Trade speculation around Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to swirl as the NBA’s February 5 deadline approaches, with some around the league still believing the 10-time All Star could be on the move before time runs out, despite the Milwaukee Bucks maintaining that he remains central to their plans.
Carmelo Anthony believes Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have already had an honest, direct conversation and agreed to keep moving forward together. The Hall of Fame forward then shifted the focus to Milwaukee’s next step, pointing to the responsibility now on the front office to add the right pieces at the deadline with the commitment between both sides seemingly in place.
“I think the conversation was had already. We saw Giannis’ tone and voice and what he’s saying…’I want to be in Milwaukee. This is where I want to be at. This is where I’m going to be at.’ So now the pressure is on Milwaukee to go out there and say, ‘Hey, we have to make moves. We have to put pieces around Giannis.’ What are those pieces? It’s a Grizzly out there. You know, that can work. So we’ll see what happens,” Anthony remarked during his appearance on NBA on Peacock.
Ja Morant’s fit with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
Ja Morant has become one of the most discussed names in recent trade chatter. Not long ago, the two time All Star served as the clear face of the Memphis Grizzlies and appeared on track to become one of the NBA’s next marquee stars. That rise stalled after multiple off court incidents involving firearms and a lengthy suspension, dramatically altering his standing across the league.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto recently reported that Memphis is seeking Ryan Rollins and a 2031 or 2032 first round pick as the core of any deal, with Kyle Kuzma and or Myles Turner included to help match salaries.
Will the Bucks pull the trigger on the trade with the Grizzlies?
But according to Anthony, Milwaukee should be willing to meet Memphis’s demands, whatever they may be, if it means keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo satisfied and committed to the franchise.
“We right there, by the play-in, so if we make this move, we have an opportunity to jump ahead in the standings, and we’re going to the playoffs with a new identity, more confident,” Anthony added.
“You got new energy with the Grizzly coming over there if that was to happen. Now we go out there and make this push and see what happens.”
Milwaukee’s main focus is building a roster that gives Giannis Antetokounmpo a legitimate chance to compete for a championship. Ja Morant brings elite talent, but doubts remain about whether he can lead a team through a deep postseason run. The Bucks now have to determine if adding Morant truly moves them closer to a title and keeps Giannis fully invested or if the risk outweighs the potential reward.
