The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets both have enough young talent and future draft picks to realistically build a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo without fully hurting their ability to compete this season.
However, neither team is expected to seriously pursue him even as he reportedly becomes available ahead of the February 5 NBA trade deadline.
“I have been told the Rockets will not be bidders,” said ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on an emergency episode of the Hoop Collective Podcast.
“Now, nobody was under oath but I’ve been told that repeatedly and I will say they have a pretty good track record of shooting me straight.”
MacMahon says the message from San Antonio has been similar, with the Spurs focused on developing a contender around Victor Wembanyama.
The organization reportedly prefers its current mix of young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper paired with veteran De’Aaron Fox rather than shifting direction for a major trade.
“I have been told by folks with the Spurs ‘We’re not a home for Giannis,'” said MacMahon.
“And there’s been a lot of smoke going back to the summer, but everything in San Antonio is about the Wemby timeline. And this is a decade past the Wemby timeline when you bring in Giannis at his age.”
“I do not think the Spurs are a bidder,” added Tim Bontemps.
Houston could trade up to five future unprotected first-round picks plus three swaps, while San Antonio could offer four unprotected firsts and three swaps, but both teams still appear unlikely to enter the bidding.
Rockets, Spurs Not Expected To Enter Trade Deadline Bidding For Giannis Antetokounmpo https://t.co/ODWebNDPnb
— RealGM (@RealGM) January 29, 2026
