Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Talks Ignite East

Several Eastern contenders are gearing up for different moves ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, and Cleveland appears particularly busy. An anonymous exec said, "Cleveland is active [in trade talks]." The Cavs, Celtics, Pistons and Sixers are all weighing options, with discussions around Kings guard Keon Ellis and Shams Charania reporting multiple teams have made "aggressive offers" for Giannis while the Bucks are "starting to listen." Merlin senses an open conference shaped by injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and the risk around Jayson Tatum. The Celtics may use Anfernee Simons as a chip but are unlikely to swing for Giannis. If Giannis lands in New York or Miami, the balance will shift; otherwise expect smaller tweaks that sort contenders from pretenders.