The trade deadline is rapidly approaching and one of the biggest names in the NBA \u2014 in stature, not just number of letters \u2014 is a near-certainty to be swapped.<\/p>\n
Last season, nobody knew Luka Don\u010di\u0107 was available<\/a> when the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the biggest heists in NBA history from the Dallas Mavericks. But this time around, everybody knows that Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlikely to suit up again for the Milwaukee Bucks.<\/p>\n Antetokounmpo is sidelined with a calf injury and won\u2019t be healthy until after the deadline. The Bucks are going nowhere fast and Giannis\u2019 frustration level is reaching the boiling point now that he has passed his 31st birthday.<\/p>\n Giannis isn\u2019t the only player that should be moved. There is no reason for DeMar DeRozan to be finishing out the season with the dismal Sacramento Kings. And if the New York Knicks think they can better last season\u2019s run, they need to call the Portland Trail Blazers and land Jrue Holiday.<\/p>\n It was just earlier this month that two-time NBA MVP Antetokounmpo said it wasn\u2019t his nature to ask the Bucks to trade him. Formal request or not, that was a pretty gigantic hint that he was ready to be moved. Where is the trickiest part.<\/p>\n Speculation about the Golden State Warriors being a possibility with injured Jimmy Butler III as part of the trade doesn\u2019t seem realistic. He complained his way out of the winning Miami Heat culture, so why would he want anything to do with a Milwaukee team that will be among the worst teams in the NBA? The Bucks will want Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski while coach Steve Kerr will beg them to take Jonathan Kuminga.<\/p>\n Minnesota could build a package with Julius Randle and either Jaden McDaniels or Naz Reid (if you want Rudy Gobert instead, he\u2019s all yours) and include some young assets and draft picks. You package Giannis with all-everything guard Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves are finally getting over the hump and reaching the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings are one of the worst franchises in the NBA and the 36-year-old DeRozan has to be moved before the deadline. The Kings have all kinds of guards and wings like Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Russell Westbrook, Dennis Schr\u00f6der, Malik Monk in addition to DeRozan, so some roster adjustments are deeply in order. Why are Westbrook, Schr\u00f6der and Monk all on the same team<\/a>?<\/p>\n One team that could use DeRozan is the Warriors. Now that Butler is lost for the season, Stephen Curry is in the same need of help he was a year ago before Golden State landed Butler from Miami. DeRozan, an unselfish player who can score 25 or 30 on any given night, would provide the Warriors with much-needed scoring punch.<\/p>\n The Kings would need to receive Trayce Jackson-Davis because Domantas Sabonis doesn\u2019t have much help in the frontcourt. Golden State might try to dump Kuminga on the Kings or can get creative with some draft picks.<\/p>\n The New York Knicks are not a bad defensive team, but they can improve with one move at the deadline. If they want to reach the NBA Finals in a season where it\u2019s wide open on the Eastern Conference side, they should obtain veteran guard Jrue Holiday.<\/p>\n The Trail Blazers are a better team than in recent years, but they are playing to land a play-in spot. Holiday can help get Portland there, of course, but the rebuilding project gets better for the Trail Blazers if they trade Holiday for some younger assets. Plus, Scoot Henderson\u2019s season-long hamstring injury just may heal someday this season. (We think.)<\/p>\n Tyler Kolek and some draft assets might do the trick. If the Trail Blazers insist on Miles \u201cDeuce\u201d McBride, that gets Portland a little extra scoring pop. But the Knicks get a two-time NBA champion that will be worth more than whatever they give up.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\nGiannis fit for Timberwolves<\/h3>\n
DeRozan’s short drive down freeway<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
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Backcourt defense needed at MSG<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n
Nov 14, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Aaron Holiday (0) defends against Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n