The biggest domino of the upcoming NBA trade deadline is ready to topple according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. He broke the news that “two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen.” 

Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have danced around a trade request for months, but the dam finally burst. The Thunder actually deserves a small amount of credit for being the straw that broke the camel’s back. NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported that “multiple sources with knowledge of Milwaukee had indicated the Bucks’ loss to Oklahoma City last Wednesday, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s frustrations postgame, as a point of no return. 

The Bucks may wait until this summer to trade Antetokounmpo because it’s when suitors have the most salary cap flexibility. Milwaukee subsequently creates a larger bidding war, thus increasing its haul. Plus, selections in the 2026 NBA Draft are also a known commodity. 

However, Antetokounmpo is not eligible to sign a four-year supermax extension in October if he is not traded at the deadline, and he can become a free agent in the 2027 offseason by declining his player option. Suitors should therefore want to acquire Antetokounmpo at the deadline in order to ink him to the supermax extension. 

It remains to be seen whether the former Finals MVP will be dealt at the deadline or this offseason, but his days as a Buck are numbered. 

Oklahoma City is not in the mix for Antetokounmpo, yet almost the entire league will send offers for the 31-year-old superstar. Hopefully he stays in the East because the West is already a bloodbath. With that being said, here are the worst realistic landing spots from the Thunder’s perspective. 

Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama would form an incredible pairing. Both players are dynamic scorers inside the paint and capable of passing out of double teams. Wembanyama’s perimeter shooting prevents the offense from becoming cramped, and good luck scoring around the basket against this amount of length. It would be the best power forward and center duo since Tim Duncan and David Robinson terrorized the late 1990s. 

The Spurs can pull off the move without gutting its roster, as a trade package containing Dylan Harper, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson works financially. Perhaps Jeremy Sochan or Carter Bryant join the deal. San Antonio also has a surplus of first-round picks to add. 

If this framework is agreed upon, then the Spurs would have a starting lineup of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama. Even the 2017 Warriors may struggle to defeat this unit. 

Julian Champagnie and Luke Kornet are excellent reserves off the bench, and San Antonio can utilize Kelly Olynyk’s expiring contract along with its remaining draft capital to find a veteran point guard. 

Overall, acquiring Antetokounmpo immediately vaults the Spurs into championship favorites – yes, above the Thunder. But San Antonio must decide whether it's worth the considerable risk. Trading Harper and a bunch of first-round picks for a 31-year-old who relies on athleticism and has dealt with numerous injuries over the past few years can become a disastrous situation. Do the Spurs want to shove its chips into the pot when Wembanyama is only 22 years old? Sam Presti and the Thunder are definitely hoping that San Antonio takes the cautious, long-term approach. 

If Antetokounmpo moves to Portland, then Oklahoma City must face yet another significant threat in the West. This transaction is scarier and more realistic than Thunder fans probably realize. 

The Blazers can send Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle to match Antetokounmpo’s salary, while Yang Hansen is another potential sweetener. Portland also owns an unprotected first-round pick via Milwaukee in 2029 and unprotected swaps in 2028 and 2030 thanks to the Damian Lillard trade. Milwaukee assuredly wants those selections back and may be comfortable taking Henderson as the main young player in a deal rather than other superior options in order to secure its own future picks. 

Throw in a few more first-rounders via the Blazers, and Portland is able to offer an enticing package while maintaining a championship core. 

Antetokounmpo and Deni Avdija are elite downhill scorers with excellent passing chops. Donovan Clingan completes the frontcourt with superb rim protection and rebounding, and he’s up to 30% from deep this season on three attempts per game. Perhaps another offseason allows him to become a legitimate stretch five, thus making him an ideal fit next to Antetokounmpo. 

Shaedon Sharpe is an X Factor scorer who can drop 25 points on any given night, while Toumani Camara and Kris Murray provide defense and length. Now, Portland’s backcourt would be under the spotlight. Antetokounmpo’s former teammates Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard both turn 36 years old this summer, and Lillard is coming off a torn Achilles. However, they are still quality players when healthy, and the Blazers can flip Holiday’s contract into two or three veterans if needed. 

Portland has the assets to win the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes and becomes a dangerous title threat should it accomplish this feat. 

Will the Rockets actually pull the trigger on an Antetokounmpo trade? It seems doubtful because Kevin Durant or Alperen Sengun would likely need to be in the package to match salary. Otherwise, Houston must send Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and either Amen Thompson or Jabari Smith Jr. just to match salary. This guts the roster and completely strips Houston of its depth. 

It’s worth noting that Fred VanVleet’s contract cannot be used because he owns an implied no trade clause. There is virtually no chance that VanVleet voluntarily exiles himself to Milwaukee. 

Charania also reported that Adams will miss the rest of this season due to ankle surgery, which is a big blow to its center rotation. 

For argument’s sake, let’s say the Rockets trade Sengun, Finney-Smith, Capela and first-round picks for Antetokounmpo, Jericho Sims and Taurean Prince. 

The Rockets’ starting lineup would likely be Thompson, Josh Okogie, Smith Jr., Durant and Antetokounmpo with Sheppard, Aaron Holiday, Prince, Tari Eason and Capela coming off the bench. That’s a ton of length, defense and interior scoring. Perimeter shooting and ball handling remain significant weaknesses, though. 

Houston upgrades its ceiling, but the same weaknesses persist. The franchise would also be swapping a 23-year-old star center for a 31-year-old superstar power forward. Is this really the direction it wants to pursue when Thompson and Sheppard remain miles away from their primes? Overall, do not expect the Rockets to acquire Antetokounmpo, but it’s still a bad scenario for Oklahoma City’s current championship hopes.