{"id":569516,"date":"2026-01-29T23:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/569516\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T23:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T23:26:14","slug":"antetokounmpo-other-stars-could-be-moved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/569516\/","title":{"rendered":"Antetokounmpo, other stars could be moved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exactly one question is set to dominate the NBA<\/a> landscape as the fast-approaching trade deadline nears:<\/p>\n

What is going to happen with Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Now that the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is reportedly ready for a change of scenery<\/a>, teams are prepared to get aggressive \u2014 and creative \u2014 with their offers to acquire the generational two-time NBA MVP.<\/p>\n

But Antetokounmpo isn\u2019t the only big-name player who could be on the move.<\/p>\n

This time of year is often fraught with surprises. Just look at last February, when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off an all-time stunner by acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s already been one blockbuster deal this month, with the Atlanta Hawks sending guard Trae Young \u2014 a four-time All-Star and notorious Knicks<\/a> villain \u2014 to the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n

With all of that in mind, here are storylines to follow between now and the Feb. 5 deadline:<\/p>\n

GIANNIS SWEEPSTAKES<\/p>\n

The Knicks, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors are expected to be among the most aggressive suitors for Antetokounmpo, and all three have different selling points.<\/p>\n

In the offseason, ESPN reported Antetokounmpo eyed the Knicks as a potential destination, and that the Knicks and Bucks even discussed what a deal might look like.<\/p>\n

The veteran-laden Knicks likely don\u2019t have the ammunition to win a bidding war<\/a> for Antetokounmpo, as they can\u2019t include even one first-round pick in a trade until the offseason, when they can offer two.<\/p>\n

That means it would probably require Antetokounmpo to specify he wants to go to New York \u2014 and for the Bucks to fulfill his request \u2014 for that to happen.<\/p>\n

That would also likely require at least one more team getting involved to help facilitate a deal.<\/p>\n

Miami can offer two first-rounders now and four in the offseason. Their top trade chip is 26-year-old Tyler Herro, who is from Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

But with the Bucks reportedly seeking draft picks and premium young talent, the Golden State Warriors appear best equipped to meet those demands.<\/p>\n

The Warriors could trade a treasure trove of picks and also have 23-year-old Jonathan Kuminga and 22-year-old Brandin Podziemski to offer.<\/p>\n

Warriors star Jimmy Butler, who just suffered an ACL tear, is due $56.8 million next season, meaning he could help match Antetokounmpo\u2019s salary now, then become an asset as an expiring contract next year.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Timberwolves are also said to be in the mix for Antetokounmpo, who is expected to miss the next month or so with a calf injury.<\/p>\n

KNICKS\u2019 NEXT MOVE?<\/p>\n

The Knicks have won four games in a row, but they will need to decide whether their recent 2-9 slump was merely adversity that they overcame or a sign of issues that could return.<\/p>\n

In the wide-open Eastern Conference, the Knicks (29-18) as currently constituted are contenders.<\/p>\n

And while Karl-Anthony Towns\u2019 fit under head coach Mike Brown remains the subject of scrutiny, it is unlikely the cap-strapped Knicks will make any wholesale midseason changes unless it\u2019s for Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n

The Knicks are interested in adding battle-tested Portland Trail Blazers point guard Jrue Holiday, according to NBA insider Mark Stein<\/a>. Holiday, who won a championship with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks in 2021, would certainly help bolster a Knicks roster that could use another playmaker.<\/p>\n

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado continues to come up in rumors, too, and would provide depth.<\/p>\n

Look for the Knicks to trade forward Guerschon Yabusele, whose two-year, $12 million contract has not worked out.<\/p>\n

ANOTHER AD TRADE?<\/p>\n

In the wake of their disastrous Doncic trade, the Mavericks (19-28 entering Thursday) are better served focusing on the future.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Davis \u2014 the main piece in the Doncic return package \u2014 is back on the block.<\/p>\n

Injuries continue to hamper Davis, who is currently sidelined until at least late February due to ligament damage in his left hand.<\/p>\n

The latest ailment complicates Davis\u2019 trade value, even though the 6-11 center remains elite on offense and defense when he does play.<\/p>\n

Dallas doesn\u2019t have to trade Davis, who is under contract next season at $58.5 million and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.<\/p>\n

But there is financial motivation for a trade, as Dallas\u2019 payroll is currently projected to go over the second apron tax threshold next season.<\/p>\n

Davis is eligible for an extension this summer, which is another factor interested teams must consider.<\/p>\n

MOVEMENT IN MEMPHIS?<\/p>\n

Like Milwaukee and Dallas, the Grizzlies employ a big-name trade candidate who is currently injured.<\/p>\n

That would be Ja Morant, who is out for the next few weeks with a UCL sprain in his left (non-shooting) elbow.<\/p>\n

Morant is just 26, but he is in the midst of a down season and has had his share of off-court issues.<\/p>\n

The ultra-athletic guard would \u201clove\u201d to be traded to Miami, according to ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst<\/a>, who reported the Heat won\u2019t entertain a Morant deal while they pursue Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s Jaren Jackson Jr., for whom the Grizzlies could likely demand a haul.<\/p>\n

The Knicks are among those who have been linked to the shot-blocking former Defensive Player of the Year, but for now, the Jackson buzz has not advanced beyond the speculation stage.<\/p>\n

With the Grizzlies (18-27) out of contention, they are a team to watch. In June, they traded sharp-shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for a package that included four first-round picks.<\/p>\n

WHAT\u2019S NEXT FOR WARRIORS?<\/p>\n

The Warriors find themselves in an awkward position.<\/p>\n

They would love to maximize their remaining years with Stephen Curry, who turns 38 in March but is still producing at a high level.<\/p>\n

But the season-ending injury to Butler is a devastating blow to a roster with a short window.<\/p>\n

And at 27-22, the Warriors were already in need of additions, not subtractions, for a real chance at a deep playoff run.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to mention the drama surrounding Kuminga, who demanded a trade earlier this month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The relationship remains fractured between the Warriors and the former No. 7 overall pick, who signed a two-year, $46.8 million contract as a restricted free agent in late September following an offseason standoff.<\/p>\n

After falling out of head coach Steve Kerr\u2019s rotation, Kuminga returned to the lineup after Butler\u2019s injury. He scored 30 points in 30 minutes over two games before being diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee.<\/p>\n

WHO ELSE IS SELLING?<\/p>\n

A few teams in transition could be the ones that ultimately end up driving the market.<\/p>\n

The Nets are the only team with cap space, meaning they could take on salary \u2014 including as a third team to facilitate a trade \u2014 in return for assets.<\/p>\n

Brooklyn also has two scorers in Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas who could be moved.<\/p>\n

The Sacramento Kings (12-36) are among the NBA\u2019s worst teams but also have veterans that could move the needle for contenders \u2014 especially Domantas Sabonis and Keon Ellis.<\/p>\n

Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schr\u00f6der and Malik Monk are among the others.<\/p>\n

Beyond Davis, the Mavericks have Naji Marshall, Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson as veteran trade chips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Exactly one question is set to dominate the NBA landscape as the fast-approaching trade deadline nears: What is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":558362,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3775],"tags":[495,7,103,123,178,2038,304,102,121,3871,6,2828],"class_list":{"0":"post-569516","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-milwaukee-bucks","8":"tag-anthony-davis","9":"tag-basketball","10":"tag-bucks","11":"tag-giannis-antetokounmpo","12":"tag-ja-morant","13":"tag-jrue-holiday","14":"tag-knicks","15":"tag-milwaukee","16":"tag-milwaukee-bucks","17":"tag-milwaukeebucks","18":"tag-nba","19":"tag-nba-trade-deadline"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/115980978864619733","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=569516"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569516\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=569516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=569516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=569516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}