Plenty of other big names could follow, while there are a number of championship contenders and hopefuls worth monitoring until the deadline closes on February 6 at 7am AEDT. <\/p>\n
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Here, foxsports.com.au has you covered with the latest reporting ahead of the deadline \u2014 including the superstars that could be on the move and teams with major decisions to make.<\/p>\n
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO<\/p>\n
Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn\u2019t make it any more clear. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, \u2018I want a trade,\u2019\u2009\u201d the Bucks superstar told <\/a>The Athletic <\/a>in an interview last week<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not \u2026 in \u2026 my \u2026 nature. OK?\u201d<\/p>\n So, that\u2019s it. Antetokounmpo won\u2019t be traded before the February 5 deadline, right? If only it were that simple.<\/p>\n There is little doubt it is not in Antetokounmpo\u2019s nature to ask out of Milwaukee. After all, this is the same player who helped transform the Bucks from one of the NBA\u2019s worst teams to Eastern Conference champions and then, eventually, NBA champions. <\/p>\n He was there for the first time when they broke a 50-year title drought and if you listen to Antetokounmpo\u2019s interview with The Athletic, he is insistent that will remain the case until he retires.<\/p>\n \u201cMy plan is to be here for the rest of my career,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n But that declaration came with a qualifier. <\/p>\n \u201cIf they don\u2019t want me…\u201d Antetokounmpo added.<\/p>\n Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)Source: AP<\/p>\n Plenty of what Antetokounmpo said in the interview came with a qualifier. Not that it means he is going to be traded. It just leaves the door open for the possibility, while reinforcing that if that was to happen it would be the Bucks initiating the divorce and not Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n But since the first moment rumours started to swirl of Antetokounmpo growing frustrated in Milwaukee, NBA insiders have stressed that the only way the Bucks would trade the two-time MVP is if he explicitly asked for it.<\/p>\n Such is the respect they have for the man that delivered them their second championship.<\/p>\n If that is the case, it sounds like there won\u2019t be a trade before the deadline and NBA insider Marc Stein, for what it\u2019s worth, recently reported<\/a> that was \u201csuspected\u201d to be the case league wide for \u201csome time\u201d.<\/p>\n Instead, Stein claimed that the Bucks are expected to explore what kind of trades they can pull off to further build the roster around Antetokounmpo and convince him this is a team capable of contending for a title.<\/p>\n The four-year, $275 million ($A411 million) extension that Antetokounmpo is eligible for on October 1 also looms large in the background.<\/p>\n Dyson notches up first triple double! | 00:15<\/p>\n JA MORANT AND JAREN JACKSON JR.<\/p>\n First was Trae Young. Could Morant be the next distressed asset to be moved before the deadline?<\/p>\n It really depends how desperate the Grizzlies are. After all, if the Young trade proved anything it is how quickly a player\u2019s stock can fall considering he was once viewed as a cornerstone piece for the Hawks.<\/p>\n The same rings true for Morant, who is averaging a career-low 19.0 points per game and also shooting at career-low marks on both 2-point and 3-point percentages. <\/p>\n Morant\u2019s finishing at the rim has been particularly worrying this season given 3-point shooting has hardly been a strength of his game. In contrast, Morant ranked fourth in made field goals in the restricted area in the 2021-22 season. <\/p>\n This current version of Morant, however, is far less aggressive and has far more question marks off the court too, which further diminishes his trade value.<\/p>\n Add in the public criticism of coaching staff following a loss to the Lakers earlier this year, which resulted in a one-game suspension, and it has been clear for a while now that both parties could benefit from a change of scenery.<\/p>\n But what kind of price would a rival team be willing to pay for this diminished version of Morant, especially when you consider the baggage he carries away from the court? <\/p>\n According to both The Athletic\u2019s John Hollinger and fellow NBA insider Jake Fischer, it sounds like the Grizzlies are not just looking for expiring money in return for Morant.<\/p>\n Rather, Hollinger wrote<\/a> that Memphis \u201cseems intent on getting something positive out of this\u201d, reporting the deal may involve a combination of useful players.<\/p>\n Fischer, meanwhile, wrote<\/a> that he has been told Memphis is \u201cprioritising the acquisition of young player as well as draft capital\u201d in any potential Morant trade.<\/p>\n In saying that, it sounds like the Grizzlies are realistic about the fact there won\u2019t be a groundbreaking trade that is just going to land at their doorstep out of nowhere.<\/p>\n To that point, Fischer reported that one Western Conference strategist told him \u201cthere\u2019s not really an obvious spot\u201d for Morant. <\/p>\n Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant. (AP Photo\/Brandon Dill)Source: AP<\/p>\n He poured cold water on the idea that the point guard-needy Timberwolves could come knocking, with Minnesota instead expected to target \u201cmid-tiered salary options\u201d. <\/p>\n The Kings, who have proven in previous years with the De\u2019Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton trades that they aren\u2019t afraid to make bold moves, aren\u2019t expected to show interest either.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania said on Wednesday that he understands Sacramento is among a series of teams with a \u201clevel of interest\u201d in Morant that includes the Miami Heat.<\/p>\n Fischer also mentioned Miami as one team to keep an eye on and it would make sense given it has the right kind of culture that could bring the best out of Morant. Would Morant be worth taking the risk on, however, given his off-court discretions and the threat that kind of behaviour could be to that Heat culture?<\/p>\n It is also an awkward fit given the unorthodox offence Miami is running this season with a historically low rate of pick-and-rolls.<\/p>\n Either way, Morant remains a name to monitor even if his potential landing spot seems a mystery at this point.<\/p>\n Could star teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. also be on the trade block?<\/p>\n Fischer reported<\/a> that rival front offices are preparing to inquire about the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year\u2019s availability, adding that \u201cnumerous rival executives have been whispering about Jackson all season\u201d.<\/p>\n Yahoo Sports\u2019 Kelly Iko, meanwhile, reported on Tuesday after speaking with rival executives that there is a \u201cgrowing thought that Jackson could be the next domino to fall\u201d if a Morant trade eventuates.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Tim MacMahon seemed to suggest a potential Jackson trade would be more of a product of the two-time All-Star not wanting to stick around for a rebuild, given trading Morant would likely point the Grizzlies in that direction. <\/p>\n \u201cTheir actions are telling you that they\u2019re determined to rebuild the Grizzlies, I would say, around Jaren Jackson Jr.,\u201d MacMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of discussion around the league wondering if that is mutual.\u201d<\/p>\n The Grizzlies signed Jackson to a five\u2011year, $240\u202fmillion ($A358m) contract extension this past summer.<\/p>\n Jaren Jackson Jr. Justin Ford\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n LAMELO BALL<\/p>\n Unlike Morant and Young, there has not been nearly as much concrete reporting on any potential Ball trades. <\/p>\n The subject of a potential Ball trade first entered the national conversation when Yahoo Sports reported<\/a> that the Hornets front office was disillusioned with the 24-year-old and was open to trading him. <\/p>\n The report also claimed Ball had \u201cgrown increasingly frustrated\u201d with the franchise and was also open to a fresh start elsewhere.<\/p>\n Ball, however, emphatically shot down those rumours when speaking to journalists before practice in late November.<\/p>\n \u201c(The reporter) never heard that come from me, so the source is not from me. So it\u2019s false info,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI gotta let him know. I really don\u2019t like commenting back on stuff, but when it gets too big, you (have) got to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n Further supporting Ball\u2019s claim at the time was a report from Fischer<\/a> in response to the Yahoo Sports article in which one source warned him it would be \u201cpremature\u201d to go too deep into potential trades for the 24-year-old, while another source said that while a Ball trade may eventuate in the future the Hornets were \u201cnot there yet\u201d.<\/p>\n Lamelo Ball. Joshua Gateley\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n Still, Fischer added that rival teams had started \u201ctracking and whispering\u201d about a potential Ball trade even before that Yahoo Sports article came out and at the moment it still seems like that may be the case.<\/p>\n There has been nothing to suggest either Ball or the Hornets are any closer to considering a trade, and it is not like they are as incentivised as the Hawks or Grizzlies. <\/p>\n There is not the same financial urgency to free up cap space and in the case of Morant, there aren\u2019t the off-court dramas. <\/p>\n There may be some questions as to whether the Hornets should build their offensive identity around impressive rookie Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller, but if they did that they would need to add a pass-first point guard anyway so it makes more sense to just try let it ride out with Ball at the moment and see how all the pieces come together before re-evaluating. <\/p>\n If it doesn\u2019t work out, the Hornets may find a more robust trade market in the off-season anyway when teams have more flexibility to make a move for a player of Ball\u2019s calibre.<\/p>\n Could the Hornets go in another direction? Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n ANTHONY DAVIS <\/p>\n This one seemed to be dead in the water. Seemed. But now, it appears a Davis trade is back on the table<\/a>.<\/p>\n When the Atlanta Hawks traded Trae Young, the general consensus seemed to be that a move for Davis would soon follow after taking on CJ McCollum\u2019s expiring contract. <\/p>\n The Hawks may still look to upgrade their frontcourt before the deadline, but any potential trade for Davis appeared to be off after news he had suffered ligament damage to his left hand that could require surgery.<\/p>\n It was widely assumed Davis would miss the rest of the season if that ended up being the case, but NBA insider Marc Stein has since reported the Mavericks big man could still return in March even if that was to be the case.<\/p>\n The possibility of a postseason return has renewed trade talks for Davis according to ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania, who later reported Davis will avoid surgery and be re-evaluated in six weeks.<\/p>\n Still, the major question for any team that would even consider trading for Davis, put his injury concerns aside, is the amount of money they are taking on and the lucrative extension he is soon eligible for. <\/p>\n As it stands, Davis is already due to be paid $58.5 million next season and has a $62.8 million player option in 2027\/28. Meanwhile, he is eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension in August and it has long been reported that Davis would be keen to be traded to a team that wants to extend him.<\/p>\n The Mavericks may be stuck with Anthony Davis. (Photo by Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Even if a healthy Davis could give a contending team a boost in the playoffs, there is obviously no guarantee that he will be available given his injury history.<\/p>\n That should also have teams cautious to give him a massive extension, especially in the NBA\u2019s new second-apron era which could quickly see his contract become an albatross if things go south.<\/p>\n At this stage, it still looks more likely he will be on Dallas\u2019 roster after the deadline, meaning attention has also turned to how else the Mavericks could look to move its win-now assets for future capital. <\/p>\n \u201cThe finances are a mess… they\u2019re going to have to figure out other ways to rectify that,\u201d Stein said on DLLS Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you trade Daniel Gafford for an expiring somewhere to create some financial relief? We don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen in the off-season when P.J. Washington becomes trade eligible. But in the short-term, this team has to lose… this isn\u2019t comforting either… the Mavs now have to rely on lottery luck.\u201d<\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, Stein said that even though Atlanta was the \u201cmost serious and interested suitor\u201d, he did not think the trade talks with Atlanta got as far as including former first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher in the deal. <\/p>\n LAURI MARKKANEN<\/p>\n Outside of Antetokounmpo, Markkanen is the biggest fish that could be available via trade but it sounds highly unlikely that the Jazz will be moving off the All-Star forward.<\/p>\n The Jazz are incentivised to tank this season given their first-round pick is top-eight protected. Otherwise, it will go to Oklahoma City. <\/p>\n But if Utah truly believes in Markkanen as a cornerstone piece, it may make more sense to use its cap space this upcoming summer to build around him and its already young core of Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and Walker Kessler. <\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Tim MacMahon wrote last week<\/a> that while a Markkanen trade is \u201cnot impossible\u201d, the asking price remains \u201cextremely high\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMarkkanen, 28, continues to be a major part of future plans for the Jazz, who hope to make a jump to playoff contention next season,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n In other words, unless the Jazz receive an absolute haul it sounds like there won\u2019t be a trade.<\/p>\n Lauri Markkanen. (Photo by Maddie Meyer\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n NEW ORLEANS PELICANS<\/p>\n The Pelicans traded away the rights to their first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to move up and select Derik Queen in last year\u2019s draft, so there is no reason for them to tank. <\/p>\n At the same time, they are so far off competing that it wouldn\u2019t make sense to go all-in or make any major trades to improve their roster.<\/p>\n They aren\u2019t necessarily going to sellers either. In fact, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported earlier in the month that the Pelicans have told teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears will remain with them beyond the deadline.<\/p>\n Now, that could just be posturing to try to drive up prices although it is hard to imagine either of their impressive rookies in Queen or Fears would be available.<\/p>\n Williamson, meanwhile, isn\u2019t likely to attract the kind of offer the Pelicans would be after considering what Young went for.<\/p>\n Realistically, Murphy and Jones are the likeliest candidates to be moved by the deadline but both \u2014 and Murphy in particular \u2014 would come with a pretty hefty price that the Pelicans won\u2019t budge on.<\/p>\n To that effect, ClutchPoints\u2019 Brett Siegel reported<\/a> that there are \u201cseveral teams\u201d interesting in both but that league executives have suggested the asking price is around two first-round picks for Jones and three first-rounders for Murphy, plus additional assets \u201cin the form of young talent\u201d.<\/p>\n Trey Murphy III is a man in demand. Scott Taetsch\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n LOS ANGELES LAKERS <\/p>\n Speaking of Jones, he is the exact kind of player the Lakers need to be targeting.<\/p>\n This is a team that has plenty of offensive firepower between Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reeves. But they are in desperate need of athletic, defensive-minded wings, as has been the case since late last season.<\/p>\n Of course, those don\u2019t grow on trees and for a Lakers team that also ranks near the bottom of the league for 3-point percentage, 3-and-D wings in particular are a hot commodity in the modern NBA. <\/p>\n Jones will be the most expensive option on the market, while Sacramento\u2019s Keon Ellis has also been floated as an option given the Kings look like they will be sellers at the deadline. <\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, LeBron\u2019s longtime agent Rich Paul said on his podcast earlier in the month that he does not believe the Lakers \u2014 as currently constructed \u2014 are contenders.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying it in a negative connotation. What I\u2019m saying is, when you have the names like a LeBron and Luka. There\u2019s going to be a championship,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Paul and co-host Max Kellerman stressed this was his individual opinion and that the powerful agent was not acting as a mouthpiece for James, who has not been afraid to be vocal about the need for roster upgrades in the lead-up to previous trade deadlines.<\/p>\n But either way, the older James gets the more pressure there is on the Lakers to put themselves in a position to win now.<\/p>\n Interestingly, NBA insider Jake Fischer noted in the most recent post on the Stein Line Substack<\/a> that the Lakers have continued to monitor the situation with Jonathan Kuminga in Golden State. <\/p>\n He may not solve L.A.\u2019s problems right away, but Kuminga would be an intriguing reclamation project for the Lakers and a high upside swing at the right price.<\/p>\n The Lakers need help on defence. Chris Graythen\/Getty Images\/AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS <\/p>\n Touching on Kuminga, why not look at the Golden State Warriors next.<\/p>\n Steve Kerr has been reluctant to play Kuminga in lineups alongside Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green due to the awkward fit, and it has long been reported that they are expected to find a new home for him before the deadline.<\/p>\n Fischer reported that the Kings are one suitor for Kuminga, while The Athletic\u2019s Sam Amick<\/a> described them as \u201cthe leader\u201d in talks for the Golden State forward.<\/p>\n But Fischer reported that the Warriors are said to be hesitant to take on Malik Monk\u2019s outgoing salary which would be central to any deal transpiring.<\/p>\n Amick, meanwhile, more broadly reported that the Warriors have \u201cshown no interest in the Kings\u2019 many available veterans\u201d. <\/p>\n In other words, a third team would be needed to get it done.<\/p>\n Chicago seems like the next likeliest team to trade for Kuminga, purely on the basis that this is still a roster in flux and a potential Coby White trade could open the door for the Bulls to take a swing elsewhere.<\/p>\n The Suns previously had interest in Kuminga but Fischer reported that was no longer the case, while a rebuilding team like Washington doesn\u2019t seem likely either after trading for Young. <\/p>\n Dallas had also been mentioned as a potential Kuminga suitor, but that largely hinged on Golden State landing Davis and after his injury that is likely no longer in play.<\/p>\n NBA Wrap: Edwards makes scoring history | 02:11<\/p>\n Looking at the Warriors more broadly, as long as Steph Curry is healthy this is always a roster capable of going on a similar run to the one that saw them surge up the Western Conference standings late last season. <\/p>\n The Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler on that occasion, but Amick reported that Golden State is \u201cstaunchly against\u201d trading him or Draymond Green, which severely limits its ability to make a major move this time around.<\/p>\n Michael Porter Jr. has been a popular name floated in potential Warriors trades online and he would make plenty of sense for a Warriors team that could do with a floor-spacing wing who is also capable of finishing at the rim.<\/p>\n For what it\u2019s worth, The Athletic\u2019s John Hollinger also reported<\/a> earlier in the week that \u201cone trusted league source\u201d believes Porter Jr. is a \u201clock\u201d to be moved before the deadline.<\/p>\n Porter Jr. is on a $38 million salary so the Warriors wouldn\u2019t need to send out Green, but someone like Moses Moody would likely need to be included in any potential deal.<\/p>\n Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)Source: AP<\/p>\n MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES<\/p>\n This is an easy one. <\/p>\n The Timberwolves could certainly do with an upgrade at point guard and while they don\u2019t need to take a massive swing, the Bulls could provide Minnesota with the perfect solution.<\/p>\n Coby White has already been linked to the Timberwolves, although there has been mixed reporting as to how interested Minnesota is.<\/p>\n But even if they don\u2019t trade for White, there are two other guards on Chicago\u2019s roster in Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones who would offer Minnesota a cheaper and yet still effective alternative.<\/p>\n Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported<\/a> last week that the Bulls and Timberwolves \u201cengaged in serious discussions\u201d for White in early December.<\/p>\n While he went on to add that those talks \u201ccooled for a bit\u201d after White said he was planning to explore free agency, \u201cthey haven\u2019t gone away\u201d.<\/p>\n Cowley also went on to single out Dosunmu and Jones as potential targets for the Timberwolves.<\/p>\n As for whether Minnesota could go shopping for a superstar, Fischer reported<\/a> that the Timberwolves are \u201cnot in the market for a high-salaried playmaker\u201d like Memphis\u2019 Morant.<\/p>\n Instead, he wrote that the Timberwolves are more likely to trade for a \u201cmid-tier salaried options\u201d and with that in mind, Jones and his three-year, $24 million contract makes sense.<\/p>\n Giddey limps off with hamstring scare | 00:18<\/p>\n DETROIT PISTONS<\/p>\n The Pistons are an interesting team to follow ahead of the deadline because it is shades of the 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n This is a young roster that is ahead of schedule and ready to compete for a championship now, but could benefit from taking a more patient approach to see how they fare in a deep playoff run before considering any major moves in the off-season. <\/p>\n For Oklahoma City, standing pat at the deadline paid off as it illuminated the need to trade Josh Giddey for a 3-and-D wing in Alex Caruso after the Australian\u2019s shooting and defensive deficiencies were exposed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n They also saw the need to bolster their frontcourt to ease the pressure on Chet Holmgren by signing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency.<\/p>\n As for the Pistons, they could clearly do with a secondary ballhandler and they don\u2019t need another playoffs series to realise that after their over-reliance on Cade Cunningham was exposed in last year\u2019s post-season loss to the Knicks. <\/p>\n More specifically, however, this season has also highlighted Detroit is in need of 3-point shooting.<\/p>\n So, are there any particularly lethal outside shooting options on the market?<\/p>\n Again, Porter Jr. is one name that comes to mind. He seems like the biggest name that the Pistons could target, although if Jackson Jr. is truly available from Memphis maybe Detroit could go big-game hunting given his poor rebounding could be offset by Jalen Duren.<\/p>\n The contract would obviously be the biggest stumbling block and while it would raise Detroit\u2019s ceiling, it would also severely limit roster flexibility and depth.<\/p>\n Malik Monk\u2019s playing time had been cut before Denis Schroder\u2019s suspension opened the door for him to see more minutes, but he could also be a target for the Pistons.<\/p>\n Raptors win OT thriller against 76ers | 03:04<\/p>\n SACRAMENTO KINGS<\/p>\n One of the teams that could really blow it up before the deadline. <\/p>\n Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk could all be on the move, while the much cheaper Keon Ellis is expected to attract even more attention.<\/p>\n Fischer reported a few months ago<\/a> that the Kings were already \u201copen for business\u201d and at that point claimed that \u201cmore than half the league\u201d had inquired about Ellis. <\/p>\n As for Sacramento\u2019s more expensive veterans, Fischer noted that there could be some interest in LaVine if he was willing to \u201cbypass his $48.9 million player player option for the 2026-27 season and replace it with a longer-term deal at a lower annual salary\u201d.<\/p>\n