

"I'm excited to run it back with those guys and I'm fully confident in that group."

Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBI over 152 games during his first year in Yankees pinstripes, but the season ended prematurely in the ALDS. He, reigning MVP Aaron Judge, and the rest of the Yanks will now look to use the 2025 season as a building block and find a way to bring World Series title No. 28 to New York in 2026.

"Special man, special," Bellinger said about Judge. "There's not enough positive words to say. Obviously we all know what he does on the field is truly special. What he brings into the locker room, what he brings as a teammate, the confidence that he instills in everyone in the locker room. He's a huge part of the success of this organization. 

"Ultimately, when you have the opportunity to play alongside a future Hall of Famer already, you want to go and you want to win that ring. You want a parade down New York City. You want it for Judgey, of course, you want it for the fans. Ultimately, that's the main goal here, have a parade down the city of New York. That's what I want to do, that's what I want to strive to do."

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Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots: Best trade partners for Bucks

Now more than ever, it’s a near inevitability that Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are nearing the end of their relationship.

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:

Miami Heat

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.

New York Knicks

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.

Atlanta Hawks

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.

Toronto Raptors

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.

Orlando Magic

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.

The field

Could the Phoenix Suns be a player in a package led by Jalen Green, a dynamic but inconsistent athlete who has played just four games this year? Could the Golden State Warriors somehow leverage Jonathan Kuminga, Jimmy Butler (who recently tore his anterior cruciate ligament) and picks into a deal? Could the Dallas Mavericks send veterans like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson to Milwaukee? What about a young team like the Washington Wizards, who have more young players than veterans?

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo landing spots, Milwaukee Bucks trade partners

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If Giannis is available, Trajan Langdon needs to make a call

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.

It’s one of the five best players in basketball.

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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.

But they do need to make a call and check in.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Next Team Odds: Staying Put Dominates as Knicks Lurk

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.

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.

Giannis Antetokounmpo next team odds

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi.

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

Bucks 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.

Warriors 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.

Warriors 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.

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Atlanta Hawks (23-25) at Boston Celtics (29-17) Game #47 1/28/26

Atlanta Hawks (23-25) at Boston Celtics (29-17)
Wednesday,  January 28, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #47,  Home Game #22
TV:  NBCSB, FDSNSE, NBA-LP
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, 92.9 The Game, Sirius XM
TD Garden

The Celtics continue their home stand after a win over the Trail Blazers on Monday.  This is the 2nd of 4 games between these two teams this season.  The Celtics won the first game 132-106 in Atlanta on January 17.  They will meet again in Atlanta on March 30 and will play a second game in Boston on March 27.  The Hawks won the series 2-1 last season with the Celtics winning one in Atlanta and the Hawks winning twice in Boston.  The Celtics are 246-151 overall all time and they are 132-56 in games played in Boston. 

The Hawks saw a lot of change in the off season.  They were part of a 3 team trade That sent Georges Niang to Boston and Terance Mann to Brooklyn and brought back Kristaps Porzingis from Boston.  They were also part of a 7 team trade involving Kevin Durant where they sent Clint Capela to Houston in return for David Roddy, who they cut.  They got Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign and trade with Minnesota. 

They traded Kobe Bufkin to Brooklyn for cash.  Caris LeVert and Larry Nance, Jr both left in free agency and they cut Charles Bassey, who played for the Celtics Summer League team.  They signed N’Faly Dante and Luke Kennard as free agents.  They drafted Asa Newell with the 23rd pick in the draft.  On January 5, they made the first big trade of the silly season when they sent Trae Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.   

The Celtics are 2nd in the East, 5 games behind 1st place Detroit. They are 1 game ahead of 3rd place Toronto and 1.5 games ahead of 4th place New York, 2 games ahead of 5th place Cleveland, 4.5 games ahead of 6th place Philadelphia and 7th place Miami. The Celtics are 21-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. They are 14-7 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games. They are coming off a win in their last game.

The Hawks are 10th in the East, 12 games behind first place Detroit, 2.5 games behind 6th place Philadelphia and 7th place Miami, 1.5 games behind 8th place Orlando, 1 game behind 9th place Chicago, and half a game behind 9th place Chicago.  They are 3 games ahead of 11th place Milwaukee.  They are 11-17 against Eastern Conference opponents.  They are 14-12 on the road and 6-4 in their last 10 games.  They have won their last 3 games.

This game is the 2nd game of a 4 game home stand where they won over Portland on Monday and will face  Sacramento and Milwaukee after this game.  Then, they are on the road at Dallas and Houston before playing Miami, New York, and Chicago at home, taking them into the All Star Break. After the break, they will head out on a 4 game Western road trip through Golden State, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix, and Denver. 

This is the first of a road/home back to back for the Hawks.  They will return home to play Houston at home on Thursday.  They will then play at Indiana and at Miami before home games against Utah and Charlotte.  They then play  at Minnesota and at Charlotte before the All Star break.  After the break they will play at Philadephia and then they have a 5 game home stand where they will host Miami, Brooklyn, Washington twice, and Portland.

For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum remains out as he continues to rehab from the Achilles tear he suffered in last year’s playoffs. Josh Minott missed 11 games with a sprained ankle and is finally off the injury report.  Neemias Queta has been battling an illness for the past 2 games but he played through it.  He is listed as out for this game.  Luka Garza was listed as questionable with an illness but is now expected to be available.  

For the Hawks, former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis will miss his 10th straight game due to Achilles soreness.  He missed the first game between these two teams and has played in just 17 games so far this season.  Zaccharie Risacher will miss his 10th straight game due to a left knee bone bruise.  N’Faly Dante  is out for the season after season ending surgery to repair a torn ACL.   

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker

SG: Payton Pritchard vs Dyson Daniels

Payton Pritchard

SF: Jaylen Brown vs Corey Kispert

PF: Sam Hauser vs Jalen Johnson

C: Amari Williams vs Onyeka Okongwu

Amari Williams

Celtics Reserves
Baylor Scheierman
Xavier Tillman
Hugo Gonzalez
Luka Garza
Chris Boucher
Jordan Walsh
Josh Minott

2-Way Players
Ron Harper, Jr
Max Shulga
Amari Williams

Injuries/Out
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out
Neemias Queta (illness) out
Luka Garza (illness) available

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Hawks Reserves
Nikola Durisic
Mouhamed Gueye
Luke Kennard
Vit Krejci
CJ McCollum
Asa Newell
Keaton Wallace

2 way Players
Rayj Dennis
Caleb Houston
Christian Koloko

Injuries/Out
N’Faly Dante (knee)  out
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles)  out
Zaccharie Risacher (knee)  out

Head Coach
Quin Snyder

Key Matchups
Sam Hauser vs Jalen Johnson
Johnson is averaging 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 50.5% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal while shooting 28.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. He will likely play much better in this game and the Celtics need to defend him well and keep him off the boards.

Derrick White vs Nickeil Alexander-Walker 
Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.  In the first game against the Celtics, he finished with 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal while shooting 37.5% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc.  He is a good 3 point shooter and the Celtics need to defend him on the perimeter. 

Honorable Mention
Amari Williams vs Onyeka Okongwu
Okongwu is averaging 16.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 1 block per game.  He is shooting 48.2% from the field and 36.8% from beyond the arc.  In the first game against the Celtics he finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 57.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to guard Okongwu both inside the paint and on the perimeter because he shoots well from both.  With Queta doubtful and Garza questionable, I’m guessing that Amari Williams will get another start here. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is always a key to winning games.   The Celtics have an offensive rating of 120.8 (2nd) while the Hawks have an offensive rating of 113.5, which is 21st.  The Celtics have a defensive rating of 113.6 which is 11th while the Hawks have a defensive rating of 114.4, which is 16th. The Celtics have been hot and cold on defense this season.  Sometimes they can shut down the other team and sometimes they allow them to score at will.  The Celtics need to defend the perimeter because the Hawks are 5th, shooting 37% on threes.  They also have to defend the paint as the Hawks are 11th with 51.6 points in the paint per game.  The Celtics must make defense a priority in this game and they have to play that tough defense for 48 minutes and not let up. 

Rebound – Next to defense, rebounding is the key to winning. When the Celtics put out the extra effort on the boards,  it usually carries through to the rest of their game.  The Hawks are averaging 42.2 rebounds per game (25th) while the Celtics are averaging 44.8 rebounds per game (13th).   The Celtics need to aggressively go after every rebound.  They can’t afford to give the Hawks extra possessions and 2nd chance points by allowing them to beat them to rebounds.

Move the Ball Carefully – When the Celtics move the ball and find the open man,  they are tough to beat.  When they hold the ball and try to play iso ball, they become predictable and struggle.  When the Celtics have more assists than their opponents they are 13-0 and when their opponents have more assists than the Celtics,  they are just 14-16.  The Celtics need to move the ball, but they have to make careful passes because the Hawks are 6th in the league with 19.9 points off turnovers per game. 

Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In most of their losses and even in some of their wins, they have allowed their opponents to play with more energy than them for periods of time during the game. They play well for stretches but let up and allow their opponents to surge ahead, especially down the stretch. They have to stay focused for all 48 minutes and be ready for their opponents to play harder in the second half and they need to match that effort.  They also have to come out with more effort and energy to start the game and dig themselves into a hole. 

X-Factors
Home Game and Revenge–  They call it home court advantage for a reason and the Celtics need to take advantage of playing on their home court.  The Celtics need to get motivation from the home crowd, which should be loud and doing everything in their power to support the Celtics and rattle the Hawks.  The Hawks have the distractions of travel and an unfamiliar arena and a hostile crowd and hopefully that will give the Celtics an advantage. The Hawks were also embarrassed by the Celtics on their home court 10 days ago and will be looking for some revenge on them.  The Celtics need to be ready for the Hawks to give it their best effort in this one. 

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game the right way. We have recently seen how much of an x-factor officiating can be. The Celtics have to play so well all game that the officiating, no matter how bad, can’t influence the outcome.

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Stage set for Knicks, Leon Rose to take big swing and land Giannis Antetokounmpo

The NBA trade deadline is a week away, and the rumor mill hit critical mass after reports stated the Bucks are now entertaining offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is open to a new home in the league. New York has been linked to Antetokounmpo for years now, a droning constant that seemed to only exist by default – one of the NBA’s premier and star-hungry destinations naturally paired with one of its best players.

However, this connection appears to be taking a more tangible turn. SNY’s Ian Begley reported that the Knicks will be "aggressive" in pursuing Antetokounmpo, after previously exploring a deal this past August that went nowhere.

There are plenty of reasons to believe the Knicks won’t or can’t pull the trigger by the deadline. Midseason shake-ups are super risky and not Leon Rose’s forte; there are fit, age and cost concerns, and the Bucks could drag this out to the summer to increase the number of bidders. 

But this time might be different, as New York is at a pivotal juncture, having to prove this core can win or pivot off it before Jalen Brunson’s prime runs out. With a real chance to secure a perennial Top 3 player, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Rose takes one final giant swing for the fences. 

The key reason to believe the Knicks are gearing up for a move is that this is the best chance they’ve had to acquire Antetokounmpo, and may be the only one. Until now, Antetokounmpo wasn’t available, and even if he was, the Knicks had little to trade that would entice the Bucks or beat out the competition.

Let’s go issue-by-issue now. 

After weeks of passive aggressiveness, either Antetokounmpo, the Bucks, or both have decided it’s time to move on. The Knicks can only send swaps on their first-round picks, but recent Marc Stein reporting suggested they could loop in a Mikal Bridges-for-picks trade to boost their offer, and maybe land former favorite teammate of Giannis, Jrue Holiday.

Much of this idea revolves around the Knicks actually pulling that trade, or something similar, off. If they can, they’ll be able to throw together a competitive package in an uncompetitive environment. 

Antetokounmpo's realistic options are limited at the deadline, as teams have less cap flexibility, fewer picks to trade and are locked into the season in front of them, less likely to make a major change. The team that is aggressive enough to make a midseason Giannis trade would need to have the goods, be ready to compete now and convince Antetokounmpo to stay long-term regardless of short-term results.

That defines New York to a tee, and the only others that arguably have a case are Golden State, Miami, Toronto, Atlanta or Minnesota. Even then, the Warriors, Heat and Hawks wouldn’t be certified contenders, and the other two aren’t exactly top destinations, nor prime to make a big trade here.

Now, imagine you’re Rose with a one-week chance at acquiring Antetokounmpo and little risk of being outbid, do you really turn that chance down?    

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends during the second half at Madison Square Garden / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images

Many will say wait for the summer, give this core another run at things and still give yourself a shot at Giannis with additional draft picks. Not only do you open yourself up to somebody else stealing him, but the opportunity cost may be too great.

Milwaukee may want to wait for the offseason to maximize its return, but it may not. Antetokounmpo’s distractions and a quicker pivot to rebuilding give them incentive to move now.

As for New York, blowing this season would be more detrimental than advertised. Some forgot that the East is without two major stars – Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum – that will return next season and give the conference a couple of extra threats to worry about.

Besides this playoff run looking cleaner than usual, another lost postseason would be losing a year of this not-so-young team’s prime, namely Brunson’s. Those fearful that such a monster midseason worsens their championship chances don’t appear to be factoring into the team’s current standing, or the fact that this move nets them Antetokounmpo.

While the Knicks looked dominant earlier in the season, cracks present in their squad opened into canyons during a brutal 2-9 stretch. They’ve since recovered, but those weaknesses remain ever-present.

There’s the defense, ranked 16th in the league, and even on its best days, it is limited by the pairing of Brunson and Karl-AnthonyTowns, two top scorers with big faults on that end. Towns himself is frustrating fans and coaches alike for the second straight season, this time looking uncomfortable on the offensive end, usually his safe zone.

Brunson desperately needs somebody else who can handle the ball and playmake. As a whole, the Knicks have looked softer and less athletic than their top competition.

On a positive note, New York has found recent success with the Brunson-plus-four-defenders configurations. Now contextualize the things that haven’t been working and the things that have, with Antetokounmpo in the picture - what do you see?

Yes, Antetokounmpo is 31 years old, has struggled to stay healthy (especially in recent years) and will demand a massive long-term extension. He’s also finished top-four in MVP voting for seven consecutive seasons, averages 28-10-5 on 65 percent shooting, plays with Defensive Player of the Year levels of impact on the other end and is an almost zero percent flight risk from the Knicks.

Generational talent like Antetokounmpo’s doesn’t come around often, as those who have followed this team’s rebuild from the beginning must realize. The stage is set for New York to beat out the rest of the league to realize that talent. Let’s see if Rose makes it happen.