If you're reading this then Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, and the longer this goes on the more we believe he's going to stay there beyond the trade deadline.
Not that the Phoenix Suns have much interest either way. The only potential issue being that their desire to upgrade the power forward position might have to be put on hold.
Rockets can't go after Giannis after landing Durant
But it is kind of funny that the Suns have no directly stopped not one, but two rivals from being able to trade for Antetokounmpo themselves. Both involve themselves and Kevin Durant.
When the New York Knicks needed to find one of the crucial pieces required to win a championship, which they have still failed to do, they went all in on aquiring Bridges from Brooklyn.
Defensive player of the game Mikal Bridges 👷
(via @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/gM5Elhue3U
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 31, 2026
That now means that they are unable to go after Giannis, a player who many believe would have gone to New York had the opportunity arisen earlier, unless they make drastic roster changes.
The prospect of them moving on from both Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns in less than a week is unlikely, which is why they won't be landing the Greek superstar.
For the Houston Rockets, it is even more simple. Their massive move was during the offseason, when they decided Durant was the player to go all in on acquiring in order to try and win a championship.
They might still achieve this goal, but ask anybody and they'd rather have Antetokounmpo than Durant. Not that the Suns care, they played the situation beautifully in landing both Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green.
Brooks has already changed the culture that Durant helped create with comments like these, while Green is ironically a player the Bucks reportedly once had interest in.
The Suns might be out of true contention for some time yet, although they should not be limiting themselves this season, but they've also put a dent in both the Knicks and Rockets also reaching the mountain top.
This situation could still have a sad ending for Phoenix though, as Giannis could yet head West with the Minnesota Timberwolves entering the race to try and get a deal done.
That's another team who was interested in trading for Durant, and who would themselves be out of the conversation right now had they done so. Who knew the Suns and their previous actions would be so piovital to this trade deadline?