Giannis Antetokounmpo could reunite with Damian Lillard

Feb 5, 2026 3:33 PM

The likelihood of a trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to fade as the league moves closer to the deadline, particularly after both the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves completed alternative transactions.

Golden State, Minnesota, and the Miami Heat have been the most proactive teams in recent weeks, while the New York Knicks have also remained loosely connected to Antetokounmpo discussions.

If anything unexpected were to materialize before the deadline, it could come from a less obvious contender. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers have lingered on the outskirts of league chatter.

Cleveland could theoretically build a strong offer around Evan Mobley, while Portland holds a unique advantage by possessing future draft assets originally belonging to Milwaukee.

“Yeah, we’re pretty much – I’ve been at 51-49 against a trade,” said Brian Windhorst on Get Up Thursday morning. “I’m now sort of moving more towards 60-40 against a trade. Minnesota is still out there, but I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t think Minnesota’s offer was as good as Golden State’s. And if Golden State’s offer is not good enough and Minnesota can’t do a trade to improve their offer, I don’t think Minnesota is realistic.

“That, in my mind, leaves Miami. Miami is making a sort of player-and-sort-of-semi-draft-pick offer. It’s a decent offer. I don’t think it’s something that you would stop everything for Giannis.

“There’s a couple of other teams out there that have shown interest. Cleveland has shown some interest in Giannis, but they are in a position with James Harden now where they’ve sort of picked the lane. Portland has sniffed around Giannis. They have the Bucks’ draft picks and draft assets from the Damian Lillard trade, but these are not compelling things. So unless there’s a secret thing going on, I’m not feeling Giannis moving right now. And Giannis has not forced the issue, and that is probably going to be a factor.”

Windhorst later added on First Take that Cleveland’s chances of entering the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes diminished further after the Cavaliers completed a deal sending Darius Garland out in a trade for Harden.