play2:39Do the Knicks need Giannis to win a ring?Monica McNutt and Vincent Goodwill debate whether trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo would make the Knicks strong enough to win a championship.
What are Bucks’ requirements to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo? (1:40)Bobby Marks joins “SportsCenter” to discuss what the Milwaukee Bucks need to make a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade possible. (1:40)
Do the Knicks need Giannis to win a ring?Monica McNutt and Vincent Goodwill debate whether trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo would make the Knicks strong enough to win a championship.
Monica McNutt and Vincent Goodwill debate whether trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo would make the Knicks strong enough to win a championship.
Teams are playing the waiting game, plus a player to watch
Warriors making ‘alternative plans’ if pursuit of Giannis fails
NBA trade deadline intel: Insiders on Giannis, plans for East contenders
How the Clippers — and Kawhi Leonard — turned around their season
‘Warriors Stock Report’: Potential deals for Giannis Antetokounmpo
‘Howdy Partners’: Will Kyrie Irving play in Dallas this season?
Houston has a center problem, but a trade isn’t easy
Windhorst: Warriors have the best package for Giannis
Sources: Giannis Antetokounmpo ready for Bucks trade amid offers
Sources: Cavaliers would be open to a LeBron reunion
Doc: Milwaukee is ‘rumor central’ amid deadline drama
Bulls could have intriguing approach to trade deadline
Could the Lakers made a deal ahead of their playoff push?
Guide to the trade deadline: What to know for all 30 teams
‘Hoop Collective’: Lakers’ options and the Bucks’ future
Why the 76ers must make a roster move before Monday’s game
Ripple effects from the Antetokounmpo, Morant injuries
Antetokounmpo expects to miss 4-6 weeks due to calf
One lesson for each NBA team two weeks before the trade deadline
‘Howdy Partners’: Do the Houston Rockets need help?
The Lakers need help on the perimeter — can they find it before Feb. 5?
‘Hoop Collective’: Is this the end for the Golden State Warriors?
Inside the Buss family’s $10 billion sale of the Lakers
What the Butler injury means for Kuminga and Golden State?
What now for Golden State after Jimmy Butler’s injury?
Trade deadline: 10 teams to monitor in the final 20 days
‘Hoop Collective’: What will the Warriors do with Kuminga?
‘Howdy Partners’: Is Wemby the best defensive player in the NBA?
30 teams and 28 players to watch with three weeks until the deadline
‘Hoop Collective’: Giannis’ uncertain future and AD’s trade market
‘Hoop Collective’: Reaction to the Trae Young trade
NBA intel: The league reacts to the Trae Young deal
Updates on Kyrie Irving’s return, plus AD trade destinations
Will the Trae Young trade set the stage for Atlanta to pursue Anthony Davis?
Young lists Washington as his preferred destination
Teams can sign players to 10-day contracts beginning today
Hoop Collective: Are the Celtics and 76ers contenders?
Dallas is feeling the pressure of the Luka trade in AD talks
Hoop Collective: Impact of Jokic’s injury and LeBron’s All-Star odds
Stock Report: Steve Kerr’s latest comments, offensive issues and potential trades
What are Cleveland’s options ahead of the deadline?
Hoop Collective: Does Atlanta need to make a move? And potential AD trades
Howdy Partners: Latest on the Spurs’ surge and AD’s future in Dallas
Hoop Collective: Are the Spurs officially contenders?
Can the Nuggets make a move to help deal with their injury issues?
Hoop Collective: How the NBA is approaching tanking and Boston’s potential this season
Bucks are looking to add ahead of the trade deadline
Hoop Collective: Can the Cavaliers turn around their season? And OKC stumbles
Hoop Collective: The first MVP straw poll of the season
Giannis says agent talk with Bucks out of his hands
Mitchell and Mobley the only ‘untouchables’ on the Cavaliers’ roster
Howdy Partners: Similarities between the Spurs and Rockets and Flagg’s historic performance
The Bulls front office has discussed the possibility of adding Anthony Davis
The NBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we have you covered on all the buzz around the league as the 2025-26 season heats up.
Trae Young’s move from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards on Jan. 7 kicked off trade season, but there should be more drama ahead of the deadline. Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the next star on the move, as he has informed the Milwaukee Bucks that he believes the moment has come to part ways after 12-plus years together, making a trade increasingly possible
What could happen in the days before the deadline? Will the Memphis Grizzlies move on from Ja Morant after they’ve started to entertain offers? Might there be a surprise deal (or two)?
Check back here for all the trade buzz, news and reactions from our ESPN NBA insiders, with the latest info at the top:
Quick links: Trade guide for all 30 teams Trade tracker | Grading every deal Trade machine | Depth charts More trade deadline coverage
The Atlanta Hawks are trading guard Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday.
The Hawks now have seven future second-rounders at their disposal, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The move allows them to create roster space if they decide to waive Reath as well.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The three-team deal also includes the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks, sources said.
Paul George’s 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy has on-court and financial ramifications for the Philadelphia 76ers. Because this is a suspension at the league level and not from the team, Philadelphia will receive a $5.8 million credit that applies toward salary counting against the luxury tax. The 50% credit is equal to the $11.7 million salary George will forfeit with the suspension. The 76ers are now a projected as $1.26 million above the luxury tax.
Prior to the suspension, star Joel Embiid was adamant that the 76ers should not make a cost-cutting trade to drop below the tax.
If the 76ers were to get under the luxury tax, they would receive nearly $14 million in luxury tax distribution from the NBA after the season. George will be moved from the active to suspended list after their game against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 7. With George on the suspended list, Philadelphia would then be allowed to sign a player. — Bobby Marks
As for other names to watch, look out for the Sacramento Kings’ Keon Ellis leading up to Thursday. Teams value not only what Ellis can bring defensively, but the upcoming free agent is eligible to be extended for up to three years, $52 million starting on Feb. 9.
One team to monitor is the Cleveland Cavaliers. While they are restricted from taking back more salary and aggregating contracts because of the second apron, Cleveland has De’Andre Hunter’s sizable $24 million salary to pursue trades. Jaylon Tyson’s emergence in Year 2 has made Hunter more expendable. Tyson is averaging 18.3 points per game in Cleveland’s past 10 games. — Bobby Marks
ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported on “NBA Today” that while Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy is “making a ton of calls” in his pursuit of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, he’s also “making alternative plans.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, appearing on “NBA Today,” discussed the market for Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline:
Porter, who scored 38 points Thursday night in his first game in Denver since the Nuggets traded him in the offseason, is having a career year in Brooklyn. But plenty of trade speculation has surrounded the 27-year-old Porter amid the Nets’ rebuild.
The Denver Nuggets have exceeded all reasonable expectations since Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury in late December, going 10-6 in games without the three-time MVP. And now they’re getting the big guy back: According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Jokic will return Friday against the LA Clippers.
Jokic’s return carries three main implications for the Nuggets — and the rest of the Western Conference.
Denver has played admirably in Jokic’s absence but is still a far more dominant team with him in the lineup: Jokic’s on/off differential this season is plus-16.1 points per 100 possessions, per Cleaning the Glass. Among players with at least 600 minutes, only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lauri Markkanen have higher marks.
Finally, Jokic’s timely return means he’s still eligible for postseason honors and awards. Jokic has missed 16 games this season, meaning he has one more absence to spare before becoming ineligible. Whether he’ll actually reach the 65-game minimum remains to be seen, especially because the Nuggets still have seven back-to-backs on their schedule. But at least for the moment, Jokic retains the chance to win his fourth MVP award and appear on his eighth consecutive All-NBA team. — Zach Kram
After speaking with league insiders throughout the week, Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst’s latest trip around the NBA features an East reset. What lies ahead for the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and other contenders? What are the cases for and against each as the true conference favorite? And how could those franchises — and the Milwaukee Bucks — attack Thursday’s trade deadline?
ESPN senior reporter Ramona Shelburne went deep on the Clippers’ 16-3 stretch, trying to figure out how LA became the NBA’s hottest team. The biggest reason? Kawhi Leonard’s massive uptick in perimeter shooting.
On Thursday’s edition of the “Warriors Stock Report” podcast, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Anthony Slater break down a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and how Jonathan Kuminga fits into the Golden State Warriors’ plans ahead of the deadline. They then cover the Warriors’ playoff outlook this season.
On Thursday’s edition of the “Howdy Partners” podcast, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright discuss where Giannis Antetokounmpo might end up, the recent game between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, as well as how the Dallas Mavericks might approach Anthony Davis’ injury and a potential return window for Kyrie Irving.