With the NBA trade deadline looming - Thursday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET - the league is buzzing with movement, rumors, and a whole lot of front office chess.
Deals are already starting to trickle in, and the rumor mill is spinning at full speed. Here's where things stand with some of the league’s most intriguing storylines just days before the buzzer sounds.
Knicks Weigh Their Options at the Deadline
Let’s start in New York, where the Knicks are in a familiar spot: rumored to be chasing stars but facing the reality of roster limitations. While fans might dream of Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Knicks jersey, the odds of that happening before the deadline are slim to none - and the front office seems to know it.
According to recent reporting, the Knicks are standing behind the core they’ve built. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted on his podcast that the organization “believes in the core of this team and this roster,” signaling a more measured approach this trade season. And that’s probably wise, because the price tag for a player like Giannis is sky-high.
Per league insiders, the Bucks are asking for a package that includes elite young talent and a haul of draft picks - the kind of package that would gut New York’s starting lineup. We’re talking OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and/or Karl-Anthony Towns. That’s not just a blockbuster; that’s a roster overhaul.
So, with a superstar splash off the table for now, the Knicks are pivoting to more realistic, depth-focused moves. They’re reportedly targeting frontcourt help, eyeing Orlando’s Goga Bitadze and New Orleans’ Yves Missi.
Bitadze has fallen out of the rotation in Orlando and could offer immediate bench minutes. Missi, a second-year player, is more of a long-term investment - raw but promising, with upside the Knicks might be willing to bet on.
Doc Rivers: Giannis Isn’t Going Anywhere (Yet)
Over in Milwaukee, head coach Doc Rivers is doing his best to keep the noise out of the locker room - and to keep his franchise cornerstone in the fold. On ESPN’s NBA Countdown, Rivers reiterated what he’s been hearing from Giannis himself: that the two-time MVP wants to stay in Milwaukee.
“Giannis has said everything that we need to hear,” Rivers said. “That he wants to be a Buck, he loves the city, and that’s all I can go by as a coach right now.”
It’s a coach’s job to keep the team focused, but Rivers didn’t shy away from acknowledging the toll the rumors can take. “Your players every day have to hear stuff - every single day, about not just their best player but they’re thrown in the mix as well. My favorite day of the year this year will be the day after the trade deadline.”
That tells you everything you need to know about the current atmosphere in Milwaukee. For now, league sources expect the Giannis trade drama to extend beyond the deadline and into the offseason. Whether he - or Rivers - will be back next season is a question for another day.
DeRozan Not Drawing Much Interest
DeMar DeRozan is still putting up numbers - 19.2 points per game on 50.6% shooting - but it doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere before the deadline. League interest in the veteran scorer has been tepid, and it’s easy to see why.
At 36 years old, DeRozan is a midrange maestro in a league that’s increasingly spacing the floor and prioritizing three-point shooting. Add in a contract that pays him $24.6 million this season and $25.7 million next, and it’s a tough sell - especially in the new “apron era,” where financial flexibility is at a premium.
Unless something shifts dramatically, expect DeRozan to finish out the season in Sacramento.
Ja Morant’s Cryptic Message
Ja Morant’s name has faded from the trade chatter, and all signs point to him staying put past the deadline. But that didn’t stop him from stirring the pot just a bit with a cryptic social media post.
“time tells the truth” - @JaMorant, January 31, 2026
It’s vague, sure, but in today’s NBA, cryptic tweets often carry weight - especially from stars. Whether it’s a message to the front office, the fans, or just a general reflection, Morant’s post adds another layer of intrigue to a situation that’s been quiet on the surface.
Coaches Navigating the Trade Deadline Storm
Trade season isn’t just a front office frenzy - it’s a test of leadership in the locker room. Coaches across the league are juggling rotations, managing emotions, and trying to keep their teams focused amid the noise.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown summed it up well in a recent interview:
“We understand that we have no control over the noise out there, so we have to have a bunker mentality. Not just at the trade deadline but all the time because there is a lot of noise out there. We’re all human and you try not to listen to it - you just try to stay together.”
That’s the challenge this time of year: keeping the group locked in while rumors swirl and uncertainty looms. For contending teams, it’s about staying the course. For teams on the bubble, it’s about deciding whether to push in or pivot.
Either way, the next few days are going to shape the stretch run of the NBA season - and potentially the future of several franchises. Buckle up.