With Trae Young traded by the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards this week, the question remains whether he will be the biggest name moved before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, or if another star deal materializes. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis remain the most prominent names in speculation, though both situations appear unlikely to result in trades during the season.
Antetokounmpo dismissed trade talk in an interview with The Athletic on Wednesday, declaring he will never ask for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks. Sources have reiterated for weeks the Bucks have no intention of moving the two-time MVP forward and will instead upgrade around him.
The Davis situation presents more complexity. The Dallas Mavericks are still searching for a long-term general manager replacement for Nico Harrison while building around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Davis turns 33 in March, has a lengthy injury history and is owed $58 million next season with a $62 million player option for 2027-28. The Davis trade market remains tepid.
“I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just keep him,” an East executive said. “Just let things play out, get to the summer time when it’s easier to make this kind of move anyway, and see where things stand.”
An East scout noted Dallas ownership wants to see their core play together before making moves.
“[Dallas] ownership wants to see those guys play together before they do anything, and until they do that I don’t think they’ll rush into doing anything,” the scout said. “I’m not optimistic it’s anywhere close to where they hope his value is.”
Multiple scouts and executives predict a slow trade deadline due to limited draft picks across the league and teams facing difficult financial situations. The dearth of assets and restrictive cap situations could make Young the biggest name moved before Feb. 5.
Last year’s deadline featured a similar outlook before Luka Doncic’s stunning trade to the Los Angeles Lakers less than a week before the deadline, proving predictions can be upended quickly though that was obviously the NBA’s biggest black swan event.
The Lakers illustrate why this deadline might remain quiet despite glaring roster flaws, particularly on defense. Los Angeles has limited draft assets and sits just $1 million below their first-apron hard cap, providing minimal flexibility for meaningful improvements.
“They just need to fast-forward to the offseason,” another West executive said. “They can’t realistically add to the roster. They don’t have a solve. They’re focused on keeping cap space and trying to do moves on the margins, and it’s hard to find a lot that makes sense.”