Giannis Antetokounmpo Stays With Bucks as Trade Talk Fades

Merlin sees Giannis Antetokounmpo staying put for now. The Bucks insist they "have no intention" of trading the two-time MVP and will "scour the trade market" before the Feb. 5 deadline, while Giannis told The Athletic, "There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment, that I will come out and say 'I want a trade.' That's not … in … my … nature. OK?" Since returning from a calf injury he is averaging 29.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists, sparking a 4-2 run, but Milwaukee sits 16-21 and faces an uphill playoff climb. Merlin notes the truth in plain sight. Without a blockbuster fill-in from Jon Horst, the Bucks will live and die by Giannis's health and MVP-level play. Expect quiet trade probing, heavy workloads for Giannis, and a fevered push to flip small moves into meaningful help before the deadline.