Philly Front Office

The big news of the day is that the Bucks are officially fielding offers for Giannis. I feel bad for the deluded fans who thought everything was fine, but this is a marriage destined to end. I guess there is a chance they don’t go through with it, but we will know by February 5th one way or another. As a consolation to the Milwaukee faithful, rest assured that he will command a ridiculous ransom in the end. Let’s see who can and will offer the most…

[I kept the Thunder off the list because even though they can make a great offer for Giannis, it would shake up their team too much to pull the trigger]

8. Miami Heat

The Heat are in a bind because of some bad business. Two deadlines ago they sent Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first to Charlotte for Terry Rozier. Rozier is currently not playing due to his involvement with a federal gambling investigation. That pick though is what is doing the damage. If they had that pick, they could trade four 1sts for Giannis. That would be their own picks in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032. Because they don’t own that one though, they are limited to just 2029 and 31 with pick swaps in other years. That’s a killer. They would either need to get Charlotte in on a possible Giannis trade or be on the outside looking in. As for the money/player part, they would need those 4 picks plus Tyler Herro and Rozier’s corpse to make things work. As for the Hornets, would they take Kel’el Ware for the 1st? This one is a tough puzzle.

7. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers have a decision to make, and it will determine whether they are true players in these sweepstakes or not. To VJ or not to VJ, that is the question. Their baseline offer will be Paul George (salary matching), the 2028 Clippers 1st, plus 2030 and 2032 Sixers 1sts. That’s fine and all, enough for most stars, but then the Sixers will want to offer Jared McCain while the Bucks will insist on rookie stud VJ Edgecombe. VJ might get it done while McCain certainly will not. The Sixers can offer up their best and final right away, but it is up to Daryl and Josh Harris whether they are serious or not.

Sixers Trade Deadline History: Feel the Excitement!

6. New York Knicks

The Knicks have been the odds on favorite to land Giannis, but that seems to be more for name recognition rather than package they can put forward. Why? Because they don’t have any picks to trade straight up and they would like to trade Karl-Anthony Towns over anyone else on their roster. The salary math works out nicely, but is Towns plus Knicks pick swaps in 2028 (Brooklyn already has swap rights here), 2030, and 2032 better than any other offer on this list? No way. So, let’s be realistic. If the Knicks want Giannis they will likely need to part with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby plus those pick swaps. Their best hope is that the Bucks, in one final misguided choice to appease their leaving wife, sends him where he wants instead of doing what is best for themselves. Considering their track record, you can’t rule it out (and that’s why they get the edge on the Sixers).

5. Boston Celtics

Everyone ruled out the Celtics this year (me very included), but they just keep being the Celtics. Now thanks to always extracting value in every little way, they are positioned to make a big play for Giannis. No, they do not have to include Brown or Tatum. Instead, Anfernee Simons and Derrick White easily match salaries while they can also trade picks in 2026 or ’27 then in ’31 or ’32 while swapping what they don’t trade. That doesn’t seem like a ton, but White can probably be flipped for two 1sts himself. You add it up and it isn’t a crazy possibility.

4. Charlotte Hornets

If the Celtics are the Sleeper, then the Hornets are the comatose possibility. They are on a roll right now, but they could offer LaMelo Ball, plus up to SEVEN 1sts, AND someone like Brandon Miller or Kon Knueppel. Would they trade all of that? No way. But they could. If they could manage to make the deal with the picks plus Ball and without either young guy, they’d have to really think about it.

Sixers at the 2026 Trade Deadline

3. Atlanta Hawks

The Bucks are going to want Jalen Johnson, but that defeats the purpose of a trade. Luckily for the Hawks, they have the draft picks to still make a deal happen. The unprotected Pelicans pick will absolutely need to be in a deal considering it has a pretty good shot to go in the top 3 of a stacked draft. After that they have up to 4 more draft picks to send over including Cleveland’s this year, plus 2028, 2030, and 2032. They can also send the rights to the Bucks 2027 pick back to Milwaukee but that would change the years up a bit. To make the trade work financially, something like Kristaps Porzingis, Zac Risacher, and Luke Kennard would go back to Milwaukee.

2. Houston Rockets

I didn’t initially want to put the Rockets on this list because it would disrupt the team too much, but their record makes a trade very possible. They also have more assets than you would believe. Would the Bucks turn down Amen Thompson or Reed Sheppard, plus salary, plus the Brooklyn swap pick in 2027 or the Phoenix 2027 pick, plus a pick in the 2030s? The question is whether the Rockets want to pull out of their youth and go for it now when the Thunder are at the height of their powers.

1. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have been uniquely positioned to pull off a Giannis for years now. They have picks, youth, and the future of the NBA in their hands. As for a deal? Start with Dylan Harper or Stephen Castle then add Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson plus Harrison Barnes for salary purposes. As for picks, they have up to 4 to trade and all with interesting swap rights. The Spurs can beat any offer if they want to. As much as Wemby and Giannis is the most alien grouping possible, the Spurs might just want to build organically

All trade scenarios checked by FanSpo