Buy or Sell Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors and Latest NBA Offseason Buzz

The 2025 NBA offseason is moving at ludicrous speed, and it hasn't even really started yet.

If the rumor mill is this active before the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers have even settled their score in the NBA Finals, just imagine what might be possible in the weeks ahead.

Actually, imagination isn't even really needed, since the basketball buzz is leaving a trail of tea leaves toward some wild offseason outcomes. Of course, as any hoops head already knows, not all of these trails will lead to a tangible transaction, so the challenge is to determine which of these whispers has real substance.

To reach that conclusion, we're taking the latest big-name rumors and holding them up to the old reliable smell test to buy or sell whatever's being discussed.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Not Seeking a Change of Scenery?

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When it comes to offseason buzz, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been at the front and center of it ever since ESPN's Shams Charania reported Antetokounmpo was "open-minded" about considering a move away from the Milwaukee Bucks. The mere suggestion of an in-prime, two-time MVP weighing a possible trade request is enough to get the hoops world into a frenzy.

Roughly one month removed from that report, though, there hasn't been much pointing toward his exit beyond that initial report. Is it just too early in the process, or might this mean momentum is building toward him extending his stay in Milwaukee?

It might be a little of both, based on the latest dispatch from NBA insider Jake Fischer. Initial optimism from rival teams about Antetokounmpo wanting out has turned to "skepticism," Fischer relayed on a Bleacher Report live stream, adding "there is not a lot of belief right now at this juncture" about a trade request happening.

However, Fischer noted that the prevailing sentiment all along has been "if there is a decision, a formal decision made to shut or open the door on trade conversations for Giannis this summer, that it would likely happen closer to the end of June and when the offseason really, really begins."

This somehow sounds both ominous—for non-Bucks fans—and maybe meaningless. On the one hand, Antetokounmpo knows exactly what he has in Milwaukee, so if he's still deciding whether that's enough for him, that perhaps indicates the pull of loyalty might be too strong for him to ask out. On the other, it's hard to imagine one of the offseason's biggest storylines reached its resolution in the first week of June.

The Bucks are admittedly in a tough spot if they need to something to pacify Antetokounmpo and build his belief in them. They're short on assets, looking at a lengthy absence from Damian Lillard (torn Achilles) and a full three years removed from their last playoff series win.

With all of that said, Antetokounmpo has scoffed at the notion of a trade demand before, so maybe he's just not the kind of player who would ever make one. It seems too early to rule anything out, but Milwaukee must appreciate the relative quiet around its centerpiece since that initial report.

Buy or Sell? Mostly buy. You never want to say never in the NBA, but if rival teams don't like their chances of poaching Antetokounmpo away, there's probably a reason for that.

A Handful of Suitors for Kevin Durant?

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When stars pop up in the rumor mill, the discourse often turns toward some will-they-or-won't-they debates. Things are different with Kevin Durant, as his split from the Phoenix Suns feels more like a when-and-where situation.

The Suns might require a total roster reset—or at least an everyone-but-Devin-Booker-must-go level of liquidation—and just tasked a first-time NBA head coach, Jordan Ott, to oversee the process. That likely leaves no room for Durant, a 36-year-old with one season left on his contract (at a whopping $54.7 million).

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, "approximately four to six seriously interested teams" are expected to emerge this offseason for Durant. That number sounds more than reasonable given how many clubs could both view themselves as being one player from contention and see Durant being the ideal player to scratch that itch.

Even at his age, he remains a difference-maker of the highest order. There were myriad reasons behind the Suns' disappointing season, but his contributions weren't one of them. Save for missing 20 games, he did everything Phoenix could've wanted and then some. In fact, his season-long averages of 26.6 points (on 52.7/43/83.9 shooting), 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.0 combined steals and blocks were basically mirror images of his career marks.

And since his play style is so accommodating, he'd be a fit for every win-now shopper that can afford him.

Think the Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets could see Durant as the perfect sidekick to their superstars? Or the San Antonio Spurs would view him as their ideal accelerator? How about a reunion with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors? And when's the last time the Miami Heat didn't have interest in an available star? This list of possible landing spots could go on and on, honestly.

Buy or Sell? Easy buy. If anything, it's surprising to hear that number isn't even higher.

Darius Garland Up for Grabs?

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Darius Garland's return to All-Star form was among the key factors behind the Cleveland Cavaliers securing the East's top seed with their second-most wins in franchise history (64). But might his imperfect fit with Donovan Mitchell lead the Cavaliers to thinking their next move toward contention should be a Garland blockbuster?

While it doesn't sound like Cleveland is actively shopping its All-Star point guard, there is "some belief that Darius Garland might be available under the right circumstances," ESPN's Brian Windhorst said during a recent appearance on ESPN Cleveland. "... I think the Cavs are listening and open-minded."

A Garland deal seems extreme given the type of success Cleveland just enjoyed. And while the Cavs couldn't advance past the conference semifinals, it's worth noting they were ravaged by injuries in that series and they lost to an Indiana Pacers team that has since split the first two games of the NBA Finals.

Saying that, there have been rumblings about Garland not being among Cleveland's untouchables. And if Cleveland could build its ideal backcourt mate for Mitchell, that hoops-lab creation would be bigger, stingier on defense and less ball-dominant than Garland.

This seems like one of those situations where semantics are important. There's a big difference between "shopping" and "listening." The Cavaliers probably don't want to cut ties with Garland, but they may be open to the idea of being blown away by an offer and probably want some kind of gauge on his market value.

Buy or Sell? Partial sell. If the Cavs can fetch a king's ransom (or a high-end, defensive-minded big wing) for Garland, they might take it, but the likeliest scenario would see them hanging onto their lead guard.

Knicks Focusing Coaching Search on Jason Kidd?

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After dismissing Tom Thibodeau, the New York Knicks would like their next head coach to be...the current head coach of the Dallas Mavericks?

The Knicks reportedly have "serious" interest in Jason Kidd, per NBA insider Marc Stein, who added that some around the league believe he is New York's preferred choice. ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon confirmed the Knicks "are conducting active due diligence" on Kidd.

Could New York, which just reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years, actually find a way to bring its former lead guard back to the Big Apple? Theoretically, yes, but functionally perhaps not. That all hinges on the Dallas Mavericks, who are reportedly expected to deny New York's request to interview Kidd, per The Athletic's James L. Edwards III.

The Knicks could try to incentivize the Mavericks to play ball with a trade offer. Coaching trades are rare, but they happen on occasion (In fact, the Nets traded Kidd to the Bucks in 2014). But the 'Bockers are light on assets after last year's acquisitions of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.

There's a temptation to give New York some credit for leaving no stone unturned in this search. This is a good team in a great market, so the job opening should theoretically sell itself. Then again, this makes it seem as if New York dismissed Thibodeau without an obvious successor in mind, which feels baffling given the level he'd just reached with this group.

Buy or Sell? Both. New York's interest in Kidd is an easy buy, but until Dallas proves otherwise, we're selling the idea of him actually joining the Knicks.

Celtics Shopping Jrue Holiday?

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The first phase of the Boston Celtics' cost-cutting process is apparently here.

Per NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Celtics are "most definitely listening" to trade offers for Jrue Holiday. The two-way guard has been repeatedly mentioned as a trade candidate since word first got around about Boston needing to trim payroll this summer (a need made all the more urgent by Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear).

Among Boston's preferred starters, Holiday is both the oldest (35 this month) and least productive (11.1 points per game this season, the fewest since his rookie year). He's also incredibly expensive, as he's slated to be the club's third-highest player over the next three seasons, a stretch during which he'll collect a cool $104.4 million.

It makes all the sense in the world for the Shamrocks to shop him, but is anybody buying? He's still helpful to have as a two-way connector and could surely be more productive on a less loaded roster, but that's plenty of money to shell out for a non-star working through the latter half of his 30s.

The Celtics can probably find somewhere to send him, but would they have to incentivize a team to take on his contract? They probably need to find a win-now team with a desperate situation in the backcourt—the Dallas Mavericks with Kyrie Irving working his way back from an ACL tear, maybe?—but that's an awfully narrow market at best.

Buy or Sell? Buy. Finding a realistic landing spot for Holiday is tricky, but rest assured Boston is actively searching for one.