As NBA trade season nears, the futures of Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo are in focus. Here's everything we're hearing.
Shams Charania's Inside Pass goes behind the scenes of the NBA to tackle the biggest news and storylines -- on and off the court. Before the calendar turns to 2026, the NBA 's 30 teams and their front office executives, coaches and players trek toward two important dates.
On Monday -- just six days away -- 82 players signed in the offseason will become trade-eligible, which means 90% of the league can be moved. Then, team officials will descend upon Orlando, Florida, for the G League Showcase from Dec. 19 to Dec. 22, serving as the NBA's version of MLB's winter meetings. "This is the unofficial start to having real, high-stakes conversations," one top team executive said this week. As franchises reach the 25-game mark, front offices have evaluated their rosters enough to determine if they're a contender and their needs in the trade market. All eyes across the NBA are on the, and his agent Alex Saratsis have opened discussions with the Bucks about the future and whether the best path forward is to stay in Milwaukee or a. The Bucks are 10-15, having lost 10 of their past 12 games, and have spent most of the past few weeks at No. 10 or No. 11 in the Eastern Conference. Should the Bucks' slide continue, sources said discussions between Antetokounmpo's representation and the franchise will escalate and lead to a resolution before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Bucks general manager Jon Horst built the title-winning team in 2021 and has creatively shaped a contending squad around Antetokounmpo for the past six years. It has been a gradual decline since 2021, however, as they lost in the East semifinals in 2022 and then have had three consecutive first-round exits. Over the summer, the Bucks made a massive commitment into a $108 million deal. The Bucks went all in -- again -- understanding that a gap season was not a valid sell to their franchise cornerstone, who has made it clear he wants to compete for his second championship. Horst, coach Doc Rivers and team ownership believed in the Bucks as a championship-contending roster entering the season, a vision Horst expressed during However, Antetokounmpo's concerns with the roster and his desire to explore external options -- he wanted to play for theif he were to be moved outside of Milwaukee -- led to talks between the Bucks and Knicks for a multiweek period in August. New York submitted offers, according to sources, but no traction was made, and both Milwaukee and Antetokounmpo moved forward. Trying to build a contender around Antetokounmpo has left the Bucks with just one first-round pick eligible to be traded -- either in 2031 or 2032, the next drafts they can control -- and zero second-round picks eligible to be dealt. Horst will undoubtedly survey the landscape for potential trades to see whether he can make a big move. The Bucks' largest tradeable contracts outside of Antetokounmpo and Turner are, 26, have been tremendous finds for the front office and the two players mentioned by rival teams with upside value, though Green is not eligible to be traded during the season. The Bucks could use either a 2031 or 2032 first-round pick in a trade, but they have been reluctant over the past year to mortgage more of their future assets unless it is for a difference-maker. Now, they might have to start over without their landmark star. "The writing is on the wall," one source with direct knowledge of the Bucks' dynamics with Antetokounmpo told ESPN this month. If the Bucks are open to discussing Antetokounmpo with teams, the Knicks will no longer have the exclusive negotiating window as his preferred destination, sources told ESPN. For now, the Bucks and Antetokounmpo will focus on his health and evaluate the team's performance through the remainder of December. They fell to theon the road after losing Antetokounmpo to the calf injury. Six of their remaining nine games this month are on the road. "I think it's a very pivotal time for us; it's sink or swim," Kuzma told reporters in Detroit on Saturday night. "We have to treat it like that." Antetokounmpo's contract status -- he's guaranteed through the 2026-27 season and has a player option for 2027-28 -- gives him significant sway in his future destination. Executives believe the NBA's new apron rules, combined with his maximum salary and supermax extension to come, make a trade difficult and would require him to show a desire to sign long term with the team that deals for him. That gives him a seat at the table for his future., sources said. Davis' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, has met with Mavericks interim co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, and requested clarity about whether the franchise wants to extend Davis in the offseason or trade him ahead of the deadline. Finley and Riccardi accepted the message and stated the franchise wants to keep its options open and view how the team plays for the next few weeks. They have not ruled out the possibility of an extension. The Pistons , Raptors and Hawks represent high-level threats in their conference and are having seasons that give hope that a player like Davis -- a 10-time All-Star who has spent his entire career in the Western Conference -- can elevate them into a viable championship-quality team. Davis, who turns 33 in March, will become eligible Aug. 6 to sign up to a four-year, $275 million max extension. The extension would pay him $76 million in his age-37 season. Without an extension, he can be a free agent in 2027 if he declines his $62.8 million player option that offseason.on a team coming off a run to the Finals. With Doncic gone and the franchise winning at a below-.500 clip, teams across the league know Thompson prefers to be part of a contender over the remaining two years of his three-year, $50 million deal. After a slow start to the season, the four-time champion is averaging 12.8 points per game on 39.5% 3-point shooting in his past 10 games while holding opponents to 38.5% shooting as their closest defender, which ranks 10th out of 120 guards to defend 50-plus shots since the stretch began.general manager Nico Harrison on Nov. 11. Dumont has relied on Finley, Riccardi, coach Jason Kidd and minority owner Mark Cuban in his front office corps, and has given Finley and Riccardi the power to lead conversations on the franchise's future. A GM search is still expected in the offseason, and Finley and Riccardi are expected to be candidates, sources said.in March, is out indefinitely. At 9-16, the Mavericks are out of the play-in picture, and the 2026 draft is the last one in their control until 2031, providing a pathway to retool the roster at the deadline, acquire future assets and similarly position the team next June as when it Teams are already preparing for conversations with the Mavericks at the deadline, and those talks could create significant decisions leaguewide.The Hawks have gone 12-8 without Young in the lineup, and they believe his fit with a rising core inThe Nets have $15 million in cap space and can create more, which has led to increased trade talks about using their room to absorb salary while receiving assets, sources said. The Nets, Pistons and are the only teams with significant room that can take in larger deals and not be impacted by the apron.' agents at Octagon to navigate his future, potentially via trade, as he plays the remainder of the season on the qualifying offer and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Thomas is averaging 21.4 points but hasn't played since Nov. 5 after injuring his hamstring.. Golden State wants to find upgrades on its roster, and Kuminga's $22.5 million salary could be used in bigger trade scenarios.It's now versus the future in L.A. Respected officials across the NBA believe the Clippers, who are 6-18 this season, must be open-minded aboutOne high-ranking executive floated this theory recently: Instead of trying to win every game to prevent Oklahoma City from receiving a top-five pick, could the Clippers make a trade to better position themselves for the next five years?are performing at a high level and are signed to tradeable contracts that would allow the Clippers to retool for the future. They could also hold firm and reshape the team around Harden and Leonard, as they will have cap space in the summer.The Kings and first-year general manager Scott Perry are using this season as a patient evaluation campaign, trying to build a gritty culture. They are open-minded about trade talks throughout the roster, sources said. Teams are monitoring veterans3 Waymo cars in 'standoff' cause traffic jam in San Francisco
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