Four teams have emerged as “the most serious suitors” for Giannis Antetokounmpo, while a second Australian has had their NBA life uprooted in as many days as the league’s trade deadline edges ever closer.
Stay up to date with every trade deal as it happens ahead of the February 6 cut-off.
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FEBRUARY 3 — ‘ADVANCED DISCUSSIONS’ OVER TRADE TO SEND HARDEN TO SIXTH TEAM
James Harden’s stint at the Los Angeles Clippers could be coming to an end, with both parties exploring a potential trade ahead of the deadline.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X that both the Clippers and Harden — an 11-time All-Star — were “working through whether the sides can find a deal by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline”.
“Both sides are aligned in conversations together and with interested teams,” Charania wrote on X.
Senior Sports Illustrated writer Chris Mannix reported the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers “have had advanced discussions” over a deal involving Harden, which would see him join Cleveland in exchange for fellow All-Star guard Darius Garland — a potential straight swap.
Harden, 36, has averaged 25.4 points and 35.4 minutes per game this season for the Clippers. However he didn’t line up for the Clippers in their most recent clash due to personal reasons, according to coach Tyronn Lue.
If Harden joined the Cavaliers, they’d be the superstar’s sixth NBA team after stints with the Thunder, Rockets, Nets, 76ers and Clippers.
FEBRUARY 3 – INSIDE WARRIORS’ PUSH FOR GIANNIS
The Milwaukee Bucks are eyeing off an epic draft haul from the Golden State Warriors for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Warriors are reportedly open to parting ways with a four-time NBA champion to make a trade happen.
Steve Kerr’s team currently hold first rounds picks from 2026 to 2032 as well as a second round pick in 2031, and all those selections as well as several players could be on their way to Milwaukee to secure ‘The Greek Freak’.
It is an idea that has piqued the interest of the Bucks’ hierarchy.
“To this point, the Bucks have not declined the Warriors’ offer, sources said. Horst and Milwaukee’s front office were fascinated with the idea of acquiring all of Golden State’s future assets, but they are also taking their time with coming to a decision, which is not expected to happen until sometime within the 24-hour mark until the trade deadline,” ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel said.
Trading players is not off the table either.
It has been believed that just about everyone but Stephen Curry could be used in a deal for Antetokounmpo.
Jimmy Butler has been said to be the most likely to depart the Bay Area, but the Warriors have also floated the prospect of Draymond Green being shipped off to a contender to bolster their offering to the Bucks.
“Look, without Jimmy, the Warriors aren’t getting to the NBA Finals, even if they added Giannis right now,” an unnamed NBA executive told ClutchPoints.
“If you leverage Draymond and get more assets, you can pull off the biggest blockbuster and leave these other teams wanting Giannis scrambling for answers. There is no doubt in my mind there are those who would immediately offer a first-round pick for Draymond to make a title push right now.
“I 100 percent believe there are teams who would essentially help the Warriors get Giannis if it meant they got Green for the next three or four months to pursue a title.”
The Warriors may face stiff competition from the Miami Heat for Antetokounmpo’s signature, however.
NBA analyst and writer Jake Weinback took to social media to report that the Hear are willing to offer a five-player, four future first-round pick package that includes 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro and swapping rights for this year’s first round draft pick.
FEBRUARY 3 – FORMER ALL-STARS MAY BE ON THE MOVE
Several big names may either be shopped around by their teams, or are eager to go elsewhere before the trade deadline, according to ESPN reporters Shams Charania.
The Memphis Grizzlies are fielding offers for Ja Morant.
The 26-year-old two-time All-Star has taken to the court only 20 times this season and is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher said that given Morant’s issues away from the basketball court, starting afresh elsewhere might be the best thing for his career – if another team is willing to take the punt.
“Sometimes change is needed or required and it might not be a bad thing,” Fisher told TMZ. “Sometimes you need a change of scenery and new challenges put forth.
“Professional sports teams always do their homework and due diligence,” he added. “Where is he now? There’s personal character and there’s basketball character. In most organisations, you have to check both boxes to be a guy they want.”
Elsewhere, Charania reported that the Dallas Mavericks’ “phone lines are wide open” for any teams interested in acquiring Anthony Davis.
The Toronto Raptors remain interested in Sacramento Kings big man DomantasSabonis, while the Brooklyn Nets are keen to hang on to Michael Porter Jr. as they see the breakout star as a key cog in their future plans.
FEBRUARY 2 — FOUR ‘MOST SERIOUS SUITORS’ FOR GIANNIS EMERGE
The Milwaukee Bucks have “remained engaged” with teams that have interest in superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo – and even put forward counter-offers to “aggressive” trade proposals – according to ESPN reporter Shams Charania.
Antetokounmpo reportedly wants a trade out of Milwaukee as soon as the NBA trade deadline on February 6 (AEDT) after being part of all sorts of trade buzz this season.
ESPN last week reported Antetokounmpo had made it clear “for months” that he believes the time is right to part ways with the franchise that drafted him.
Giannis Wants OUT! Bucks trade talks | 01:24
Several rival teams reportedly made aggressive offers to the Bucks for the former two-time NBA MVP, and are sensing that Milwaukee is “more open than ever” ready to deal Antetokounmpo between now and the NBA trade deadline.
Speaking on ESPN, Charania indicated four rival teams were “the most serious suitors” for Antetokounmpo at this stage.
“Over the weekend, the Bucks remained engaged with NBA teams that have interest, that have given aggressive proposals,” Charania said. “My understanding is they’ve submitted counteroffers to those aggressive proposals as well
“The Heat, Timberwolves, Gold State Warriors, New York Knicks – those have been the most serious suitors in the mix so far for Giannis.”
Charania said time was off the essence for all parties as the trade deadline approaches.
“It all comes down to price point for him. A young player or a surplus of draft picks. So who meets that mark between now and … the NBA trade deadline,” he said.
“And the Bucks have to manage the risk or reward, whether you do a deal now or you wait for off-season when Giannis only has one year left. That gives him even more to figure out and dictate his future in the off-season.”
Celtics cruise to victory over Bucks | 01:07
FEBRUARY 2 — SECOND AUSSIE VICTIM AS HAWKS DEAL AGAIN
Duop Reath has become the second Aussie in as many days to have their NBA life uprooted, with the big man traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday morning.
Reath, who brings floor-spacing ability as a shooting big, links up with Boomers teammate Dyson Daniels in the Peachtree State.
However, ruled out for the remainder of the season to undergo foot surgery, Reath is every chance of being waived by the Hawks, who could open up two roster spots and eye a bigger-picture trade.
In the deal, shooter Vit Krejci moved to the Blazers, with the Hawks acquiring Reath and two second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The 29-year-old, who’s of South-Sudanese descent but was raised in Western Australia, played a career-low 8.1 minutes per game this season in Portland, where he’d spent his entire NBA stint to this point.
Prior to his injury, he was stuck behind preferred big men Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams in the Trail Blazers’ rotation.
Reath averaged 9.1 points in an average 17.9 minutes played in the 2023-24 season, with the 206-centimetre paint force — who’s extended his shooting game beyond the three-point arc — hoping for more playing time wherever he ends up.
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Portland currently sits ninth in the Western Conference standings at 23-26; right in the thick of the play-in race.
Krejci, meanwhile, is averaging 2.2 three-pointers made per game on 42.3 per cent shooting, which ranks inside the NBA’s top 20, with the move being lauded as “sneaky-smart” by Portland.
It comes after Atlanta — which now has seven future second-rounders at its disposal — cemented its new direction by trading All-Star guard Trae Young just a matter of weeks ago, with the Hawks still teetering in play-in positioning.
FEBRUARY 1 — AUSSIE WAIVED AS PART OF THREE-TEAM SWAP
The first big trade in the days leading up to the February 6 deadline saw the Cleveland Cavaliers send forward De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, with the Chicago Bulls acquiring veteran Dario Saric and two future second-round picks as part of the deal.
The victim in the deal was little-used Australian forward Luke Travers, who was cut as the Cavaliers sought to make roster room for both incoming Kings guards.
The move reportedly freed up around $50 million in salary and luxury tax space for the Cavs, while also allowing them to get under the second apron next season.
Ellis, an impending free agent, was being monitored around the Association ahead of the deadline as an affordable 3-and-D guard with high upside for a contending roster.
Meanwhile, Hunter could still be moved by the Kings, who, sitting in last place in the Western Conference, look to blow up their much-maligned roster that includes declining veterans DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
But regardless of if he remains in Sacramento past the deadline, the franchise’s fans will hardly be pleased with owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé’s latest dealings.
Hunter, who can shoot and play good defence, is a solid enough piece for Sacramento, but he’s not a needle-mover by any means.
The intriguing Schroeder element is that he’s now been traded a staggering eight times in his career, having in the past rejected an $84m ($120m AUD) extension from the Los Angeles Lakers.