Two shorthanded Pacific Division teams clash tonight at Mortgage Matchup Center as the Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors.

Both teams will be without key players, but the Suns’ deeper roster gives them the advantage at home, and my Warriors vs Suns predictions expect Phoenix to cover the spread as the home favorite.

Here are my best free NBA picks for this divisional showdown on Thursday, February 5.

Warriors vs Suns prediction

Warriors vs Suns best bet: Suns -6.5 (-110)

The Golden State Warriors will be without Stephen Curry yet again, and the Warriors’ roster is utterly gutted for tonight’s matchup with the Phoenix Suns.

Curry and Jimmy Butler are sidelined. Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga were traded to Atlanta, and Trayce Jackson-Davis was dealt to Toronto.

The Suns sport the NBA’s best home against-the-spread record at 17-7, and they’ve covered in nine of 14 as the home favorite. The Warriors are 10-15 ATS as the road team and 5-5 as the road dog. Golden State is just 2-5 ATS across its last seven.

The Suns will be missing Devin Booker and potentially Jalen Green, but Phoenix’s roster is far deeper, and it has home-court advantage. Strong performances from role players will provide the winning formula for Phoenix. Give me the Suns and the points.

Warriors vs Suns same-game parlay

The Suns have hit the Under at home more than any other team in the Association, doing so in 17 of 24 games. The Warriors have hit the Under in six of 10 as the road underdog, and Golden State will have a tough time putting up points with a depleted roster.

Even if Green is available, he’ll be playing at less than 100%, and Collin Gillespie should see plenty of run as he fills in for Booker. 

Over his last 10, Gillespie has averaged 24.7 PRA, and I expect him to ride the momentum from his career-high 30-point performance.

Warriors vs Suns SGP

• Suns -6.5
• Under 216.5
• Collin Gillespie Over 24.5 points+rebounds+assists

Our “from downtown” SGP: Melton Steps Up

Someone’s got to score for the Warriors, and I’m taking a swing on De’Anthony Melton being that guy. Over his last 12, Melton has averaged 15.3 points and gone for 16+ six times.

Warriors vs Suns SGP

• Suns -6.5
• Under 216.5
• Collin Gillespie Over 24.5 points+rebounds+assists
• De’Anthony Melton Over 16.5 points

Warriors vs Suns odds

• Spread: Warriors +6.5 (-110) | Suns -6.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Warriors +210 | Suns -260
• Over/Under: Over 233.5 (-110) | Under 233.5 (-110)

Warriors vs Suns betting trend to know

The Phoenix Suns have covered the Spread in 31 of their last 45 games (+15.60 Units / 32% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Suns.

How to watch Warriors vs Suns

Warriors vs Suns latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here

Several former Indiana high school boys basketball players were on the move this week with the impending NBA trade deadline on Thursday afternoon.

Few states do a better job of sending talent to the professional ranks than Indiana, so it’s not surprising that so many players found themselves on new teams. It became a bit of a running joke as Thursday wore on, with more and more talent from the Hoosier State popping up in trade news.

Here’s who was moved:

Eric Gordon, North Central High School – Indianapolis

• From Philadelphia 76ers to Memphis Grizzlies
• Gordon, who’s been in the NBA since 2008, starred at Indiana for one season under head coach Kelvin Sampson. It’ll be interesting to see where his career goes from here as one of the oldest active players in the league.

Mike Conley Jr., Lawrence North High School – Indianapolis

• From Minnesota Timberwolves to Charlotte Hornets (waived)
• Conley starred at Lawrence North alongside Greg Oden before the two took their talents to Ohio State and Thad Matta. Like Gordon, it’ll be interesting to see where Conley goes from here after being waived by the Hornets.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Park Tudor/La Lumiere – Indianapolis/La Porte

• From Memphis Grizzlies to Utah Jazz
• Jackson Jr. was sent to the Jazz as the Grizzlies undergo what looks to be a franchise rebuild. With plenty of younger stars in Utah, it’ll be interesting to see how Jackson fits into that mix.

Jaden Ivey, Marian High School/La Lumiere – Mishawaka/La Porte

• From Detroit Pistons to Memphis Grizzlies
• Ivey spent two seasons starring at Purdue and developing before being selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. He’ll look for a fresh start in Chicago as he looks to fit into a rotation that figures to feature plenty of talent in the backcourt.

Trayce Jackson Davis, Center Grove High School – Greenwood

• From Golden State Warriors to Toronto Raptors
• Jackson-Davis spent four seasons starring at Indiana before being selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He was a rotational piece with Golden State and battled for minutes in the frontcourt, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of chance he’ll be given with the Raptors.

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The NBA trading deadline has come and gone, so now it’s all about sorting through the implications of what it all means.

To be clear: this was a peculiar deadline, one that perhaps lacked the massive, where-were-you-when deal like last year’s Luka Dončić trade. But it was marked by the looming presence of the potential availability of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time Most Valuable Player, who ultimately remained with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Paired with Ja Morant remaining on the Memphis Grizzlies, this perhaps is setting the stage for what could be a very busy summer.

Here are the winners and losers from the 2026 NBA trading deadline:

WINNERS

Milwaukee Bucks

Overwhelmingly, the Bucks are the biggest winners here, and it’s because they didn’t give in to external pressure and they exercised patience. This isn’t to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t eventually be traded. That may still come in the summer. But it became clear early on that Milwaukee had no obligation to trade Antetokounmpo before the deadline, especially because suitors will have more draft capital and financial flexibility to improve their offers during the summer.

But there’s still a pathway for the Bucks to convince Antetokounmpo to stay. His public comments have been nothing but positive about the Milwaukee community and he has expressed a desire to win in the city. These are all signs that Antetokounmpo’s loyalty may win the day and get him to commit to the long-term future of the franchise. Now, the Bucks have work to do.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The rich(est) got richer. Not only did Thunder general manager Sam Presti pull off a sneaky-good deal to get guard Jared McCain, who was looking like the clear Rookie of the Year last season before injuries derailed his season, but they likely got some good news in this year’s draft lottery, too. Oklahoma City still owns the 2026 first-round selection that belonged to the Clippers from the 2019 trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles for a package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Fast forward to Thursday, where the Clippers traded two of their best three players, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and the Clippers could reverse their recent solid play and may tumble down the standings. All of which could lead to a lottery pick for the Thunder.

How the Grizzlies handled Ja Morant’s value

Reading the tea leaves here, Ja Morant probably won’t be on the Grizzlies at the start of next season. Yet, credit Memphis for not caving in and forcing a deal when his value and market were entirely depressed.

The Grizzlies are rebuilding, so Morant and the $126.5 million he’s owed over the next three seasons don’t align. But suitors were wary about packaging assets for a player who has been injury prone, has seen his efficiency and production diminish and who has had off-court concerns.

Morant is once again sidelined with an elbow ligament issue, but when he returned from a calf injury for two games in the middle of January, he combined for 47 points on 50% shooting, adding 25 assists.

If Morant can return to form once he returns from that injury, it should increase his value, leading to a higher return when the Grizzlies ultimately decide to move on in the summer.

Boston Celtics

Quietly, the Celtics addressed their biggest need and shaved some salary in the process. Since Boston traded Kristaps Porziņģis and lost Al Horford in free agency, it has been looking for a reliable center who can stretch the floor. The Celtics leveraged backup guard Anfernee Simons’ recent hot play to land former Bulls center Nikola Vučević, who fits in perfectly with Boston’s high-volume perimeter shooting offense.

This comes as a huge relief for Jaylen Brown. And, with the Celtics (33-18) exceeding expectations, a potential Jayson Tatum return late in the season could make Boston an intriguing team to watch in the playoffs.

Charlotte Hornets

The hottest team in the NBA added more shooting and scoring in the form of Coby White from the Bulls on a relatively affordable deal, especially since White is already an upgrade from Collin Sexton.

There is a bit of risk here, as White is on an expiring deal, so Charlotte would be best suited to extend him. But since White is from North Carolina, and since he played at UNC, he may be inclined to stay close to home. He’s only 25, can play off the ball and should have plenty of chances to find a sustainable role.

LOSERS

Miami Heat

No team had more riding on Antetokounmpo and no team lost more than the Heat. Miami was the lone team in the Eastern Conference (and one of only three in the entire NBA) to fail to make a single trade before the deadline. Whether it was Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard or a number of others, the Heat have been constantly linked to another white whale.

Yet, time and time again, this front office has failed to sell high on its assets and has therefore failed to stockpile the draft picks necessary to execute a trade for  stars like these. Case in point: rather than flipping players like Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins or Terry Rozier for picks, Miami is plodding forward under the assumption it can compete in the East with this roster. It cannot.

Golden State Warriors

Similarly, the Warriors were in on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, only to be left to pivot. Golden State’s reported offer was heavy in draft capital, but the Warriors lacked young players to send Milwaukee’s way.

So, the team had to acknowledge an organizational failure to develop Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 draft, and settle for Kristaps Porziņģis. In a vacuum, Porziņģis is a seamless fit. Perhaps more than any big in the NBA, he can stretch the floor with extensive range and the Warriors have had a massive void at center.

But can Porziņģis stay on the floor? He has been battling an autonomic nervous system condition and simply cannot be counted on as a regular presence in the lineup.

Kawhi Leonard

Just when the Clippers started to turn their season around, Los Angeles pivoted and retooled for the future. The Ivica Zubac trade may actually be quite fruitful for the Clippers, but it doesn’t do much for Leonard, who suddenly becomes the lone star on the team.

Darius Garland is a younger player, but he has been injury-prone, so he may not provide immediate help. Leonard, meanwhile, is entering the final season of his contract next season, so he could potentially be a trade candidate over the summer, right as he’s set to turn 35.

Chicago Bulls

They had lost five of their last six games and were likely looking at a slide the rest of the regular season, but the Bulls continue to make confounding moves. For one, the team made several moves to acquire guards and now has seven on the roster, with six of them having strong arguments to get burn in the rotation. Simply put: there’s not enough minutes to be had for so many guards.

The byproduct is that their depth at center is abysmal, with newly-acquired Nick Richards in line to replace Nikola Vučević. On top of it all, the Bulls failed to sell high on guards like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu when their value was better than it was in this cycle.

Sacramento Kings

Not only was Sacramento unable to move some of its overpriced veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, and not only were the Kings unable to flip Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk for future assets, but they made a confusing trade for De’Andre Hunter. This is not an indictment on Hunter; he’s a solid wing, albeit one who’s probably overpriced.

Sacramento likely felt it needed to get a return on Keon Ellis, a solid guard who can knock down shots and defend with persistence. Ellis, for what it’s worth, was a player several contenders were eyeing. Which, as a quick aside, it’s usually a bad sign when savvy teams are targeting players that a franchise is devaluing.

What the Kings need to do is raze this build to the ground and stockpile as many assets as they can — not bring on more veterans, especially not ones who are modest upgrades, if they’re upgrades at all.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade deadline winners and losers

The Cleveland Cavaliers drastically shook up the core of what was a 64-win team last season. They sent out former All-Star Darius Garland for James Harden in hopes of raising their playoff floor and ceiling.

There’s pressure to win now. That’s what happens when you have a group that has been so successful in the regular season but has failed to reach its goals in the playoffs.

Donovan Mitchell feels that pressure as well. He’s never gotten out of the second round of the playoffs, which is noteworthy considering how good a player he’s been.

Any move that drastically alters the foundation of the team should be signed off on by Mitchell. He’s the one who’s going to be tasked with making it work on the court. By all accounts, the Harden for Garland trade has Mitchell’s approval.

Koby Altman, Cavs president of basketball operations, wanted to make clear that even though this is a trade that has Mitchell’s blessing, it wasn’t motivated by any pressure Mitchell put on the organization.

“The great news is Donovan’s all in on Cleveland,” Altman said on Thursday afternoon.

“He’s bought in pre-trade, coming into the season, all of it. He’s laying down roots here. He loves the city. He loves what we’re doing as an organization. I think, of course, you want feedback from your best player, but that’s not Donovan’s job. Donovan’s job is not to run into my office and tell me to go get this player or make this move. Do we want his input? Absolutely. Just like I want my head coach’s input, just like I want my staff’s input.”

One of the things this trade crystallized was the fact that the Cavs are completely on Mitchell’s timeline, and rightfully so. As enticing as it is to try to play the long game on two separate timelines, that doesn’t work unless you’re the Gregg Popovich San Antonio Spurs.

Mitchell is a top-10 player right now. There’s no guarantee either Mobley or Garland will ever be at that level. Not maximizing the window you have with the second most talented player in team history would be inexcusable.

From that perspective, every move that the Cavs make is about Mitchell. The fact that his current contract could run out at the end of next season provides a sense of urgency. Mitchell has made it clear that he loves this city and that he also wants to compete for championships. It’s on the Cavs to make sure that the second part remains true.

That said, this trade wasn’t Mitchell’s decision to make. The Cavs executed this deal because they believe it helps them win a championship. In this instance, Mitchell and the team’s best interests lined up.

“A lot goes into decision-making and evaluation, and there’s future outlooks that we wouldn’t even talk to Donovan about from a financial implication standpoint,” Altman said. “All of this goes into your process when you have to make a decision like this. It’s not fair to label Donovan as the one that was driving this or forcing our hand or anything like that. Donovan’s been an incredible partner. Austin Brown, his representation, they’ve been incredible.

“I think they’re happy. I think he’s happy about what we did, but certainly not the driving force behind it, and it’s not fair to label him as such.”

The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, and some former Kentucky Wildcats are on the move.

In one case, two former Wildcats are now on the same team in the Windy City.

Nick Richards and Rob Dillingham were both traded to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. Richards was actually originally traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, but his time in Milwaukee was, let’s just say, brief after a third team was added to the deal, involving Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Chicago.

Richards averaged 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his third and final season at Kentucky in 2019-20, a season halted before Kentucky even took the floor at the SEC Tournament in Nashville due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After forgoing his senior season to enter the 2020 NBA Draft, he was drafted 42nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets. He played a little over four seasons with the Hornets before spending parts of the last two seasons in Phoenix with Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.

In addition, Rob Dillingham was traded to Chicago from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former Wildcat averaged 4.5 points as a rookie with the Timberwolves, a team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2025.

Dillingham was traded to the Timberwolves on draft night after being originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. He was the SEC Sixth Man of the Year in 2024, averaging 15.2 points and shooting 44.4% from 3-point range.

Here’s to hoping we get to see both Cats shine in Chicago.

The Bucks and Suns have expanded this to a three-team deal to include the Chicago Bulls: Ousmane Dieng to Milwaukee and Nick Richards to Chicago, sources said. https://t.co/aD5AgbZ9Df

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

Minnesota traded Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to Chicago for Dosunmu and Julian Phillips, sources said. https://t.co/bVhLA9Sb3f

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

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The 2026 NBA trade deadline has come and gone, with multiple former All-Stars changing uniforms. While the biggest star of them all — ]

Charlotte Hornets: B+

Key additions: Coby White, Tyus Jones

Key loss: Collin Sexton

The Hornets shuffled around some pieces and picked up White in the process. He’s going to need to be re-signed in the summer, but he represents a major upgrade for their bench. Overall, the Hornets took advantage of the market.

Chicago Bulls: B

Key additions: Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Jaden Ivey, a whole lot of second-round picks

Key losses: Coby White, Nikola Vučević, Ayo Dosunmu

Chicago has seemingly embraced tanking — a concept they should have embraced long ago. They’ve cornered the market on pending free-agent guards, and that’s a huge boost to their books as they enter the 2026 summer armed with money and flexibility. Now the question becomes: Do they understand how to utilize all of this, or will they squander it like usual? 

Cleveland Cavaliers: B-

Key additions: James Harden, Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder 

Key losses: Darius Garland, Lonzo Ball

The Cavs relinquished the best long-term player in the deal and opted for short-term success, which means there is now no place to hide. By acquiring 36-year-old James Harden and presumably paying him this summer, the Cavs are in it to win it — and soon. 

Dallas Mavericks: B+

Key addition: Khris Middleton

Key losses: Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell 

How did the Mavericks succeed in moving on from a player literally no team should have had interest in?! Dumping Davis clears their books and allows Cooper Flagg to take full control of the future. That’s not a bad few days.

Denver Nuggets: C

Key additions: None

Key loss: Hunter Tyson

The Nuggets are good when healthy, yet rarely are. That’s likely not something changed by a trade, especially if the injuries are tied to their primary core. For them to stay somewhat silent is not necessarily a bad thing. 

Detroit Pistons: B+

Key additions: Kevin Huerter, draft equity

Key loss: Jaden Ivey

Detroit added a floor-spacing element in Huerter, and even received a protected 2026 first-round pick swap from Minnesota in a deep draft. It did cost them a pretty penny, but seeing as Ivey never really got a chance in Detroit, this seemed inevitable. 

Golden State Warriors: B-

Key addition: Kristaps Porziņģis

Key loss: Jonathan Kuminga

Porziņģis is a free agent this summer, so there is some hope that he’ll re-sign with the organization and offer them a consistent floor-spacing presence throughout next season and perhaps beyond with Butler back in action. All in all, this deal is worth it if he stays healthy and is open to staying with the Warriors.

Houston Rockets: C

Key additions: None

Key losses: None

I was expecting the Rockets to make a play for a guard, but they didn’t. That’s odd given that Fred VanVleet is out for the year, and they’re playing well with a motivated Kevin Durant. But I would have liked to see them get more involved for late-season reinforcements.

Indiana Pacers: C-

Key addition: Ivica Zubac

Key loss: Bennedict Mathurin

Zubac is a tremendous player and a rock-solid fit with Tyrese Haliburton, but the idea of shipping out Mathurin, a 2026 first (with Nos. 1-4 and 10-30 protections) and a 2029 unprotected is extremely steep — too steep if you ask me. 

Los Angeles Clippers: A

Key additions: Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin

Key losses: James Harden, Ivica Zubac

The Clippers just acquired an All-Star-level point guard who is 10 years younger than their former one, and there’s just no way that isn’t a good, smart, long-term play, even at the potential cost of this season. Plus, getting out of the James Harden business is never really a bad thing. Furthermore, they took the Pacers to the cleaners in the Zubac trade. Great deadline for the Clippers.

Los Angeles Lakers: B

Key addition: Luke Kennard

Key loss: Gabe Vincent

Moving a non-needle-mover in Vincent for one of the league’s most pure shooters is a huge win for the Lakers, especially in regard to their second unit. Solid bit of business for Los Angeles here.

Memphis Grizzlies: A

Key additions: Picks

Key loss: Jaren Jackson Jr.

Surprised at this grade? You’ll understand my perspective if you read this. It’s rebuild time in Memphis and this was a good start.

Miami Heat: C

Key additions: None

Key losses: None 

The Heat stayed silent, likely saving their ammo for a summer run at Giannis Antetokounmpo. Who can blame them?

Milwaukee Bucks: C+

Key addition: Nick Richards

Key loss: Cole Anthony 

This is a big ol’ meh-burger, especially when you consider who from this team was rumored to be going. But, no Giannis trade gears up the Bucks for the summer.

Minnesota Timberwolves: B+

Key addition: Ayo Dosunmu

Key loss: Rob Dillingham 

The Wolves found a starting point guard! One who even defends! This is a rock-solid move by Minnesota, which will have to re-sign Dosunmu this summer. But given the theoretical fit with Anthony Edwards, the former Bull should be open to that idea. 

New Orleans Pelicans: C+

Key addition: Dalen Terry

Key loss: Joe Alvarado

The Pelicans got a couple of second-round picks for Alvarado, which is fine, albeit uninspiring. But at least they acknowledged they were going nowhere and acted accordingly. 

New York Knicks: B-

Key addition: Jose Alvarado

Key loss: Guerschon Yabusele

The Knicks made some small swaps, ultimately sending out Yabusele in one deal and getting back Jose Alvarado in another. Alvarado is such a Knicks player, it’s not even funny, so this is intriguing business by NY.

Oklahoma City Thunder: A+

Key addition: Jared McCain

Key losses: None

As usual, the Thunder played it smart. They took full advantage of the Sixers, who wished to get under the tax line and squeezed them for McCain, who is an excellent shooter. 

Orlando Magic: C

Key additions: None

Key loss: Tyus Jones

The Magic realized Tyus Jones wasn’t the upgrade they had hoped for and decided to sacrifice his presence in order to get under the luxury tax. It’s fine, although that does leave them short on guards.

Philadelphia 76ers: B-

Key additions: None

Key loss: Jared McCain 

I’m giving the Sixers a solid grade because they achieved what they hoped to achieve in getting under the tax, but do note it’s a pity grade. Losing talent like McCain, just to save a buck, has become a horrible trend in the league, and it only hurts the fan experience.

Phoenix Suns: C+

Key additions: None

Key losses: None

The Suns felt comfortable with their roster, which is understandable. They also didn’t have much to offer, so instead of digging into future assets, they stayed silent, which specifically for them is probably a keen move.

Portland Trail Blazers: B

Key addition: Vít Krejčí

Key loss: Duop Reath

Krejčí is highly underrated, and one heck of a dynamic shooter when he’s on. That’s a strong get for Portland, especially for a bench guy who can flip a game in the playoffs — if it makes it that far.

Sacramento Kings: C

Key addition: De’Andre Hunter

Key losses: Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder

As usual, the Kings are all over the place and their direction aimless. That didn’t change this deadline, and now the fan base has yet another headache regarding its team’s unclear plans for the future. 

San Antonio Spurs: C

Key addition: None

Key loss: None

The Spurs are ready to win now, so not making a big splash at the deadline is simply a weird move, which deserves some level of criticism. 

Toronto Raptors: C+

Key addition: None

Key loss: Ochai Agbaji

The Raptors saved money by getting under the luxury tax after moving Agbaji. Usually, financially motivated deals are boring, but since Agbaji hadn’t played well this season, this wasn’t a major loss.

Utah Jazz: B-

Key addition: Jaren Jackson Jr

Key losses: Mostly picks

Jackson is good, but flawed. He’s a big man who doesn’t rebound, and he turns into dust, Infinity War-style, when the postseason rolls around. Furthermore, he’s extremely costly. This was a steep price to pay for the two-time All-Star, so this move better work.

Washington Wizards: C

Key additions: Trae Young, Anthony Davis

Key losses: C.J. McCollum, Khris Middleton 

The Young acquisition was brilliant … the Davis trade, less so. Why relinquish assets for a guy who’s older, oft-injured, on the decline and enormously expensive? If anything, Dallas should have given up assets to get off that deal. 

During the last 48 hours leading up to the trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks increasingly signaled to rival teams their intentions to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and revisit discussions in the offseason, sources told Yahoo Sports. The franchise, despite fielding aggressive offers and canvassing the league for weeks, never truly felt any pressure to pull the trigger and part ways with Antetokounmpo now. 

All things being considered, deciding to kick the can down the road by a few months would buy both parties some much-needed time — in what has very evidently been an emotional rollercoaster.

Antetokounmpo recently gave interviews to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski, detailing the deep roots he has to the city and the only NBA franchise he’s ever known in his 13-year career. Public comments made this week by Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam also painted the picture of a relationship that isn’t ready to undergo divorce proceedings just yet. 

“I just don’t think they ever really wanted to trade him,” one executive said. “They were just forced to look into it.”

For what it’s worth, whenever the topic of Antetokounmpo’s future has come up in conversations with league officials, there are typically two schools of thought.

There’s one that suggests that the Bucks’ brass still believes their contention window isn’t fully closed yet and plans to offer Giannis a lucrative four-year, $275 million extension at the earliest window (in October). This line of thinking assumes that Milwaukee will try at least one more time to present a pathway to productivity, cobbling together its draft capital and whatever else it can to attempt to lure in legitimate help. (Good luck with that!)

Then, there’s the other line of thinking that realizes names like Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis don’t move the needle for Antetokounmpo, and neither does an incoming lottery pick; that sees the 20-29 Bucks, who sit two games outside of the play-in and project to have a few more barren weeks with Antetokounmpo still out with a right calf injury; and that wonders if the offers that may come in during the summer are less stellar than the ones that were previously on the table, given Antetokounmpo’s impending 2027 free agency — making him a Hall of Fame-worthy expiring contract at that time. 

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Regardless of where you stand, it’s hard to find fault with how Milwaukee is operating. The relationship between a front office and a generational talent can be a tricky one, especially as the years go by and an organization finds itself further and further away from the glory days of old. Give credit to the Bucks for at least making Giannis available, giving teams the opportunity to put real offers on the table and do their due diligence. If they felt there wasn’t a deal that was suitable for arguably the greatest Buck of all time, there’s no reason to jump the gun.

How Milwaukee operates within the confines of the market in the interim, especially prior to the All-Star break, could be pivotal. I’m no general manager, but if a player like Cam Thomas is available on the cheap — which he is, having been waived by Brooklyn as of Thursday afternoon — why not make the call? Nehm reported that Antetokounmpo plans to return to the floor once he’s cleared, not wanting to be shut down in hopes of improving the Bucks’ lottery potential. And that makes a ton of sense; Milwaukee’s offense has produced at an elite rate when Giannis has been present, scoring 121.7 points per 100 possessions, which would give them the No. 1 offense in the NBA, according to Cleaning the Glass. Thomas isn’t leading the efficiency march — he’s a few notches down below average in points per shot attempt — but at his best he’s a microwave scorer capable of carrying an offense in bunches. 

The Bucks also have the continued development of Ryan Rollins, a serious candidate for Most Improved Player. Rollins is averaging nearly 17 points and six assists per game, all while shooting over 40% from deep on high volume. He’s become a trusted source of creation, control and poise.

Milwaukee could trot out some funky in-game lineups featuring Rollins, Thomas and Kevin Porter Jr. in the backcourt, giving the Bucks a plethora of scoring options while maintaining defensive integrity with Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner. I’m not saying Thomas is the end-all, be-all to getting Giannis to commit to his long-term future, but it’s indicative of a proactive move to get the Bucks back in the thick of things, even if it’s via the play-in. This is essentially a gap year after all. 

And hey, what happens if maybe, just maybe, Milwaukee lands the No. 1 pick in June’s draft? Or the second overall? AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Petersen are NBA-ready right now and, according to Tankathon, the Bucks have a 23% chance of landing a top-four pick and a 5% chance of winning it all. If history tells us anything, there’s always a surprise on lottery night. Let’s imagine a world where Milwaukee lands one of these slots — does that make it easier to stomach a Giannis departure or could that be used as a facilitator for an aggressive upgrade? 

There are a plethora of possibilities that exist for both Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee today, after both parties decided it was best to stand pat at the deadline. We’ll see what that means for teams that have been circling the organization like vultures. But one of the league’s most heartwarming partnerships gets to keep the lights on a little while longer. 

A monthslong saga surrounding Jonathan Kuminga and his future finally came to an end Wednesday when the Golden State Warriors traded him to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a deal that landed the Warriors big man Kristaps Porziņģis. 

Kuminga, 23, spent four-plus seasons with Golden State after he played for the NBA G League Ignite and then was taken No. 7 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Consistency has been hard for Kuminga to find early in his NBA career. He’s had an especially up-and-down 2025-26 campaign that saw him temporarily ousted from the Warriors rotation and then request a trade.

Longtime Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN that Kuminga was “just a tough fit” dating back to when he came into the league.

“I think it was a tough situation for everybody, given how raw he was when he got here and given we were still playing for championships,” Kerr said, per Anthony Slater.

“He needed the runway to make more mistakes. He needed the experience of being in the NBA and understanding what it was about. For him, it was very tough not being allowed to make those mistakes. For us as a staff, it was tricky trying to develop him while we were trying to win. I think it’s as simple as that.

“Everybody liked him. I liked him. He’s a really good guy. Very personable. Well-liked in the locker room. Just a tough fit.”

[Get more Warriors news: Golden State team feed]

During his rookie season, Kuminga played a role in the Warriors’ journey to their fourth NBA title under Kerr. He even chipped in three 17-plus-point performances during the 2022 playoffs. 

Over the next four seasons, though, Kuminga didn’t unlock his potential. While he showed glimpses, he was criticized for his defensive lapses, and he wasn’t a mainstay in a starting five for a Warriors team desperately trying to add one more banner in the final years of Stephen Curry’s legendary career.

Before this season, Kuminga signed a two-year deal reportedly worth $48.5 million to return to the Warriors. He repaid Golden State with a strong start.

Across the first nine games, all of which Kuminga started, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point land.

But he struggled the next three outings and lost his spot in the starting lineup ahead of a Nov. 12 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Then Kuminga missed seven straight games because of a knee injury. When he returned, his dip in performance continued. Soon enough, he was relegated to the bench.

Jimmy Butler III’s ACL tear opened the door for Kuminga to play again, despite his recent trade request. Kuminga went for 20 points in 21 minutes during a loss to the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 20 and then, before suffering a bone bruise in his knee, had 10 points in nine minutes in a defeat to the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 22.

Unfortunately for Golden State, its pursuit of another championship has fallen short so far, and its short-term roster fixes in the twilight of Curry’s career sidelined the development of a player like Kuminga.

Fortunately for Kuminga, he’ll get a fresh start in Atlanta.