Giannis Trade Looming Knicks Heat Eye Three Team Deal

Merlin sees the league moving toward more multi-team deals as salary cap limits tighten ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Insider Jake Fischer reports "lots of front offices" expect "three- or four-team deals," with the Nets, Hornets and Jazz saying they will "help grease trades in exchange for draft capital." Many clubs are hard-capped at the first apron, and high-profile names like Giannis Antetokounmpo are suddenly in play as the Bucks "are starting to listen." Merlin notes that when doors close on straight one-for-one trades, clever teams build hallways through third parties. Teams with little cap room or few picks, like the Knicks and Heat, could use brokers to reroute salary and draft assets to land a star. Expect a flurry of creative swaps rather than simple trades.