Will Giannis stay in Milwaukee?

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily: “Will Giannis Stay in Milwaukee?”

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Sam Amick (The Athletic)

---

Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily dives into the turbulence of NBA trade season, focusing on recent notable games, the Indiana Pacers’ dramatic end to a losing streak, and in-depth trade discussions. Central to the episode is an extended conversation with Sam Amick about the futures of Giannis Antetokounmpo and other NBA stars, providing listeners with exclusive insights into Giannis’s intentions regarding his Milwaukee tenure.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers Recap

Segment Start: [01:45]

• The Minnesota Timberwolves continued their stellar run, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 131–122.
  • Timberwolves are now 15–5 since Thanksgiving.
  • Julius Randle delivered a “number two guy” performance with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists, maximizing the offensive pairing with Anthony Edwards.
    • “The way that they're able to use Anthony Edwards off of Julius Randle, we get to see that against top-level defense…” – Dave ([03:17])
  • Four Timberwolves scored at least 20 points; only Donovan Mitchell matched that for the Cavs.
  • Zena highlighted the Cavs’ defensive struggles—particularly from Darius Garland—and praised Minnesota’s three-point shooting (20 made to Cleveland’s 11).
    • “They have got to get that defense together. They look soft… they got to toughen up a little bit.” – Zena ([05:07])

2. Pacers Snap 13-Game Losing Streak Against Hornets

Segment Start: [05:13]

• Indiana Pacers claimed a close two-point victory over Charlotte Hornets, ending the longest losing streak in their franchise history.
  • T.J. McConnell sealed the game with a clutch inbound steal.
  • Pacers missing key players (Miles Turner, Andrew Nembhard) but showed resilience.
  • LaMelo Ball shined for Charlotte with 33 off the bench, though a crucial late-game turnover helped Indiana claim victory. Dave and Zena discussed LaMelo’s mix of fearlessness and growing maturity.
    • “[LaMelo] is so fun to watch because he’s fearless…as he matures, I hope he doesn’t reign that in–don’t lose your dinosaur, LaMelo.” – Dave ([07:03])
  • Dave critiqued LaMelo’s decision-making late, wishing he’d attacked the rim rather than passing on a potential game-tying possession.
    • “I would have rather seen Lamelo kind of force, force the play at the basket.” – Dave ([09:13])

Notable Segment: Philsophical Question About Star Scoring

• Zena asks if you'd rather have a star player score 40 in three quarters then go cold, or 20 spread evenly all game.
• Dave: “I just want to win. If I get 40 and I don’t score in the fourth because we’re winning, ok, I’ll take the 40.” ([09:13])

3. Bulls vs. Heat Game Postponed

Segment Start: [11:43]

• Game canceled due to condensation on the court at Chicago’s United Center (hockey rink conversion issues), highlighted as an unusual occurrence by the hosts.
  • Zena provided a local weather report: “I showed up to Chicago in my full parka thinking it was freezing cold and it’s warmer here than in the Bay.” ([11:43])

---

Main Feature: Trade Season Update & Giannis’s Future

4. Trey Young Deal to Wizards / Trade Season Kicks Off

Segment Start: [13:34]

• Trey Young traded from Hawks to Wizards.
  • Sam Amick explains Atlanta’s issues—roster construction, injuries, and mixed results with and without Young.
  • “When Trey comes back from injury, they go 0–5 with him. They were 13–9 without him. It was the final straw.” – Sam ([14:40])
  • Hawks were frustrated by post-injury performance and Young’s contract situation.
  • Wizards intend to retain Trey but are preserving their pick by not rushing him back from injury.
  • Emotional component: Trey’s connection with former Hawks exec Travis Schlenk, now part of the Wizards front office.

5. Will Giannis Stay in Milwaukee?

Segment Start: [17:52]

• Dave brings up Sam’s recent in-depth interview with Giannis Antetokounmpo, strongly suggesting Giannis intends to remain with the Bucks.
  • “It was very important that he wanted to get the point across to you that he is locked into Milwaukee.” – Dave ([18:32])
  • Sam describes his experience meeting Giannis post-game. He highlights the Greek Freak’s commitment, as both Doc Rivers and Bucks insiders describe Giannis’s engagement and leadership.
  • Giannis, even after a late night, prioritized finishing his interview with Sam, with the team bus literally waiting.
    • “He made that clear… two different times he used the expression, ‘that is not in my nature.’ It was the one quote about, ‘I will never ask for a trade,’ but it was also, ‘I will never quit on my team.’” – Sam ([22:03])
  • Sam and Dave agree: barring an extreme change of heart, Giannis will not request a trade, nor will the Bucks move him before this season’s deadline.
    • “If [Giannis] ultimately decides that he is ready to do something different… he does not need to ask for a trade.” – Sam ([20:40])
  • The Bucks’ focus: still seeking roster upgrades, kicking the tires on options but not rushing moves.

Notable Quotes from Giannis/Discussion

• “I will never ask for a trade… I will never quit on my team. That is not in my nature.” – (Giannis, relayed by Sam, [22:03])
• “I do not see it happening before the deadline… I would be shocked at this point if something happens before the deadline” – Sam ([21:59])

6. Anthony Davis Rumors & Trade Market Dominoes

Segment Start: [22:39]

• Rumors of Milwaukee making a run at Anthony Davis considered very unlikely.
  • “They did look into it… for now, I have been told it’s very, very, very unlikely.” – Sam ([22:50])
• Atlanta and Toronto seen as most aggressive suitors for AD.
• Dallas Mavericks, Warriors also mentioned as possible—each with its own complications (i.e., salary, unwillingness to part with core pieces).
• Potential for “domino effect” in trade market driven by these star moves.

7. Surprise Names to Watch at Trade Deadline

Segment Start: [25:30]

• Teams probing availability of Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III (high cost), Herb Jones (essentially untouchable), and Zion Williamson.
  • “Of all the big names that you felt like were gettable… where are we at with Zion Williamson?” – Sam ([26:53])
  • New Orleans' developing young core could make veterans uneasy, similar to situation in Philadelphia with Joel Embiid and Paul George.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giannis’s Character:
  • “He’s not somebody who’s just kind of an empty suit.” – Sam ([20:09])
  • “If he’s not gonna [request a trade or quit], which he made it crystal clear that he’s not, then the Bucks are not incentivized to move him.” – Sam ([22:03])
• On Trade Philosophy:
  • “This is why, you know, you know who’s the perfect player for this is Kevin Durant. Because Kevin Durant is going to get seven points in a quarter every quarter for the rest of his basketball career.” – Dave ([09:13])

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Timberwolves vs Cavs Recap: [01:45] – [05:13]
• Pacers Snap Losing Streak: [05:13] – [11:43]
• Bulls-Heat Postponement: [11:43] – [12:24]
• Trade Season & Trey Young Analysis: [13:34] – [17:52]
• Giannis Interview & Milwaukee Commitment: [17:52] – [22:39]
• Anthony Davis and the Trade Dominoes: [22:39] – [25:30]
• Surprise Names & Deadline Speculation: [25:30] – [28:14]

---

Summary

This episode delivers a fast-paced blend of NBA on-court recaps and inside-baseball reporting, climaxing with a strong assurance—sourced directly through Sam Amick’s reporting—that Giannis Antetokounmpo is not leaving Milwaukee this season. The hosts and guest dissect the reasoning behind major recent trades, rumor mill churn, and the subtle power structures at play in the NBA’s shifting landscape. Anyone worried about Giannis’s future in Milwaukee—or the headline trades that could shake up the league—will find this episode essential.

Recommendation:

• For Bucks fans: Read Sam Amick’s Giannis interview at The Athletic for the full context and reassurance.
• For trade-watchers: Keep eyes on Atlanta, Toronto, New Orleans, and surprise situations involving star forwards as the deadline nears.

---

Tone and Language:
Conversational, direct, and a touch irreverent—typical for NBA Daily. Technical when needed, but always fan-accessible.

Speaker Attribution:

• Dave DuFour (Host): B
• Zena Keita (Co-host): D
• Sam Amick (Guest): E

Transcript

[A]

Prime. One day delivery is fast. How fast are we talking? We're talking game night delivered by tomorrow night fast so we can win fast. Cards fast.

[B]

Puzzles fast.

[A]

Team games at your door in a day fast. Doesn't matter what the game is. We will dominate fast. We're talking game over. You win fast, fast. One day delivery for the win. It's on. Prime.

[C]

Ugh.

[B]

Could this vintage store be any cuter?

[C]

Right.

[D]

And the best part, they accept Discover.

[B]

Accept Discover in a little place like this? I don't think so, Jennifer.

[D]

Oh yeah, huh? Discover is accepted where I like to shop.

[B]

Come on, baby.

[C]

Get with the times.

[B]

Right.

[E]

So we shouldn't get the parachute pants.

[D]

These are making a comeback, I think.

[B]

Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen report.

[F]

This podcast is sponsored by Royal Kingdom, an amazing mobile game that's super fun, free to play and has no annoying ads. This time of year there is a lot of travel and family time and Royal Kingdom is the perfect escape because it doesn't need any WI fi, making it perfect for planes, trains and just a quiet break in the other room. Royal Kingdom is a story driven match three puzzle with stunning graphics. It's relaxing, but has challenging levels. Royal Kingdom is part of an expanding universe filled with high quality animations and memorable characters. I personally love to play a few levels during a timeout in whatever NBA game I'm watching or even while I'm listening to my favorite podcasts. So what are you waiting for? Join the fun and download Royal Kingdom on the App Store or Google Play today.

[B]

Good morning and welcome to the NBA Daily presented by Amazon prime for January 9, 2026. I'm Dave DeFore here with Zena Keda. Coming up, Cavs and Wolves matched up. We're going to talk about that game a little bit. The pacers snapped their 13 game losing streak. We're going to hit that. And I sat down with Sam Amick and asked him the question we all want to know Is Giannis leaving Milwaukee? Good morning everybody. Good morning, Xena. Good to see you. Hope you're doing okay out there in Chicago. You got the athletic show tomorrow morning.

[D]

Doing great. Excited to get back on it, starting new year strong.

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. Before we talk about the Timberwolves Cavaliers game, we would like to also send our thoughts and prayers to everyone in Minneapolis, to the family of Renee Nicole Good and join the Timberwolves and the entire, you know, country in the world in sending our our condolences and thoughts. The Timberwolves had a moment of silence before the game for Renee Nicole Good, whose life was tragically and recklessly taken from her by a federal agent in Min. Minneapolis the other day. But again, yeah, our thoughts and prayers to her family and friends and everybody affected by this. There was a basketball game. As heavy as all of our hearts were, there was a basketball game and it was, it was pretty good. You know, the Timberwolves, they pick up another win. 131, 122. They, they defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's a good win for them in a string of good wins. They've been 15 and five Zenas since Thanksgiving. We, we've talked about their offense. They've got a number one guy in Anthony Edwards who typically shows up every single night. But that number two guy, Julius Randle, 28 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, the playmaking, I mean, the way that they're able to use Anthony Edwards off of Julius Randle, we get to see that against the top level defense in the Cleveland Cavaliers. At least when everybody's out there and playing at their best and they were able to score, I mean, 131 points on this Cavs defense is still something.

[D]

You have four players in 20 or more scoring like that's huge. When you look on the other side of the ball, you only have Donovan Mitchell being able to put that, that number in 30. And Sam Merrill popped tonight, of course, or last night. But it's just not enough coming from Cleveland in terms of their offensive production. They started slow. They got blown out in that third quarter. Their defense was just kind of all over the place a little bit all tonight. Darius Garland looked a little bit lost on defense. He was just continuously being overtaken, in my opinion. Overall, Minnesota did what they do, which is shoot threes and shoot them very well. They made 20, made threes versus 11. Only for the Cavs. Like, that's not, that's not going to be enough. But yeah, I'm liking the way that Minnesota's rolling.

[B]

Yeah. And look, I will say the Cavs, they tried out a little bit of a different look in the starting lineup. Craig Porter Jr. Was out there because DeAndre Hunter has just been struggling for them. They've got to figure this out. And maybe it's sometimes it's going to be Sam Merrill when you need extra offense, and sometimes it's going to be maybe Jalen Tyson or DeAndre Hunter or, or someone. But they're in the stage of we have to figure out how to solve our problems because the playoffs are coming. We don't want to be a first round out. And right now they, they look like it 1000%.

[D]

They have got to get that defense together and they've got us. They look soft. Yeah, they got to toughen up a little bit.

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. The Pacers, woo. They lost 13 in a rows. You know, this is just again, the, the injury stuff with them. They lose Miles Turner. It's been a season from hell and they get a big win. So congratulations to the Pacers snapping the longest losing streak in team history by beating the Hornets. And it was a close game. They win by two. And T.J. mcConnell seals the deal with an inbound steal in this game. Like, this was just a scrappy win for the Pacers, who, I mean, look, let's be honest here. They're angling for a very high lottery pick, but they do beat a Hornet scene that's been playing better lately. So this wasn't just some kind of a, you know, one of these Thursday nights in January games that, that you could just throw away Andrew Nemhart out of this game. Lower back soreness. Still, their point guard situation has just been rough all season long. And you go up against a team like Charlotte who has the luxury of bringing LaMelo Ball off the bench. LaMelo Ball goes for 33 points off the bench, 7:15. And Zena, look, the Hornets had this game. They did have it under control late. And Lamelo made a huge mistake in transition. He tries to throw a lob to Musa Diabante and it just, it goes awry. Pascal Siakam comes down on the other end, hits the layup. I mean, it just. Everything fell apart. And I want to note, I was watching the pregame. I got to give LaMelo Ball credit here because I do think that we, we tend to clown him a little bit.

[D]

Right?

[B]

He is, you know, I will say playful. I don't want to call a grown man childish, but he's playful. And I think that we kind of treat him in a certain way, like. Like he's not mature, which, hey, I've seen the way he tears out of the arena in his car. That's not maturity. But I saw maturity up on the podium from him last night where he talked about he had regret about that play. He was like, you know, in that time and score, I gotta back out. But the thing that I love about Lamelo is that he will throw that lobby. Like, he's so fun to watch because he's fearless. So I hope that as he matures, he doesn't reign that in don't lose your dinosaur, Lamelo. You know what I mean?

[D]

Yeah, I love that. I'm happy that you brought. You call that out because there isn't. There is an element that we still see LaMelo Ball as a kid coming out of high school that was throwing, you know, lobs to himself off the backboard. And we see that entertainment value in his game. And so when you make mistakes, it's easy to equate. Oh, it's just that he still hasn't grown up from his high school game. It's like, no, but there's also an element of this is what has made him so fun and that's what. This is also what's made his team so trusting of him that he will throw that up. He will look for you. And so there is some, some element to that too. And it was a really great effort by the Indiana Pacers. At the end of the game, it's actually similar to what Minnesota did because Cleveland made a run for it or tried to make a run for it in the fourth quarter. And Minnesota was just more scrappy. And you saw very much so like Indiana be very similar to that. Being scrappier, being a little bit more. We need to win this game. And I ain't gonna lie to you, Dave. I didn't know they had a 13 game losing streak.

[B]

Like, I just kind of snuck up.

[D]

Yeah, I did not realize it was that bad. And so I'm happy they got the win. They were able to do it with LaMelo Ball getting 33 points off the bench. But the thing is, he had 33 points at 19 minutes and 17 seconds. He ends up playing 26 minutes total defers, I guess, a little bit more in the fourth quarter. But my question to you, Dave, because this has come up a lot where people go off in the first half, they'll go off in the first three quarters and then they go silent. Philosophically, would you rather go for 40. Oh, no. In the first three quarters and then silent in the fourth or have an even 5, 5, 5, 5. But it's only 20 points.

[B]

I mean, I just want to win. So If I get 40 and I'm and I don't score in the fourth because we're winning. Okay, I'll take the 40. But if I get 20, I'm going to take 20. This is why, you know, you know who's the perfect player for this is Kevin Durant. Because Kevin Durant is going to get seven points in a quarter every quarter for the rest of his basketball career. Until he decides he, he stops and, and then you've got that outlier where he might go for 20. You know, I, I think that scoring, you know, it's funny because we're. This season, I, I think that with some of the teams that have struggled, when you look at, you know, Cleveland Cavaliers, it's been very much like, please, Donovan, save us at the end of games, you know, and he has to save up quite a bit of energy for that. So, I mean, there's an argument to be made that, that some players maybe should save their best stuff for later and kind of coast a little bit. You know, LeBron famously does that or has done that in his, in his, his career through regular seasons where he saves his, his moments. But yeah, I, I think with Lamelo, I want to see him take more than four shots in the fourth quarter. I want him to take more layups in the fourth quarter than the one that he took because he can get to the basket. It's seemingly at will. You know, look, the guy is a great three point shooter. I mean, he launches him seven of 15 in the game, so I want him to shoot threes. But to me it's, don't be passive, attack the basket. And I did not like. And I'm, I'll never knock a guy for making a pass, but I fel. He got the drive at the end of the game with the chance to tie the game up, and he kicked the ball out to Colin Sexton, who didn't really wind up with a good look. I would have rather seen Lamelo kind of force, force the play at the basket. You know, he was guarded and it was contested, but I think I would have liked to see him actually just go to the basket instead of kick that one out. But now, speaking of. All right, before we go to break, we originally, a little programming note. We originally were going to have Joel Lorenzi on the show to talk Bulls Heat, but we had to make a scheduling change. And luckily for us, although I would have loved to talk to Joel after the game was canceled, Bulls Heat was postponed because the court had condensation. And Xena, there's a funny thing, right? Like this doesn't happen very often, which is pretty incredible, but a lot of the NBA arenas double as hockey arenas, so the Chicago Blackhawks share the United center with the Chicago Bulls. They just put that floor right down over the ice. There's some kind of a barrier in between. And you would think as cold as Chicago is outside, there's no way that ice is able to melt enough that it causes the floor to get wet. But apparently that's what happens sometimes.

[D]

Interestingly enough, I showed up to Chicago in my full parka thinking it was freezing cold and it's warmer here than it is in the bay. That's the crazy part. I think that that is what Chicago was not prepared for. And that's exactly what happened with that condensation.

[B]

There we go. All right, from Xena, our meteorologist on the scene in Chicago. Thank you very much for. Guys, stick around. After the break, we got Sam Amick to talk trade. Trey Young, trade, Giannis trade, every kind of trade. But before you go to that, just don't forget, guys, we're all we've got, and we're in this together.

[A]

Prime. One day delivery is fast. How fast are we talking? We're talking game night. Delivered by tomorrow night fast. So we can win fast. Cards fast.

[B]

Puzzles fast.

[A]

Team games at your door in a day fast. Doesn't matter what the game is. We will dominate fast. We're talking game over. You win fast, fast. One day delivery for the win. It's on Prime.

[F]

If being well means feeling grounded in your space, start with the easiest switch, the air around you. Pura is a premium smart diffuser that makes home fragrances effortless. Control it from your phone, set it to match your day, and breathe out the chaos. For a limited time, get a free Pura plus home diffuser when you subscribe to your favorite fragrances for 12 months. This is restoration, not reinvention. Grab your free [e-mail].

[E]

THY ticket, lady Jennifer of Coolidge.

[C]

Well, many thanks, good sir.

[D]

Here is my Discover card. They accept Discover at Renaissance fairs? Yeah, they do.

[C]

Here.

[D]

Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop.

[C]

Get it with the times.

[D]

With the times. You're playing the loot.

[C]

Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right?

[B]

Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. Based on the February 2025 Nielsen report, Trey Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards. That means trade season has begun. Here to break it down for us, Sam Amick, senior national writer at the Athletic. You guys know him. Sam, I know you've been busy, man. How's it going?

[E]

Dave Dufour. What's up, my guy? Great to see you. Busy is better than the alternative. So we're good, man?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Okay, look, the trade trade, we kind of had Trey Young for CJ McCollum as like the base. Corey Kispert gets added, makes the salaries work. Feels like we had that trade kind of in the bag for a few days. It finally happens. Let's close the book on it. How did this come about and what were the other options for Atlanta for Trey Young?

[E]

Well, I think that last question is the key one. I honestly have not still learned about other options beyond the Wizards. You know, you would try to canvas the league and find out who was interested. And it's funny because it was reported that Washington was Trey's preferred destination. And not trying to be glib, but it was like, okay, are we sure that list is beyond one team as far as interested parties? But the backstory on the Atlanta side, as you know, is that, you know, they come into the season with high hopes. They get celebrated during the off season for the roster work they did the front office, you know, with, with adding a lot of pieces that seemingly were going to fit well around Trey Young and some of his deficiencies. And next thing you know, everybody's getting hurt, Trey's getting hurt, Porzingis is getting hurt. They're not really able to see what it is that they built, but they do have this stretch where when Trey comes back from injury, they, they go, oh, and five with him. They were 13 and nine without him. Now, granted, there is a Porzingis factor within there as well, but it was a final straw. It was one of those things where the Hawks clearly looked at this and said, you know, that we got a guy making almost $50 million who's got a player option for next season we might have some interest in. You know, this is a subplot that we'll keep tracking is that Porzingis is going to be a free agent this summer. Whether it's him, they need a big, they need a, you know, a rim protecting, you know, big and a guy that they can give that presence and continue with their plan. And so Anthony Davis is certainly a real option that they've been looking at, but they. You're not going to have Trey and AD on the same roster. So Trey goes out, you know, this, this era of him doing his ice tray thing that honestly, people forget, you know, what he did at his peak and taking that team to the conference finals in 2021 and, and, you know, pissing off all the Knicks fans in the garden and like some pretty great memories. And I think it's fair to him. You got to remember this guy's a fantastic player. He's obviously a one way player. Now the other side, real quick on the Wizards, you know that, that one is tricky because they do legitimately have a vision for him as a guy who could be part of the program long term as their point guard. But there's dual purposes here, so I don't think he's going to hit the floor anytime soon. They're trying to keep their pick. He's banged up enough that they could justify him taking his time to get back. If you looked at last week, CJ McCollum, who obviously went to Atlanta in that deal, is, is hitting a game winning shot. I think it was against Milwaukee, you know, you know, on the, on the right side. Fade away and, and like C.J. a proud vet, was not about to sit down anytime soon. Know what I mean? And so winning games is not what they're trying to do. But, but again, it's a real partnership. Trey goes to a Wizards team and a Wizards front office that includes Travis Schlank, who was the, the former Ox president who drafted him and who traded famously and infamously traded, you know, the pick that was Luka Docic for Trey back when he came into the league. So I know I'm throwing a lot at you, but that's kind of the trade from both sides.

[B]

Why I asked, man? I mean, it's an interesting, you know, sort of like tapestry that that's been woven to, to create the situation. I actually, we talked about this the last couple days on the show. I see the vision for it and, and also the flexibility that the Wizards have done. I think both teams did pretty well here. CJ McCollum's having a great year, too. Good for a team that does not want to win games this year. So it makes so much sense. I was reading your interview with Giannis this morning, and I have been kind of hinting at this for the last few weeks. I've felt that obviously we haven't heard anything about any Giannis trades or any kind of rumors or anything like that. I've felt for the last few weeks like that's a done deal, like he's sticking around in Milwaukee. And I feel even stronger after reading your interview with him. And, and for anybody listening, if you didn't get a chance to read Sam's interview with, with Giannis, I really think it's great and I love the part at the end of the where they're trying to get him to get on the bus. But it's very important that he, he wanted to get the point across to you that he is locked into Milwaukee. That stuck with me when I was finished reading it.

[E]

No, I appreciate it.

[B]

It was a great Interview. I mean, I'm assuming you. You feel the same way as me, like, he's sticking around.

[E]

I do, yeah.

[D]

And.

[E]

And, you know, we were joking off air. You know, forgive the. The lack of energy here on the pod. It was a late night talking the honest and turning this story, but it was worth it. I always enjoy our conversations. We've always gotten along pretty well, and quick backstory. You know, I saw him in Sacramento the other night when they came through, and I didn't want to catch him off guard. And I said, hey, you know, you think any chance we can connect in San Francisco and chop it up a little bit? And I kind of joked that, you know, I know it's a little loud around you. Maybe you don't feel like talking right now. Was pleasantly surprised that he was open to it. So we connect a couple nights later in San Francisco. And, yeah, I. The helpful part is that I had a couple days to be around the Bucks a bit and to talk to, you know, Doc Rivers, to talk to guys on the coaching staff, to talk to players and get a sense of what they think of what's going to happen here, because we got to be honest about how our jobs are tricky. Sometimes we evaluate situations from afar, but we're not always kind of, you know, in the trenches, so to speak, with those teams.

[G]

And.

[E]

And after a couple days, I really did feel like, man, I don't think this guy's going anywhere. Doc is raving about his level of engagement and his commitment and his coachability. His teammates are saying that he's invested and. And he's not somebody who's just kind of an empty suit. So by the time Giannis and I talk, and it was a classic kind of loading dock post game conversation after he spent time with his family, after he was signing, sure, you know, jerseys from his Greek national team, but it's just dealing with a lot.

[B]

It.

[E]

To your point about, you know, him wanting to get his message across, it definitely struck me that not only was it late and you would think he would try to be trying to get out of there, but once he was trying to convey what you're trying to convey, I mean, the entire team was waiting on the bus and security's yelling at him, and he's saying, you know, well, hold tight. I got. I got to finish this. I personally think that, you know, here's the thing. We can cut to the chase. October 1st, he's eligible for a four year, $275 million extension if. And this is if. If he ultimately decides that he is ready to do something different, then he is smart enough to know that he does not need to ask for a trade. Like. Right. And so that's why right now, to your question, I do not see it happening before the deadline. I would be shocked at this point if something happens before the deadline, because the only way that something was going to happen before the deadline is if he went full Jimmy Butler, full Carmelo Anthony, full Dwight Howard. Back in the day, like where you flip over tables and you say you want out and. And. And maybe you. You dog. I mean, Jimmy's a great example. I mean, we can call it like it is in Minnesota. He dogged it on certain nights because he was done with that franchise. And Giannis, I thought you were going.

[B]

To say in Miami.

[E]

In Miami, because, you know.

[G]

Yeah.

[B]

Dogged it here, too.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

And so.

[E]

And that's.

[B]

Giannis isn't that guy, though.

[E]

And he made that clear. You know, he. I think it was two different times he used the expression, that is not in my nature. It was the one quote about, I will never ask for a trade, but it was also, I will never quit on my team. That is not in my nature. So with that in mind, if he's not going to do those things, which he made it crystal clear that he's not, then the Bucks are not incentivized to move him. They're going to try to find ways to improve this roster yet again with GM John Horst trying to make the rounds and find kind of one last Hail Mary to see if they can salvage this season.

[B]

Well, I mean, speaking of. You mentioned AD before. I've heard some rumors that maybe they're. The Bucks are considering trading for Anthony Davis. What do you think?

[E]

They did look into it. You know, for now, I have been told it's very, very, very unlikely. So I don't think that's happening. One of the problems is that, you know, one of the possible structures of that kind of a deal, you know, could have Miles Turner going out. Right, right. And then you got AD playing the five spot, which he never likes to play and constantly complains about playing. So I, you know, just the. The hoop head, and you would love to see it. I think it'd be a fascinating combination to have AD and Giannis together, but I don't see that happening. They, you know, I think. I'm curious to see what they ultimately do before the deadline, because they continue to get tied to a lot of different players, you know, Zach Levine, Malik monk, Michael Porter Jr. But there's also a sense that, like, they've kicked the tires on a lot, but are not necessarily trying to kick the door down on a deal just yet. So, you know, we'll see where it lands.

[B]

Yeah, well, let's, let's go to Anthony Davis. Is it Atlanta or bust? Or maybe the Clippers can throw their hat in the ring. Where do you see him winding up? What are you hearing?

[E]

Yeah, I mean, I do think there is potentially a domino effect between the Trey Young trade and the AD situation because like I said before, you know, whatever chance there was of AD going to Atlanta with Trey Young on the roster, it was zero. And so I don't know what that number is now, but. But it is in play because Trey is no longer on the roster. And so Atlanta and Toronto are two teams that are routinely discussed as having actual interest. Now, the Toronto problem is that the, you know, the stuff that would most logically come back in a Raptors Dallas deal is it's long term money, which is not what Dallas wants. And so that's a major sticking point. It feels like the Hawks are front and center right now and, you know, we'll see if some actually pops there because from there I, I don't know how robust the market is. You know, I've written about the warriors where, you know, AD's agent, Rich Paul, you know, myself and, and Christian Clark, our Mavericks beat writer, reported this the other day that he's encouraged the Mavericks to be more aggressive assessing the market. You know, AD's camp does not believe that there's an extension waiting for him this summer, even though the Mavs, you know, they've kind of signaled that maybe there is. Nobody really believes him.

[D]

Right.

[E]

So, you know, the warriors thing, though, has obstacles of its own. Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, two players the warriors do not want to get rid of. You can't really do an AD deal without moving one of those guys. So for me right now it's a matter of saying, is the Atlanta thing going to come together in the next week or so?

[B]

Yeah. What's the surprise name before we get to the deadline that we're going to start hearing here in the next few weeks?

[E]

Man, I feel like we got most.

[B]

Of them put you on the spot.

[E]

Yeah, I mean, I. This is just speculation. You sure? I just. New Orleans continues to be a bit of a mystery spot because there's been a lot of focus on, you know, on, on Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. So Trey, you know, the intel there is that, you know, you can get him but it's for a massive price tag that it doesn't seem like anybody's in that stratosphere in terms of meeting their demands, you know, and that Herb is. Is kind of virtually untouchable, it seems like. And who knows? We'll see. But I continue to just wonder, and this is just me is like, of all the big names that you felt like were gettable, the. The John Moran's, the Lamelo Balls, the Trey Youngs, the Anthony Davises, like, where are we at with Zion Williamson? You know, you. You do hear occasional chatter about teams being interested in him. If you go back to early December and you know this, you know, all 30 teams will have these kind of somewhat routine calls with each other where they take notes on each other's rosters and. And try to get a sense of how they see their team. And a lot of teams, when they talked to New Orleans at that time, came away thinking, you know, they didn't know what the price tag was.

[D]

That.

[E]

But the. Zion was gettable. And so if you get closer to the February 5th deadline and you have some contenders or would be contenders with a level of desperation that could increase between now and then, I look at Zion and just kind of wonder is, is anybody want to take a flyer on him and. And step forward and get a guy that, you know, at his best, which is. We have not unfortunately seen very much as a. Still an impact player.

[B]

He's looked good. Yeah, he's looked good at times, especially this year. I mean, he had that stretch where he was coming off the bench for a few games, and I. You just forget how explosive. And I mean, he's got amazing touch, so hopefully he figures it out. And by the way, having American Jokic, Derrick Queen down there, I think does open a lot of doors for what they're going to do. And I don't know. That team is interesting, even though they're bad. So.

[E]

Well, and that's a different version of. You see, like the Sixers come to mind, right? Like when you have.

[G]

Right.

[E]

When you have a youth movement that is starting to give you confidence, then that's where it gets uncomfortable for the old guys, because then. And Zion's not an old guy yet, but in Philly, right, It's Joel Embiid, it's Paul George. That's when the. You start kind of wondering, oh, boy, do they need me anymore? And. And am I expendable? And, you know, like, I don't think there's a market for big fella in Philly, but. But that's another guy that comes to.

[B]

Mind is, hey, we're, we're rooting for Embiid. He's been looking good lately, too. I mean, again, this is the Sixers are a pretty fun story. I'm sure that you're going to do some stuff on them here the rest of the season because I man, they, they might wind up in home court, who knows? Like, they're, they're actually playing pretty good basketball. Yeah. So, all right, guys, go and read that Giannis interview over at the Athletic. If you haven't, it's really worth your time, especially if you're a Bucks fan. If you want to feel good about, you know, having Giannis for the rest of the year. Sam, thanks for hanging out. Thanks to Sam for being on the show. Thanks to Xena, as always. I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for waking up with the U.S.

[G]

Parlor Par if you've used Babel, you would Babble's Conversation Based Technique teacher teaches you useful words and phrases to get you speaking quickly about the things you actually talk about in the real world. With lessons handcrafted by over 200 language experts and voiced by real native speakers, Babbel is like having a private tutor in your pocket. Start speaking with Babbel today. Get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription right now at babbel.com acast spelled B A B-B-E-L.com sl aast rules and restrictions may apply.

[B]

Overstimulated, we get it.

[D]

Create a sense of calm without a whole new routine. For a limited time, get a free.

[B]

Pura plus home diffuser when you subscribe for 12 months. Premium fragrance, smart scheduling and a home.

[E]

That feels grounded again.

[D]

Head to pura.com now.

[C]

Hey, this is Paige from Giggly Squad. We all have way too many subscriptions and bills and no good way to manage or track all of them. But now we have Experian. It's the best place to manage your finances because you can connect all of your accounts in one place, track all your spending, and you can let Experian do the work of finding ways to save you money. January is the perfect time to get your finances in order. It's the perfect New Year resolution. Let your big financial friend Experian do the work for you. So get started today with the Experian app. Now.