Missed deadline trades set stage for wild summer

With Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining with the Milwaukee Bucks past the trade deadline, several unresolved storylines around the league are setting the stage for what could be an extremely busy offseason.

Milwaukee entertained trade discussions involving Antetokounmpo for the first time, but ultimately chose to hold onto him, aiming either to persuade him to commit long-term or to reopen talks in the summer when a wider group of teams may be able to present stronger offers.

The Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors were among the most aggressive suitors at the deadline and are expected to re-engage once the offseason arrives.

The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks could also enter the mix, depending on how far each team advances in the playoffs.

“We are now going to be simmering until summer because there’s a lot of unfinished business that didn’t get done,” said Brian Windhorst on NBA Today’s Trade Deadline special. “You go around the league. Everybody on the Heat they were potentially offered in deals. What happens if they have an early exit? A bunch of people in Minnesota know they were offered in deals. What happens if they have an early exit? Obviously the Cavs have gone all-in and shown a willingness to break up their core. What happens if they have an early exit?

“You will see a revisiting of the Giannis situation in the summer.

“We know that the Clippers are now in the middle of a controlled tear down. I don’t want to use the word ‘rebuild.’ What about Kawhi Leonard?

“And then you look at Domantas Sabonis – he was being floated and they couldn’t do a deal for him. None of that mentions Ja Morant. The Knicks decided to keep their team together and not go after Giannis – what happens if they don’t reach the Finals and do this?

“In all honesty, while we did not have a super aggressive trade deadline, what has happened is we’ve laid the foundation for wild summer.”