As we approach the NBA trade deadline, usually a time when front offices light up the phones and fans refresh Twitter like it's the playoffs, this year’s landscape is feeling more like a slow Tuesday in the offseason. The reason?
Injuries - and not just to role players or fringe starters. We’re talking about some of the biggest names in the league, the kind of players who can swing a championship race or redefine a franchise’s trajectory.
Let’s start with the biggest domino of them all: Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP and nine-time All-NBA First Team selection has been at the center of trade rumblings for months.
His relationship with the Milwaukee Bucks has been under the microscope for a while, and the tension seemed to be reaching a boiling point. Giannis had been dropping subtle hints - cryptic comments about his teammates, frustration with the team’s direction - but always stopped short of outright demanding a trade.
Still, the writing was on the wall. According to reports, his frustration with the organization hit “an all-time high,” and conversations between his camp and the Bucks about the future had reportedly intensified since as far back as May.
But now, any potential blockbuster is on pause. Giannis is dealing with a calf strain - the same right calf he previously injured - and he’s expected to be out through at least February and into March.
That’s a serious roadblock for any team trying to make a move before the February 5th deadline. Giving up major assets for a player who won’t be available for the stretch run?
That’s a tough sell, especially when you factor in the risk of re-injury and the looming possibility that Giannis could opt out of his contract after next season. Any team making that kind of investment would want long-term security, and that’s not something easily negotiated midseason.
And Giannis isn’t the only star whose injury status is gumming up the gears of the trade machine.
Anthony Davis, another member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, has once again found himself sidelined. The Lakers big man, known as much for his talent as his injury history, has played in only 20 games this season and is currently out with a hand injury he suffered on January 9.
Teams have long been intrigued by Davis’ ceiling, but his availability - or lack thereof - makes him a risky bet. Dallas was reportedly hoping to see him string together a healthy stretch this month, but that plan unraveled quickly.
Then there’s Ja Morant. The electrifying Grizzlies point guard was just starting to look like his old self again, putting together back-to-back double-doubles and flashing the same explosiveness that made him a two-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year.
But now he’s out for at least three weeks with a sprained UCL in his left elbow, an injury suffered in a game against Atlanta. Morant hasn’t played more than seven straight games since 2022 - a mix of injuries and off-court issues have derailed what should be his prime.
His trade value, already diminished, has taken another hit.
Elsewhere, things aren’t looking much better. Trae Young, once a potential headliner of this year’s trade deadline, was already moved to Washington earlier in January.
And out West, Golden State’s season took another blow when Jimmy Butler was ruled out for the year. The Warriors had hoped Jonathan Kuminga might step into a bigger role - or become a trade chip himself - but he’s now dealing with an injury of his own.
The good news for Golden State is that Kuminga’s setback isn’t expected to be long-term, and he could still be moved if the right deal comes along.
Toronto might make a small move, and there’s always a chance someone like Domantas Sabonis gets involved in a surprise deal, but let’s be honest - that’s not enough to save this year’s deadline from feeling underwhelming.
Injuries are always part of the NBA equation, but when they hit this hard, this close to the deadline, they reshape the entire market. The usual flurry of action might be more of a trickle this time around. The big names are still out there, but for now, they’re watching from the sidelines - and so are the blockbuster trades.