The NBA trade deadline is just over a week away, and at long last, the biggest domino might be ready to fall. According to league sources, the Milwaukee Bucks are now open to trade discussions involving Giannis Antetokounmpo-the two-time MVP and the face of the franchise since the day he broke out. It’s a seismic shift, and one that could reshape the league’s power structure in a matter of days.
We’ve seen this movie before in Milwaukee. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) asked out in the '70s, the Bucks were forced to hit the reset button.
Now, history might be repeating itself. Antetokounmpo reportedly wants to chase another championship-and he wants to do it now.
That urgency is driving both his camp and the Bucks front office to seriously consider their options, whether that means a blockbuster move before the Feb. 5 deadline or something bigger this summer.
And make no mistake, the rest of the league has been waiting on this. The trade market has been eerily quiet, with teams holding their cards close to the chest, waiting to see what Milwaukee decides. Now that the Bucks are listening, expect the action to pick up-and quickly.
San Antonio Could Be Ready to Make a Move
One team that’s been lurking in the background is the San Antonio Spurs. While they’re not in the Giannis sweepstakes, they’ve got moves to make-and now that the logjam might finally be breaking, they can start getting serious.
The Spurs have been evaluating their roster all season, and it sounds like Jeremy Sochan could be on the move. According to league insider Marc Stein, Sochan is actively being shopped with the team’s blessing.
The Knicks have shown interest, but with New York also rumored to be in the Giannis hunt, they’re unlikely to make a move for Sochan until Milwaukee’s situation is resolved. That’s how much this Antetokounmpo storyline has frozen the league.
Still, Sochan’s days in San Antonio appear to be numbered. The versatile forward has shown flashes, especially on the defensive end, but the Spurs seem ready to pivot. The question now becomes: who’s coming in?
What San Antonio Needs
The Spurs aren’t looking for a full-scale roster overhaul-they’re looking for complementary pieces. Specifically, they need shooting and some added toughness. That’s a tough ask in a seller’s market, but there are a few names worth watching.
Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones have both been mentioned as potential trade targets, though prying them away from New Orleans won’t be cheap. According to Stein, the Pelicans are asking for a “Desmond Bane-type” return-translation: a steep price. That’s a big swing for a team still building around Victor Wembanyama, but if the Spurs believe in accelerating the timeline, it’s the kind of deal that could pay off.
More cost-effective options include Luke Kennard, a proven shooter who could space the floor, though he doesn’t bring much physicality. Guerschon Yabusele, meanwhile, hasn’t found his rhythm from deep, but he plays a rugged, physical style that could give the Spurs some needed edge.
A New Chapter in the Works
Whatever GM Brian Wright decides, the good news is that the Giannis situation no longer has to paralyze the market. The Spurs now have a chance to take action, and they’ve got the flexibility to be creative. Whether it’s a smaller move for a shooter or a bigger swing for a two-way contributor, there’s room to maneuver.
And for fans who’ve been waiting for the trade deadline to heat up-this might finally be the spark. With Antetokounmpo’s future in flux and the Bucks officially listening, the NBA trade season just got a whole lot more interesting.