Bucks Prepare for Wizards Matchup Amid Giannis Trade Talks

Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the move as the NBA trade deadline approaches.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:55pm

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The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to face the Washington Wizards, but the bigger story is the potential trade of star player Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to reports, Antetokounmpo is 'ready for a new home' and the Bucks have started taking trade offers ahead of the February 5th deadline. If Antetokounmpo is dealt, it would mark a new era for the Bucks franchise.

Why it matters

Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the NBA's most dominant players, having led the Bucks to an NBA championship. His potential departure would be a major shakeup for the league and the Bucks organization, which would need to rebuild around new players.

The details

The Bucks are coming off a 139-122 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, in which Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins combined for 89 points. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said the team's main issues were turnovers and giving up offensive rebounds. Meanwhile, the Wizards have a new look after trading CJ McCollum for Trae Young, and young players like Alex Sarr have stepped up in expanded roles.

  • The Bucks and Wizards will face off on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
  • The NBA trade deadline is on February 5, 2026.

The players

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A star player for the Milwaukee Bucks who is reportedly 'ready for a new home' and has the Bucks exploring trade options ahead of the deadline.

Myles Turner

A Bucks player who scored a team-high 31 points in their recent loss to the 76ers.

Alex Sarr

A young Wizards player who had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks in the team's recent win over the Trail Blazers.

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What they’re saying

“I love (what we did) offensively, which has been our concern. We missed eight layups tonight and we could've had a lot more points. But their points, really, a ton of them came on offensive rebounds and turnovers. If you take those two things away, I could make a case that defensively we weren't as bad.”

— Doc Rivers, Bucks Head Coach

“It's a really unique skill set that he has. That's a unique player and he does unique things.”

— Brian Keefe, Wizards Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the Bucks to move forward with a deal before the February 5th trade deadline.

The takeaway

The potential trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo would mark a seismic shift for the Bucks franchise, as they would need to rebuild around new players. Meanwhile, the Wizards are developing their young talent and looking to make a push for the playoffs.