Giannis' Instagram Purge Sparks Bucks-Knicks Trade Talk

Merlin sees Giannis quietly reshaping his public life more than plotting an exit. The two-time MVP told Chris Haynes he wants "to run through the wall, and make things work," and has deleted many Instagram posts — including photos of friends and family — after taking Michael B. Jordan’s advice about controlling your image. Talks between Giannis, his agent and the Bucks continue, with the Knicks the only other team confirmed to draw his interest; Giannis has not publicly asked for a trade. Merlin notes the truth sits between image control and leverage: the Bucks’ cap turmoil, ruined draft flexibility and slump (Giannis now out 2–4 weeks with a calf strain) make both staying and moving plausible. This purge is a signal of reinvention, not a definitive farewell — but the winds are shifting.