NBA Rumors: Spurs, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jazz, Pelicans, Saddiq Bey

Spurs

The Spurs have been one of the league’s early surprises, opening the season 21-7 and reaching the NBA Cup championship game.

Still, league sources who spoke with Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal don’t expect San Antonio to make a major in-season move that would sacrifice long-term flexibility.

“They’re not going to sit around being satisfied,” one source told Afseth. “But I don’t see them making a move like trading for Giannis.”

The expectation is that the Spurs will continue prioritizing internal development around their young core while keeping their best assets intact.

That said, rival teams have wondered whether San Antonio would consider adding a high-level complementary piece if the fit and timing were right.

“They have the assets to make a trade like Orlando did to add Desmond Bane,” another source said, via Afseth. “It’d have to fit their timeline. Someone like Trey Murphy III, for example.”

Bucks

If Giannis Antetokounmpo were to become available, Afseth reports that Eastern Conference teams would be the most aggressive suitors.

That group includes the Heat, Knicks, Hawks and Raptors. However, rival executives are skeptical that New York would want to disrupt its roster midseason, while Atlanta has shown no willingness to include Jalen Johnson in talks.

Milwaukee, for its part, continues to signal it prefers to build around Antetokounmpo rather than move him.

Jazz

The Jazz are trying to balance urgency with restraint.

Both Afseth and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report that retaining Utah’s top-eight–protected 2026 first-round pick remains a priority. At the same time, Fischer notes the Jazz want to establish a winning environment sooner rather than later.

Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George and Walker Kessler are viewed internally as cornerstones, while veterans Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love and Georges Niang are considered potential in-season trade candidates, per Afseth.

Management and ownership, meanwhile, remain confident in head coach Will Hardy as the right long-term leader.

Pelicans

Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey is drawing increasing interest from teams in need of wing help, Afseth reports.

Bey, who missed last season rehabbing a torn ACL, has reestablished himself as a reliable contributor. He’s averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in just under 30 minutes per game through 29 appearances, including 21 starts.

Around the league, that combination of size, versatility and health tends to get noticed — especially as the deadline approaches.