With the trade deadline a week away, Giannis Antetokounmpo has become the biggest name to watch on the market, and the Knicks have hovered around the center of the conversation all season.
From a salary standpoint, a one-for-one deal centered on Karl-Anthony Towns is the cleanest match for both teams. But if you’re talking purely basketball, a straight swap tells a different story, with Towns coming up just a tier below Giannis.
Across 13 seasons, Antetokounmpo has posted career averages of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game, along with a steal and a block on a nightly basis.
Towns, over 11 seasons with two franchises, has put up similar numbers, 23 points and 11 rebounds per game, but with less playmaking and defensive impact, averaging three assists and fewer than one steal and block per game.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Giannis Antetokounmpo have built markedly different résumés that reflect their contrasting career arcs. Towns burst into the league as the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year and has since developed into a perennial All-Star, earning one All-NBA Third Team selection while redefining what is possible offensively for a center. A 2022 NBA Three-Point Contest champion, Towns is widely regarded as the greatest shooting big man in league history, combining volume, efficiency, and range in a way few frontcourt players ever have. Giannis, meanwhile, has authored one of the most decorated careers of his era. The two-time NBA MVP, 2021 NBA champion, and Finals MVP has also captured a Defensive Player of the Year award, made multiple All-NBA First Teams and All-Defensive First Teams, and cemented his legacy with a historic 50-point performance in the championship-clinching game of the 2021 NBA Finals.
At the end of the day, Giannis’s résumé clearly outweighs Towns’s, and if the Bucks balk at a deal centered on him, there are plenty of other scenarios the Knicks could explore. According to ESPN’s Trade Machine, alternative packages could be constructed using nearly any combination of players on the roster, including the possibility of a blockbuster deal built around Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges.
A straight-up Giannis-for-Brunson trade isn’t possible, but with other pieces, the captain could, on paper, be moved.
Comparing 1:1, the notion would heavily favor the Knicks in terms of overall talent. Giannis is a generational star, an NBA champion who is capable of dominating every aspect of the game, while Brunson, though an elite point guard and floor leader, can’t match that same level of impact. The Knicks would instantly upgrade their ceiling with a two-time MVP on the roster. The Bucks, meanwhile, would gain a steady, reliable playmaker who can run an offense and score efficiently, but they’d be losing the centerpiece of their franchise.
In pure talent terms, the edge goes to New York, though salary considerations and roster balance, from a long-term strategy, fit, and roster balance perspective, the Bucks could argue they’re getting pieces to rebuild or diversify.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 23: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks boxes out during the game on December 23, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Another trade scenario that works within the trade machine is a 3-for-1 deal that would send OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Guerschon Yabusele to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
From Milwaukee’s side, bringing in Anunoby, Robinson, and Yabusele would add depth, positional balance, and manageable contracts, but it would come at the massive cost of losing their franchise player. Anunoby provides elite two-way wing play and perimeter defense, Robinson offers rim protection and rebounding, and Yabusele adds scoring versatility off the bench. While the Bucks would gain talent at multiple positions, they would be giving up the unique, game-changing impact that Giannis brings every night.
In the end, this type of move would be trading star power for depth and balance, which could put Milwaukee’s ability to contend for a title at risk. It would give the Knicks a true Big Three, even if the idea is extremely unrealistic. While this dream scenario would almost certainly never materialize, it highlights just how many different player combinations the Knicks can realistically explore.
That said, the bigger question remains: should New York explore every possible avenue to land the two-time MVP, even if it means considering moves that would once have seemed unthinkable? And if they do, is anyone, primarily Brunson, truly off limits when it comes to building a team capable of contending for a championship?
After being teased for years about his dry skin, NBA superstar and current Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has teased a collaboration with the skincare company CeraVe.
"Y’all keep bringing up my legs…might be time to address it with @cerave? #ad," he captioned the post, tagging the company owned by L'Oréal.
In the video, Durant reads multiple X posts by random users begging him to put lotion on his legs. "No way KD can be that Ashy!!!!!!! No way lol. OMG," one user's post reads.
The other X posts shared in the video joke about Durant's dry legs being "highly flammable," and how fans sometimes chant "you need lotion" during NBA games.
The final X post Durant reads in the video says: "Going to be the first NBA player with a lotion deal." After reading this post, the 15-time NBA All-Star throws up his hands as a cash register sound is heard.
Obviously, the MacKenzie Gore trade is the biggest move the Nationals have made in the past week. However, there have been a few minor moves that you may have missed. I wanted to take a look at some of the news items that have been lost in the shuffle. Between minor league signings and spring training invites, there is plenty to talk about.
The first move I want to discuss actually happened today. It was reported that the Nats signed veteran infielder Sergio Alcantara to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. The 29 year old has appeared in 193 MLB games, getting into one for the Giants last year.
Dominican infielder Sergio Alcántara signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, per sources.
Alcántara, 29, appeared in one MLB game with the San Francisco Giants in 2025 season.
Alcantara is a sure handed switch hitting shortstop, who should provide solid organizational depth. He is pretty buried on the depth chart, but if injuries hit, there is a chance that Alcantara could be called up at some point this season.
Another move announced in the last day or so is that the Nats out-righted Andry Lara to Triple-A. Lara was DFA’d on January 20th, but cleared waivers. He will remain in the Nats organization, but is off of the 40-man roster.
RHP Andry Lara, who was DFA’d last week, cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester.
This is good for both sides. Lara was clearly not ready for the MLB. Now that he is off the 40-man, the 23 year old can focus on sharpening his craft in the minors without worrying about being shuttled back and forth. It is nice to see that the Nats were able to keep him in the organization. While it has not been announced yet, he should get an invite to Spring Training.
Speaking of Spring Training, the Nats announced their internal non-roster invites. It is not a large list, but notable prospects like Seaver King and Caleb Lomavita will be invited. Interestingly, Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana were also invited to MLB camp despite being injured.
Being in a big league camp should be a good learning experience for these youngsters. The full list of non-roster invites for minor league free agent signings has not been announced yet. We know players like Warming Bernabel and Matt Mervis will be there.
Some other players who will be there are Trevor Gott, Zach Penrod and Tres Barrera. The Nats announced the minor league signings of those three a few days ago. Gott and Barrera have been in the Nats organization before, and have both played for the big league team back in the day.
The Nationals have signed the following players to Minor League contracts with invitations to 2026 Major League Spring Training:
Out of the three, Penrod is probably the most interesting. He has real control problems, but has a 95 MPH heater with life from the left side. I do not think he will break camp with the team, but it would not be a surprise if we see him at some point.
One more arm the Nats signed to a minor league deal is Bryce Montes de Oca. The towering righty is coming back from his second Tommy John Surgery. Prior to the surgery, de Oca’s fastball lived in the upper 90’s. If he can show that sort of velocity again, he will have a chance to stick with the Nats.
The Nationals have signed right-handed pitcher Bryce Montes de Oca to a Minor League contract with an invitation to 2026 Major League Spring Training.
None of these moves are earth shattering, but they are worth going over. Maybe one of these arms has some sort of surprise breakout season. This year is going to be all about players showing what they have. The Nats are not going to be very competitive this year, so plenty of players will get chances. Hopefully a couple of these guys can stick and become pieces for the future.
The Orlando Magic will look to break a four-game losing streak as they visit the in-state rival Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
The last two meetings between these teams saw relatively little scoring on both sides, and I’m taking the Under again in my Magic vs. Heat predictions.
Read on to see my full analysis of tonight’s matchup in my free NBA picks for Wednesday, January 28.
Magic vs Heat prediction
Magic vs Heat best bet: Under 229.5 (-110)
No team in the NBA plays faster than the Miami Heat, but that hasn’t always meant that other teams can’t slow them down. We saw that on Sunday when the Phoenix Suns held Miami to only 111 points, albeit in a win for the Heat.
It’s been a similar story in the last two games between the Heat and the Orlando Magic. Orlando won both of those games in December by keeping the fast-paced Miami offense in check, hitting the Under in both games with totals of 211 and 225 points, respectively.
The Magic have also been grinding on offense as of late. They’ve failed to score more than 109 points in any of their last four games, hitting the Under in each of their last three contests.
The loss of Franz Wagner (22.2 ppg), who has been suffering through a variety of injuries this season, has hurt the Orlando offense, and even Paolo Banchero — who scored 37 points on Monday and is averaging 24.5 ppg in January — hasn’t been able to get the Magic back on track.
With Orlando struggling to put up points, but also having a strong track record of imposing their game plan on Miami, I’m not expecting a lot of scoring in tonight’s game.
Magic vs Heat same-game parlay
Orlando has dropped four straight games and has failed to cover in any of those losses, so I’ll take the heat to cover a small spread, something they’ve done in three of their last four.
I’m also going to take Bam Adebayo to hit his combined rebound and assists Over at 13.5, a number he’s reached six times so far in January.
Magic vs Heat SGP
Under 229.5
Heat -3.5
Bam Adebayo Over 13.5 rebounds + assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Wiggins plays his part
Andrew Wiggins has compiled at least 18 combined points and assists in five of his last seven games overall and is averaging 18.6 points + assists on the season.
Magic vs Heat SGP
Under 231
Heat -3.5
Bam Adebayo Over 13.5 rebounds + assists
Andrew Wiggins Over 16.5 points + assists
Magic vs Heat odds
Spread: Magic +2.5 | Heat -2.5
Moneyline: Magic +122 | Heat -144
Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5
Magic vs Heat betting trend to know
The Under is 3-0 in Orlando’s last three games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Heat.
How to watch Magic vs Heat
Location
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
Date
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-Florida, FDSN-Sun
Magic vs Heat latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Winners of four in a row but suddenly seeing mounting injuries, the Cleveland Cavaliers (28-20) host Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakes (28-17) tonight at Rocket Arena.
A healthy 7-3 in their last ten, the Cavs are playing some of their best basketball of the season. This despite playing without starting point guard Darius Garland (toe) for the past two weeks. To the naked eye, Cleveland looks better with Jaylon Tyson getting more run. But now they must also take the court minus Evan Mobley (calf) who is expected to be sidelined potentially through the All-Star Break. In a surprisingly competitive top half of the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers have their work cut out for them if they are to remain in the Top Six.
Meanwhile, the Lakers have won four of their last five and sit atop the Pacific Division, one game ahead of the surprising Phoenix Suns. Luka Doncic is the leader of this edition of the Lakers. The perennial All-NBA guard leads the team scoring an average of 33.8 points while handing out nearly nine assists (8.8) per game. LA needs all that offense and more because they struggle defensively allowing just over 116 points per game this season.
This is the first of two meetings this season between the Lakers and the Cavaliers. They are scheduled to play in Los Angeles on March 31.
Lets take a closer look at the matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Lakers at Cavaliers
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 7PM EST
Site: Rocket Arena
City: Cleveland, OH
Network/Streaming: ESPN
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Lakers at Cavaliers
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers (+130), Cleveland Cavaliers (-155)
Spread: Cavaliers -3.5
Total: 236.5 points
This game opened Cavs -2.5 with the Total set at 234.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Austin Reaves (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game
Adou Thiero (knee) has been ruled OUT of Wednesday’s game
Cleveland Cavaliers
Evan Mobley (thumb) is questionable for tonight’s game
De’Andre Hunter (knee) is listed as probable for Wednesday’s game
Sam Merrill (hand) is listed as probable for Wednesday’s game
Darius Garland (toe) has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Lakers at Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are 16-11 at home this season
The Lakers are 16-9 on the road this season
The Lakers are 25-20 ATS this season
The Cavaliers are a league-worst 18-30 ATS this season (tied with Sacramento)
The OVER has cashed in 26 of LA’s 47 games this season (26-19)
The OVER has cashed in 22 of the Cavs’ 48 games this season (22-26)
Luka Doncic has scored at least 24 points in each game he has played this month (13 games) and at least 30 points in 10 of those games.
Donovan Mitchell scored 45 Monday night against Orlando shooting 62.5% from deep (5-8) and 83.3% from the line (10-12)
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Lakers and Cavaliers’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying awa from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play OVER the Game Total of 236.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Despite the fact that we’ve hit this lull period here in the offseason, there’s still a fair number of players out there who are available via free agency. In fact, there’s actually plenty of starting pitchers who are still on the market at the moment. Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently took note of this via a social media post:
Tyler Anderson and Walker Buehler, too! You could form 3 plus decent rotations with starters still available https://t.co/WXsCUc9Rcd
Two of the names that Heyman mentioned in his own post that he quoted were Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt. As it turns out, those two players are now currently linked because the Atlanta Braves are reportedly interested in potentially bringing either one of those guys in. Heyman was the one who linked the Braves to those two while he made an appearance on MLB Network. He’ll start talking about the Braves interest in Giolito (and Bassitt as well) at around 4:20 during the video below:
All the way back in November, Alex Anthopoulos did state that the team would be looking for pitching during the offseason. They accomplished the goal of fortifying the bullpen (with the retention of Raisel Iglesias and the Robert Suarez signing being chief among their offseason acquisitions) and now they’re apparently looking to make sure that their starting rotation is fortified for the upcoming season as well.
Lucas Giolito will be entering his Age-31 season here in 2026 but he’s coming off of a bit of a bounce-back season in 2025 where he stuck with the Red Sox for the entire season after bouncing between three clubs in 2024. He produced an ERA of 3.41 (80 ERA-) and a FIP of 4.17 (99 FIP-) over the course of 26 starts and 145 innings pitched for Boston. That was good for 2.0 fWAR in 2025, which gave him his most productive season since 2021 which is when he capped off a very good three-year run with a 4.1 fWAR season back then.
Giolito has certainly had his ups-and-downs since 2021 and he’s also coming off of an elbow injury that ended his season prematurely in September. However, he did end up making a recovery early enough to where he’s essentially had a full offseason to work out instead of rehabbing so the obvious hope for any team that would sign him is that he’ll be ready to go once spring training and the regular season rolls around.
Alternatively, Chris Bassitt has been very steady since the 2019 season and any team who brings him in knows what they’re likely going to get — even as he enters his Age-37 season for the upcoming season. Bassitt has made 188 starts since 2019 and thrown 1087.1 innings across that span and over the course of all that time, he’s sat on an ERA of 3.60 (87 ERA-) and a FIP of 3.94 (93 FIP-).
That is about as steady and reliable as it gets over a long run and he also proved it in the Postseason for the Blue Jays last season. He made seven appearances for Toronto over the course of their long playoff run and notched a 10.38 K/9 rate alongside a 1.04 ERA and a 1.52 FIP while coming out of the ‘pen for the Jays. That type of reliability goes a long way and also seems to fit what the Braves would like to have whenever they actually do dip their toes into the free agency water. This is a club that values experience and a proven track record and it appears that Bassitt has both of those qualities.
I’d be pretty happy with either one of these pitchers joining the rotation (especially considering that neither of them will have the penalty associated with the Qualifying Offer attached to them), as they would certainly help add a period to some of the lingering question marks surrounding this rotation. Atlanta still currently has a very solid rotation on paper but as we’ve seen with the past couple of seasons, injuries can tear that paper up in a hurry. If Atlanta does choose to bring in one of these guys, they could at least be satisfied knowing that Giolito is coming into this season healthy and Bassitt has been consistent (even though he is aging) for a good and long while, now. We’ll see what happens when it comes to one of these two potentially joining up with the Braves ahead of this upcoming season.
Once one of the most promising Twins on the roster, Edouard Julien’s time in Minnesota has come to a close. The Twins announced they traded Julien and pitching Pierson Ohl to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Jace Kaminska.
Julien, 26, was instrumental to the Twins’ 2023 playoff run when they finally broke their 20-year postseason losing streak. In 109 games, he hit .263/.381/.459 with 16 home runs, a 134 wRC+, and 2.7 fWAR. Unfortunately, in the two seasons since then, he’s combined to hit .208/.299/.324, 11 homers, a 79 wRC+, and -0.8 fWAR. Never a good defender, his defense went from “poor” to “unplayable” in his final two years in Minnesota.
The fall came hard and fast for a player who always struck out too much and started getting exploited by pitchers who had better scouting reports on him. With Julien out of options, him getting surpassed by Luke Keaschall and Kody Clemens, and his lack of defensive ability, there simply wasn’t a role for him on Minnesota’s roster anymore. Instead, he’ll get a chance to revitalize his career in hitter-friendly Coors Field where his power should play well.
Ohl, meanwhile, just made his Twins debut last season and served as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter when injuries piled up for the pitching staff in the middle of 2025. His surface level 5.10 ERA was ugly, but his 4.20 FIP and 3.99 xFIP combined with solid, if unspectacular, strikeout and walk rates made him look like he could be a decent mid-game reliever. As a pitcher who relies on his changeup as his “out” pitch, there’s a good chance Ohl will be less affected by the elevation in Colorado compared to other pitchers.
Kaminska, 24, was the Rockies’ 10th-round pick in 2023. He missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but pitched very well in 2024 in the hitter-friendly California League. Kaminska threw 87.1 innings to the tune of a 2.78 ERA/3.13 FIP while striking out 104 batters and walking just 12. His ERA and FIP were 41% and 35% better than league average, for context. He’ll miss the beginning of the 2026 season due to the elbow surgery, but should make his return in the first half of this year.
Today is nomination day, so head to the comment section to nominate the next group of prospects for Friday’s CPL!
We’re officially three-quarters of the way through the 2026 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List! Spring Training is about to start, and our community project ranking the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization is about to end.
But we still have some extremely intriguing names to discuss before it does, including Monday’s winner: shortstop Maui Ahuna, who has been voted as the No. 33 prospect in the organization. That’s a drop of 10 spots for Ahuna, who came in at No. 23 in last year’s CPL.
Ahuna, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Tony Vitello’s Tennessee, has a not uncommon profile for a shortstop: elite glove, questionable bat. The left-handed hitter, who will turn 24 during Spring Training, is a wizard with the leather, and certainly could respectably stand on stage in a debate about the best defensive shortstop in the system (though he’d probably lose that debate to Josuar González). But the massive swing-and-miss issues that popped up during his time playing college ball have not yet dissipated in his short pro stint.
The offensive numbers are still good, thanks to a combination of power, walks, BABIP fortune, and facing lower levels. In 63 games across the Complex League, Low-A, and High-A last year, Ahuna slashed .269/.370/.453 for an .823 OPS and a 123 wRC+, with five home runs in 274 plate appearances, and 12 stolen bases in 14 attempts. That paints the picture of someone with some offensive potential, but the hit tool remains scary (Fangraphs gives it a 20 present/30 future grade). Ahuna struck out 27.0% of the time in 2025, with a swinging strike rate of 14.3%, which was the 11th-highest mark among Giants prospects with at least 200 plate appearances last year and, unlike Ahuna, most of the names with worse marks were young for their level, rather than old for it.
The swing-and-miss issues are bigger than the strikeout and swinging strike rates would suggest, since Ahuna is a patient batter who accomplishes a lot of success by merely not swinging. Friend of the site Roger Munter, whose currently ongoing prospect rankings are a true must-read for Giants farm fans, contextualized this with a scary stat, saying “As was true in his final season at Tennessee, he often runs whiff rates as high as 40%.”
Another major concern with Ahuna is the injury history, as he’s suffered numerous setbacks in his career. Since getting drafted in 2023, Ahuna has played just 97 games, and just 58 of them have been in the field (although he did play 11 games in the Arizona Fall League a few months ago). The flip side to that is that, perhaps if and when he can actually stay on the field for an extended period of time, he’ll be able to make some gains to his hit tool. As it stands, Ahuna is a fascinating measuring stick for how people value prospects. He has a fatal flaw, and one that historically is very, very difficult to fix. But everything else is so good and intriguing that, should he make that fix, he could turn into a high-quality MLB player.
Needless to say, his upcoming age-24 season will be pivotal. I’d assume it starts with High-A Eugene, where he played just 11 games last year before the season ended.
Now let’s add to the list, and a reminder that today is nomination day. Both voting for the No. 34 prospect and nominating the next batch of prospects will take place in the comment section.
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2025 season.
The basketball world is restless again, and this time they are whispering Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name across the league. ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the bomb: the Greek Freak is preparing for a possible exit, with multiple teams already sending serious offers to Milwaukee. The Bucks are listening now, actually listening, and suddenly the most interesting question is not where Giannis goes, but whether Golden State can really pull this off.
Because here is the part that should make every Warriors fan pause and lean in. Steph Curry might be the perfect basketball partner for Giannis.
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
Curry’s greatness is not just the shooting or the gravity. It is the way he moves without the ball, the way he sets screens for anyone, the way he never needs to dominate the spotlight to dominate the game. He is the rare superstar who is both the engine and the lubricant. The most important player on the floor and the most generous.
Now put that next to Giannis, a force built to attack downhill, shred defenses in transition, and collapse the paint by sheer will. The fit is not just good folks, it is terrifying. Giannis thrives when the floor is spaced and defenses cannot load up. Curry does not just space the floor, he destroys coverages! You cannot help off him. You cannot go under. You cannot blink. That means Giannis gets space he has never consistently had in Milwaukee, not even during the title run with Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
There is another layer here too. This pairing could extend Curry’s prime. At 37, he does not need to carry the offense every night. With Giannis absorbing pressure and handling primary creation, Curry becomes the ultimate complementary weapon. It sounds absurd given who Steph is, but that role could keep him elite deep into his late thirties.
Milwaukee’s reality is grim. They are 18-27, tied for 11th in the East. They are 3-12 without Giannis. Their offense without him would rank last in the league. They tried everything, including trading Jrue, acquiring Damian Lillard only to waive and stretch Dame to sign Myles Turner. The future is gone, and the roster collapses without its superstar.
So can the Warriors actually do this? It is complicated. Golden State does not have the pick stash that Oklahoma City or Brooklyn can offer. They cannot flood the table with five first rounders. But they do have Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, the dominant but injured Jimmy Butler, tradeable contracts, and something no other contender can sell: Stephen Curry and a proven championship ecosystem. Milwaukee wants young talent and draft capital. The Warriors could build a package around Kuminga, future firsts, and salary matching pieces. It would be painful. It would take creativity. But this is not fantasy. It is plausible.
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
Would Dub Nation accept it? That answer feels obvious. Losing Kuminga would hurt because watching young talent walk always does. But this is Giannis Antetokounmpo next to Stephen Curry. This is one more real title window for the greatest Warrior ever. This is a duo that could bend the modern NBA. Curry stayed when he could have left and he built something that outlived eras and trends. And now, with the clock ticking but the magic still very real, he deserves one more swing with a true peer beside him.
The trade deadline is February 5. Milwaukee may move now or wait until summer. But for Warriors fans, the question is simpler.
No reason to beat around the bush — Shams is reporting that Giannis is done in Milwaukee. Whether he gets traded at the deadline next week or this summer, it doesn’t seem like we will head into next season with the Greek Freak in Wisconsin.
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
No matter which NBA market you’re in, your mind immediately goes to: “Could Giannis come HERE?”
Rumours of Giannis coming to Toronto aren’t a new phenomenon. The NBA All-Star, Champion, and MVP has been attached to Toronto several times throughout his career, especially back when Masai Ujiri ran the team. Now that it’s clear he wants out of his current situation, Toronto fans will obviously foam at the mouth at the idea of a star like him coming to Toronto.
Is it even possible, though? Is it even a good idea?
To answer the first note, anything is possible, technically. The Bucks will want to absolutely clean house in exchange for their franchise superstar, so the price will be high. Yet, he also wants out, so they can’t be precious about it, either.
Now, is bringing Giannis to the Raptors right now a good idea? That’s more complicated.
To get Giannis, the Raptors would basically have to gut their current core. Milwaukee would obviously go for Scottie Barnes first — he’s one of the closest player-for-player replacements for Giannis in the entire league, and younger. Do the Raptors just hand away their home-drafted, All-Star-bound, 24-year old superstar for the 31-year old version of him? Do they give up on the kid they’ve invested the past 5 years into? The one they built this entire franchise around?
Now, some reports say both Barnes and Ingram are “untouchable” in Giannis talks. Which does make sense — why bring a star in with no core around him? Yet, also take these reports with a grain of salt, as always.
If they aren’t willing to give up Scottie or Ingram, the Raptors would have to send some sort of combination of Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, maybe more players, and so so so many draft picks. Even with Scottie or Ingram in the mix, the deal would probably include other assets. Not just to make the money work but to satisfy the Bucks.
The situation changes a bit if Giannis himself says, “I want to come to Toronto.” That isn’t impossible, either. He seems to want to stay in the Eastern conference and be in a place where it would be easier to get to his wife and kids in Greece with ease. That’s basically New York or Toronto. If Giannis expresses a desire to come to Toronto, the price for him could drop a little in a trade, since that destination has the leverage.
Okay, so say it’s possible, and the price is right — does Giannis work in Toronto? I mean, a star of his calibre works anywhere. The question is how it works. Do you keep Scottie and deploy a freakishly large lineup? Do you let Scottie go in the trade and replace his impact with Giannis?
While it would be cool to have a star like Giannis, it would also mean taking apart this team that has so much chemistry. There are pros and cons for sure. Personally, I think it would be cool, but also won’t be gutted if it doesn’t happen. As a Toronto sports fan, I’m very over getting my hopes up at huge free agents choosing to come or stay here. Kawhi, Shohei, Bo, the list goes on. I’m not getting my hopes up for Giannis.
Personally, I think he goes to Miami. Miami is still east enough to be able to access Europe pretty easily, plus pairing him with Bam Adebayo and then cleaning house on basically everyone else seems like a logical solution. You still go to a team with a great, experienced coach in Spo, and the Heat are desperate for a refresh. With Scottie and Ingram apparently not available, it seems far-fetched to think Giannis coming to Toronto is possible. Miami makes sense, to me anyway.
Either way, the NBA’s next mega star is on the move.
Even the MSG broadcast is going in on Karl-Anthony Towns.
The beleaguered Knicks center had his hustle called out by someone within the organization for the second time in recent memory Tuesday night when legendary announcer Walt “Clyde” Frazier wondered where Towns was after falling to the court on the other end.
“Where is Towns? He’s just getting into the picture,” Frazier said roughly 10 seconds after Towns missed a shot in the Knicks’ 103-87 win over the Kings.
Knicks announcers are SICK of KAT not getting back on D
Towns has come under fire in recent weeks, especially with the Knicks not playing up to their potential and the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors that always include him.
Almost two weeks ago against this same Kings team in a surprising 112-101 loss, he earned scorn from head coach Mike Brown after half-heartedly attempting to get back on defense after hitting the deck.
“He drove. Something happened where he fell down. He drove, he fell down,” Brown said at the time. “When you fall down, you got to get up and got to sprint down the floor. And even when you’re the last guy down the floor, you got to get down there just in case there’s a long rebound. But there was no urgency. That wasn’t the only play. There were a handful of plays that we did that. But there was no sense of urgency on that particular play to get back. And it was a five-point swing.
“If he at least gets down the floor, long rebound, he’s going to get it because he’s trailing the play. We watched the play at halftime and he didn’t even cross halfcourt. That sums up what our night was.”
Towns’ tough shot that resulted in him being slow to the other end. @BrickCenter_/XWalt “Clyde” Frazier during an April 2025 game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Towns made more of an effort Tuesday night, but it’s notable that a team-friendly broadcaster noticed his lack of hustle.
After Towns missed a tough shot in the third quarter with the Knicks leading, 75-72, the Kings pushed the ball up the court and crossed midcourt roughly three seconds later.
Sacramento did not take advantage of the five-on-four situation, and Towns only appeared in the screen roughly 10 seconds after his missed shot.
Making matters worse for Towns, he did not play down the stretch, with Mitchell Robinson instead anchoring the court.
He finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
These types of players and coaching strategies raise questions about Towns’ future with the team, especially if the Knicks truly pursue a blockbuster trade for Antetokounmpo.
Everyone can see that LeBron James’ basketball career is approaching its conclusion.
He is the oldest player in the NBA at 41 and has played a league record 23 seasons. With injuries like his sciatica keeping him out of games and LeBron on the final year of his Lakers deal, what he will do next year is very much up in the air.
While what LeBron will do is a mystery, the options are clear. James can either retire, return to the Lakers on a new deal, or play for another team.
Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes that if LeBron wanted to end his NBA career where it started, in Cleveland, the Cavs would reportedly welcome him back.
Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team.
LeBron played with the Cavs for 11 years, and ending things where they began for the kid from Akron would be a perfect conclusion for one of the greatest players of all time.
No one is expecting the Cavs to be title contenders next season, so LeBron could enjoy his farewell tour and wrap things up with little to no pressure to compete.
James has had a steady decline in his production, but he is still playing at a high level. LeBron is averaging 22.4 points, 6 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.
The truth is, no one knows what LeBron will do next.
Until James states otherwise, anything is possible. The Lakers would like him to end things here, the Cavs are open to him taking his talents back to Cleveland and the basketball world is awaiting his final decision.
It's also worth mentioning that Kane missed the entirety of the 2024-25 season as he underwent two surgeries. That includes treating a sports hernia in September 2024 and his knee in January 2025.
In Vancouver, he played 52 games, scoring nine goals and 24 points this year. With that, he's been averaging 16:47 of ice time per game and has recorded a minus-18 rating on a struggling Canucks team that is last in the NHL.
There shouldn't be much shock that Holland would be interested in Kane. After all, they were together in Edmonton between 2022 and 2024. In fact, Holland signed Kane as a free agent in January 2022.
In the past off-season, the Canucks acquired Kane in a trade that would likely be a blueprint as to what Vancouver will be looking for in an effort to move off the veteran. The Oilers shipped him to the Canucks for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Evander Kane (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
If the Kings were to acquire Kane, it certainly wouldn't cost much in terms of departing assets. However, the aging left winger comes with a $5.125-million price tag.
Los Angeles has $12.875 in current cap space, according to puckpedia.com. How they use that space in the coming weeks is to be seen.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Santiago Suarez, RHP 21 | 6’2” | ? A+ | 2.88 ERA, 2.07 FIP, 40.2 IP (10 GS), 26.9% K, 3.6% BB AAA | 5 ER (9 H, 2 BB, 3 HR) 11.0 IP (2 GS), 9 K
Suarez climbed the ladder to Triple-A to finish a short season, as some triceps/shoulder issues hampered his 2025, but when called upon this Venezuelan strike-thrower has earned the trust of his managers to go out there and pitch. He has two plus fastballs, with easy heat but average ride on the 4-seam, and a hard cutter with tight bite. His only complimentary pitch thus far is a 12-6 curve, which makes it a fairly vertical arsenal. He gets good extension, although I’d be remiss to not mention the double pump in his plant leg that on first glance looks like noise, but has led to evident repeatability. What Suarez boasts in control he might lack in command. Right now it’s a supinator’s profile with an average arm slot. To progress he either needs to add some east-west depth to his arsenal (à la Chris Bassitt), or find ways to unlock the spin rates a touch more (Shane Baz). I’d expect him to slot into Montgomery’s rotation as one of the younger starters for his level.
Rank
Player
Position
Votes
Total
Percentage
Last Season
1
Carson Williams
SS
14
25
56%
1
2
Brody Hopkins
RHP
19
25
76%
8
3
Jacob Melton
OF
14
28
50%
NA
4
Theo Gillen
OF
14
26
54%
13
5
Ty Johnson
RHP
12
25
48%
15
6
Daniel Pierce
SS
13
23
57%
NA
7
Jadher Areinamo
INF
15
28
54%
NA
8
TJ Nichols
RHP
13
28
46%
NR
9
Michael Forret
RHP
8
33
24%
NA
10
Santiago Suarez
RHP
11
30
37%
16
The top ten is solidified with only two players returning from last year’s top ten: 1. Carson Williams, SS – returning No. 1 2. Brayden Taylor, 2B/3B – not yet a candidate 3. Xavier Isaac, 1B/OF – candidate 4. Tre’ Morgan, 1B – candidate 5. Chandler Simpson, OF – not yet a candidate 6. Aidan Smith, OF – not yet a candidate 7. Yoniel Curet, RHP – traded to Philadelphia for RHP Tommy McCollum (not yet a candidate) 8. Brody Hopkins, RHP – new No. 2 9. Dom Keegan, C – not yet a candidate 10. Trevor Harrison, RHP – candidate
Our next round of voting brings in Homer Bush Jr. — if you’d like to see Taylor, Simpson, Smith, or Keegan as a candidate, add them to Testers or make them your next vote under Others.
Candidates
Caden Bodine, C 22 | S/R| 5’10” | 200 A (BAL) | .326/.408/.349 (133 wRC+) 49 PA, 0 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 8 K
Drafted 30th overall in 2025, Bodine was acquired in the Shane Baz trade. He profiles as a relatively safe prospect thanks to 60 grade bat-to-ball skills, and comfortably-plus blocking and receiving behind the plate. There is some concern that his smaller frame limits him to fringe power, but those concerns are off-set by solid plate discipline from both sides of the plate; his sweeter swing is left handed. All catching prospects will see their value proposition shift with the challenge system, but his defensive actions, leadership, and receiving give him real value, projecting him as a solid major league contributor.
Acquired in the Brandon Lowe trade, Brito has three plus pitches with a fastball that touches 100 with cut-ride, and two breakers in a mid-80s curveball with surprising depth and a mid-80s slider he commands best. He also mixes in a developing low-90s cutter and a scattershot but intriguing mid-80s changeup with strong velocity and movement separation, with some added deception from his smaller frame helping limit hard contact. The concern is control, as he’s posted below-average strike rates in A-ball across 2024–25 and lacks consistent feel outside the slider, leaving him to project as a slightly wild, high-leverage reliever for now. Still, with multiple plus pitches, improved durability, and meaningful command gains, he has mid-rotation starter upside, giving him possibly the widest range of outcomes on this list. Baseball Prospectus describes him as having “Shohei Ohtani’s stuff with Johnny Cueto’s body.”
Slater de Brun, OF 18 | L/L | 5’10” | 187
Drafted 37th overall in 2025, through a draft pick traded by the Rays, de Brun was essentially re-acquired in the Shane Baz trade. Like many Rays outfield prospects he’s not expected to develop much power, but compensates with an ability to hit to all fields, and has the benefit of years to develop. His hit tool rates plus thanks to a quick, compact swing, and his double-plus speed elevates both his baserunning and range in center; he has a solid arm and can stick long term. The key to his development will be improving pitch selection to maximize his power potential. Despite not yet playing in a pro game, he’s a good bet to skip the complex league and debut in Charleston this season.
Homer Bush Jr. 24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215 AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K
Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a lack of use of his lower half in his swing, and he whiffed more often than you can for long term success with a low-power approach. His calling cards are Rays-grade defense and plus-speed, having notably swiped 57 bags in back-to-back seasons.
Nathan Flewelling, C 19 | L/R | 6’2” | 200 A | .229/.393/.336 (126 wRC+) 439 PA, 6 HR, 9 SB, 20.3% BB, 27.6% K A+ | 22 PA, 4 H, 5 BB, 6 K
The 94th overall pick from 2024, Flewelling made his debut at 18 years young and caught a full season (75 C, 26 DH), plus a five game cup of coffee (3 C, 2 DH). Taking the longview, he could grow into 50-60 grade power with 50 grade defense, which makes him one to follow. His plus zone awareness at the plate offsets his lagging contact, and most importantly for the position his ability to call games and frame pitches are already plus. A strong season with the bat at High-A could vault him into Top-100 consideration.
Harrison entered the season as Baseball America’s top pitcher in the system thanks to a cleaned up delivery and high heat. He ran into some bumps in the road by running up his pitch count against batters, but he still made it over 100 innings in 22 starts. A power pitcher through and through, his hard slider flirts with cutter classification and could evolve into two distinct pitches down the road. It will be interesting to see how his change up plays as he’s challenged at higher levels, but for now he has premium stuff and the upside of a rotation anchor. (video)
Isaac had his season cut short large-in-part due to the discovery of a brain tumor, disrupting an otherwise great start to the season that duplicated his cup of coffee in Double-A as a 20-year old, despite some minor arm injuries along the way. He has the best power projection in the system, and if he can hold his own for a full season in 2026 — particularly against southpaws, which is somewhat of a concern — the former first round pick (29th overall, 2021) could see his status restored near the top of the Rays prospect rankings.
Morgan continued to hit without power in 2025, a great discouragement for some evaluators, but his present 50-grade hit tool and feel for the zone allow a major league projection. He continued his improved, quieter two-strike approach in 2025 that built on his success retooling his swing in the AFL last year. The Rays gave Morgan 14 starts in Left Field last season, and Baseball America called the defense “playable,” but his value is tied to his plus-plus defense at First.
Brendan Summerhill, OF 22 | L/R | 6’3” | 200 A | .333/.429/.444 (160 wRC+) 42 PA, 0 HR, 5 SB, 6 BB, 5 K
Following an All-Star performance at the Cape Cod summer league, Summerhill exhibited some of the best bat-to-ball skills in NCAA as a junior at Arizona. His draft stock took a minor hit due to injury (broken hand from from punching a cooler) and was drafted 42nd overall, but Summerhill rebounded well with a dominant stop at Charleston to finish the year. Summerhill has plus barrel control, allowing for a high-contact approach for his long swing. He has plus speed as well, which provides a chance to stick in center. Evaluators would like to see more power to complete a five-tool profile. Even if the power doesn’t materialize, it’s an above average contributor’s projection.
Jose Urbina, RHP 20 | 6’3” | 180 A | 2.05 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 92.1 IP (19 GS), 26.4% K, 8.2% BB A+ | 2 ER (2 HR), 4.0 IP (1 GS), 5 K, 0 BB
Good pitchers grow and adjust, and Urbina has done that consistently at an age young for his level. Physically he has grown in strength, sitting at 96 with the fastball after flashing high octane in 2024, and technically he has grown, refining his dialed up slider and his two-plane curveball into complementary pitches — which lack plus command but are thrown with feel. He shouldered a starter’s workload at 19, and was awarded one additional start at High-A, where he allowed two solo shots and struck out five. Overall, the age, body, and body of work have him on the trajectory of top prospect lists in the near future.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been stumbling of late, but the Dallas Mavericks have been playing well enough lately that such an opponent should still be a frustration.
My Timberwolves vs. Mavericks predictions account for both Minnesota’s fatigue and the likely lack of focus.
Timberwolves vs Mavericks best bet: Mavericks +6.5 (-110)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are simply in a bad schedule spot, on top of being in the midst of overall struggles.
Minnesota lost five straight before beating Golden State’s second unit on Monday night. Much of that could be forgotten if the Wolves beat the Thunder tomorrow, a worry they are likely already looking ahead to.
Life is rarely as simple as that clear of a lookahead moment, but when facing a lottery team, it would be natural for Minnesota to think about Oklahoma City a day early.
That would be a mistake. Rather, it will be a mistake.
The Dallas Mavericks have gone 4-1 against the spread in their last five, including two outright wins as an underdog. Frankly, there is logic to betting the Mavs’ moneyline tonight at +200 with bet365.
Timberwolves vs Mavericks same-game parlay
This Under is another nod to Minnesota likely looking ahead to tomorrow night, but Rudy Gobert has not struggled too much during the Timberwolves’ downswing, notching a double-double in four of his last five games and in eight of his last 11.
Timberwolves vs Mavericks SGP
Mavericks +6.5
Under 228
Rudy Gobert double-double
Our "from downtown" SGP: Reid between the lines
Naz Reid has not been scoring as consistently recently, possibly because of a bothersome shoulder. But he has still produced, clearing this combo prop in his last four games and six of his last seven games, ignoring the one five-minute game that included that initial injury.
Timberwolves vs Mavericks SGP
Mavericks +6.5
Under 228
Rudy Gobert double-double
Naz Reid Over 9.5 assists+rebounds
Timberwolves vs Mavericks odds
Spread: Timberwolves -6.5 | Mavericks +6.5
Moneyline: Timberwolves -245 | Mavericks +200
Over/Under: Over 228 | Under 228
Timberwolves vs Mavericks betting trend to know
Not only has Dallas gone 4-1 ATS in its last five games, but the Mavericks have exceeded bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 15.2 points in those five outings, even when including the single ATS loss. Find more NBA betting trends for Timberwolves vs. Mavericks.
How to watch Timberwolves vs Mavericks
Location
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Date
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Tip-off
8:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-North, KFAA
Timberwolves vs Mavericks latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
