The Athletic NBA Daily What teams NEED to make a trade | Morning Shoot Around
Jan 28, 2026
They rank all 30 teams into tiers based on who must make trades before the deadline. They dissect Giannis rumors and what Milwaukee might do. They debate which contenders should push now and which clubs should tank or reset. Specific teams discussed include nets, knicks, lakers, warriors, nuggets, rockets, and rebuilding squads.
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Giannis’ Trade Reports Are Strategic Noise
- Giannis' public trade hints create more confusion than clarity for rival GMs and fans.
- Andrew Schlecht and the hosts treat such reports as strategic leaks rather than definitive plans.
Trade To Reset The Bucks’ Timeline
- If Milwaukee trades Giannis, they should embrace a full teardown to reset the roster and acquire high-value picks.
- Use received assets to rebuild around young prospects rather than half-measures that keep them middling.
Blue-Chip Prospects Drive Superstar Trades
- Teams with blue-chip prospects (Thunder, Spurs, Rockets) are the most logical trade partners for superstar deals.
- But those teams often prefer to stay the course, leaving contenders in the East as likelier landing spots.