Bobby Marks ranks the Warriors first, the Heat second, followed by the Timberwolves and Knicks, as the teams most likely to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the February 5 deadline.
As speculation swirls over whether the Milwaukee Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before Thursday's February 5 trade deadline, ESPN's Bobby Marks ranked the teams with the best chance of landing him.
Golden State Warriors
Miami Heat
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Golden State Warriors / Schedule
Marks puts the Warriors at the top because their roster situation makes a trade cleaner and simpler. He adds that pairing Steph Curry and Giannis with a mostly fresh roster could have a huge impact in the Western Conference.
According to Marks, Miami ranks second mainly because of their draft position. While the Bucks like Tyler Herro, the insider notes it's unclear if he could be turned into the kind of assets Milwaukee would want, especially since he is currently injured.
Marks also points out that Miami has a strong group of young players, including Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, and Nikola Jovic, which could make them an attractive option.
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NBA insider Marc Stein also highlighted the Warriors and Heat as the most realistic potential landing spots for Giannis.
"The Warriors and the Heat, those are the teams that have the most to offer now in direct trades," Stein said. "Minnesota and Knicks, if they really want Giannis, it helps them if this drags into summer."
If the Bucks don't trade Giannis before the deadline, tensions could rise, particularly if the team tries to make him sit out, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
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