NBA Trade Deadline Watch: Bucks Stand Pat (For Now), Hawks Weigh Options, Lakers Eye Perimeter Help
We’re inching closer to the NBA trade deadline, and while the rumor mill is heating up, not every team is showing its cards just yet. Let’s take a look at three franchises in very different situations - the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and Los Angeles Lakers - and where things stand as of now.
Milwaukee Bucks: All Quiet on the Giannis Front
Despite the noise swirling outside the organization, the Bucks aren’t flinching. After a 45-point blowout loss to Brooklyn, there’s been no indication that Milwaukee is ready to pivot or even entertain the idea of moving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Around the league, teams are watching closely - waiting for any sign that the Bucks might be open to a massive shift. But so far?
Crickets.
Instead, the buzz is pointing in the opposite direction. There’s growing belief that Milwaukee is more likely to double down and reinforce the roster around their two-time MVP rather than tear things down. That mindset tracks with how the organization has operated to this point - staying committed to contending with Giannis at the center of it all.
Interestingly, if the Bucks ever did decide to make Antetokounmpo available - and again, there’s no indication they will - the list of suitors might be shorter than expected. The Spurs, Rockets, and Thunder are reportedly not expected to enter the fray, should a bidding war ever materialize.
Atlanta Hawks: Porzingis’ Health Clouds Trade Options
In Atlanta, the trade deadline picture is a little murkier. The Hawks are expected to explore moves centered around Kristaps Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract, but there’s a wrinkle - Porzingis is now sidelined for at least two weeks due to illness. That’s not ideal timing, especially considering the injury concerns that shadowed him through last season’s playoffs.
With Porzingis’ availability in question, Atlanta’s flexibility could take a hit. Still, don’t expect them to move key young pieces just to make something happen.
One name that’s reportedly off-limits: Jalen Johnson. And for good reason.
Johnson has been a revelation this season, especially with Trae Young limited to just five games due to a knee issue. Johnson just notched his fourth straight triple-double - tying Nikola Jokic for the longest such streak this season - and he’s been the engine keeping Atlanta competitive.
In games without Young, the Hawks are 12-9, with Johnson averaging 23.8 points, 11.2 boards, and 8.8 assists. That’s not just filling in - that’s leading.
Los Angeles Lakers: Defensive Holes Exposed
The Lakers’ loss to the Spurs in the NBA Cup didn’t just sting - it exposed a lingering issue that’s been tough to ignore: perimeter defense. Head coach JJ Redick didn’t sugarcoat it afterward.
“Being able to contain the basketball is probably the most difficult thing for our team right now,” Redick said postgame - a candid admission that underscores where the Lakers need help.
As the trade deadline approaches, expect L.A. to be in the market for three-and-D wings - players who can knock down shots and hold their own defensively on the perimeter. The challenge?
The market isn’t exactly flush with those types of players. Beyond names like Kings guard Keon Ellis, the pool is thin.
The need is clear. The fit, however, may be harder to find.
Bottom Line
Whether it’s Milwaukee holding firm with Giannis, Atlanta navigating Porzingis’ health while riding Johnson’s breakout, or L.A. searching for defensive answers, each team is approaching the deadline with a different lens. The stakes?
High. The options?
Limited. But as we’ve seen time and again, all it takes is one deal to shift a season - or a franchise - in a whole new direction.