During an appearance on NBA Countdown on Friday, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst offered a snapshot of the uncertainty currently shaping the NBA’s trade landscape.
According to Windhorst, some negotiations have stalled because teams are unsure whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will remain with the Milwaukee Bucks through the end of the season.
“There are deals that are on hold and talk progressions on hold because teams still aren’t 100% sure whether Giannis is gonna be on the team the rest of the year,” the analyst reported.
He pointed out that while Antetokounmpo has publicly stated he won’t request a trade, league executives are still weighing that stance against Milwaukee’s ongoing struggles.
Windhorst suggested that rival teams remain skeptical that Antetokounmpo would be content finishing the season if the Bucks continue trending toward missing the postseason.
At the midpoint of the schedule, Milwaukee sits at 17-24 and currently occupies 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Bucks trail the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls by two games for the final Play-In Tournament spots, a position that continues to fuel speculation and hesitation across the league as the trade deadline approache
Some Trades On Hold Because Teams Aren't Sure Giannis Antetokounmpo Stays With Bucks https://t.co/eTBYqIqvtt
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 17, 2026
