The Athletic NBA Daily — Favorite Giannis Trades + Are the Hornets for Real?

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Esperahenney ("S"), guest Brian Geisinger

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two main NBA stories:

1. The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade watch, with Dave and S throwing out and dissecting hypothetical trades involving several teams and discussing what makes sense for the Bucks and possible suitors.
2. The Charlotte Hornets' surprising hot streak, as Brian Geisinger joins to analyze their seven-game win streak, the development of their young core, and consider whether the playoff hype is real.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All Eyes on Giannis: Trade Scenarios and Speculation

[02:04–13:44]

• Giannis on the Trade Block: The entire NBA world is on "Giannis watch," waiting to see if/when the Bucks pull the trigger on a deal. The panel emphasizes the sense of anticipation and teams’ reluctance to make big moves until Giannis’s situation is resolved.
• Bucks’ Leverage and Patience:
  • The Bucks aren’t pressured to trade Giannis at the deadline; they may wait for a better offers in the summer.
  • “From the Bucks’ perspective, you want to get everything you’re asking for. If you don’t get what you’re asking for…they’re not going to get Giannis at this point.”—Esperahenney [03:39]
• Trade Proposals—Who Says No?
  • Multiple hypothetical trades are thrown out, with the hosts weighing which teams would actually pull the trigger.

Notable Trade Scenarios

• Three-team deal (Giannis to Minnesota):

  • Minnesota gets Giannis & Jrue Holiday;
    Bucks get Julius Randle, Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, Scoot Henderson, picks;
    Blazers get Jaden McDaniels, Nas Reid.
  • "It's tough for me to wrap my head around the Wolves sending out Jaden McDaniels at all. Like, he feels like such a... the Pippen to Ant’s Jordan."—Dave [07:00]
  • Ultimately, panel thinks Portland says no.

• Sixers Deal:

  • Paul George, VJ Edgecombe, and every pick for Giannis.
  • “That’s tough, man…VJ is a star…that sort of team control and flexibility…is extremely valuable”—Dave [08:43]
  • Consensus: Sixers say no.

• Magic Package:

  • Paolo Banchero and all Magic’s picks for Giannis:
    • Both say, yes, they would do it. [09:57–10:08]

• Miami Heat:

  • Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier, Khalil Ware + picks.
  • Panel: Not enough, Milwaukee probably says no.
  • “I would rather wait until the summer where one of San Antonio, OKC, Houston or someone else is going to flame out and now you have more buyers at the table.” —Esperahenney [11:26]

• Golden State Warriors:

  • Kuminga, Draymond, Pajemski, all picks.
  • Not compelling enough; summer may bring higher offers.

Will a Trade Happen?

• “Realistically, I actually don’t think a trade happens. I think the Bucks hold on and they wait until San Antonio or Houston or someone else with much better assets…in the summer, decide they want to cave and do it.” —Esperahenney [13:27]
• The hosts tease their upcoming live trade deadline coverage (YouTube).

2. Charlotte Hornets—Are They for Real?

[16:33–30:07]

Charlotte’s Hot Streak & Best Week in Decades

• Hornets come back from 22 points to win their seventh straight, now at 23–28.
• “Is this the best week in Charlotte Hornets history?” —Dave [16:33]
  • “It’s the best week at least in multiple decades—since anyone on the team was alive.”—Brian Geisinger [17:00]
  • Last time Hornets had an 8-game streak: 1999

Brandon Miller’s Emergence

• Miller named Eastern Conference Player of the Week; his health and versatile wing play are key.
  • “The fact that he is this big, jumbo wing that can do a little bit of everything…ties together their lineups incredibly well.”—Esperahenney [18:11]
  • “His ability to be the engine for the offense has really stood out…to have he and Khan, two guys with size who can shoot off movement, plus can playmake off movement too, really gives them a dimension offensively that is pretty tricky to deal with.”—Brian [19:04]

LaMelo Ball’s Growth

• Playing his most disciplined, patient basketball yet.
  • “He had 24 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, only two turnovers…His patience and willingness to not settle for that long step back and to attack the basketball—they look like a different team when he’s playing like this.”—Dave [20:40]
  • “His decision making and just like pace in that game [vs. San Antonio] was so, so, so good…and having Miller healthy, having Khan in the fold, has allowed them to not have to play heliocentric ball with him anymore.” —Brian [21:18–22:49]

The Starting Lineup That’s Dominating

• The crew highlights the new starting five:
  • Musa Diabate, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller, Con Knippel, LaMelo Ball.
  • Outscoring opponents by 30 net rating; offensive rating of 140 (both #1 in NBA) [23:27]
  • “That starting lineup is absolutely whooping teams right now.”—Esperahenney [23:27]

Secret Sauce: Passing, Defense, and Motor

• “With the main three of LaMelo, Khan and Miller, there’s just a lot of shooting, ball handling, and passing talent in that group…and it’s a lot to deal with.”—Brian [24:11]
• Defensive improvement credited to scheme, low fouling, and Musa Diabate’s motor and rebounding.
  • “He gives you all of that plus the motor…to be an effective big in the NBA now, if you’re not an elite offensive creator/three-point shooter, it’s motor.”—Dave [26:36]

Are the Hornets Buyers or Sellers?

• Likely to make a small move at the trade deadline.
  • “Jeff Peterson…has done at least something at every deadline since he took over…I don’t see them being buyers, I would advocate for them not to do that unless it was something small, but I think there’s a very good chance they’re active later this week.” —Brian [28:48]
• No, they’re not trading for Giannis…but Brian jokes he’d fit anywhere.

The Future is Bright

• The Hornets are drawing comparisons to the early-2010s Thunder as an exciting, young core.
  • “Seems like a good time to get in on the ground floor with the Hornets. Maybe kind of like the Oklahoma City Thunder 2010ish…they’re going to be the hot team for the next 3 or 4 years.” —Dave [30:19]

Notable Quotes

• “The league is a little bit on pause…The Giannis move—it’s whether or not you’re keeping your powder dry for the summer for some teams.” —Dave DeFore [02:59]
• “Does Jaden McDaniels and Nas Reed, does that make you…I don’t know, playoff team. Playoff team. But is that enough to give up those picks? …I think Portland says no.” —Dave DeFore [08:02]
• “My favorite season of LaMelo probably before this year was his rookie season…just having more shooting, playmaking, passing, high feel players around him has really helped his development this season.”—Brian Geisinger [23:01]
• “He’s like young Jarrett Allen, but…he can do the handoffs and screen, roll and slip. He can fake a handoff and keep it and get downhill.”—Brian Geisinger on Musa Diabate [28:01]
• “Go check out Brian…They cover the Hornets. Seems like a good time to get in…” —Dave [30:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:04–13:44 | Giannis trade watch: hypothetical deals, who says no, trade timing | | 16:33–18:38 | Hornets hot streak, historical context, Brandon Miller’s breakout | | 18:38–21:18 | In-depth: Brandon Miller, offensive fit, lineup synergy | | 21:18–23:27 | LaMelo Ball’s maturity and new offensive approach | | 23:27–26:13 | Starting lineup dominance, offensive and defensive progression | | 26:13–28:32 | Musa Diabate’s emergence; team defense and rebounding | | 28:32–30:07 | Hornets’ trade deadline outlook, youth movement, future prospects |

Summary

This episode skillfully weaves together high-stakes NBA trade speculation—centered on a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster—with grounded, detailed analysis of the surging Charlotte Hornets. The hosts deliver both entertaining “who hangs up first?” trade banter and deep-dive breakdowns of player development, team fit, and organizational strategy. Listeners get a comprehensive pulse-check on the league’s trade climate and a convincing case that the Hornets might be on the verge of their best era in decades.