Giannis Trade Talks Heat Up — Knicks, Bucks Alert

Teams around the league quietly began drawing up trade plans for Giannis Antetokounmpo after reports that he and his agent are again meeting with the Bucks to “contemplate his future,” sources told Shams Charania. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst added that other clubs “immediately scheduled meetings” to discuss possible offers. Doc Rivers still insists — “for the 50th time” — Giannis hasn’t asked for a trade, but with Milwaukee 10-13 and limited roster flexibility, these talks matter: they could reshape the title picture before the Feb. 5 deadline. Merlin sees a franchise at a crossroads. Jon Horst burned flexibility chasing help already, so the Bucks must either extract maximum value or accept a painful reset. If Giannis prioritizes rings, staying looks shaky; if talks stall, expect more noise. The next few weeks will spell whether this becomes a quiet reconciliation or a seismic trade.