NBA insider reveals one obstacle standing between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Cavaliers trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have already pulled off one stunning trade this month, sending Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden.
But the Cavs might not be satisfied with acquiring one future Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. One NBA insider thinks there is a back door for Cleveland to get another before Thursday's trade deadline.
MORE: James Harden-Darius Garland trade grades: Cavs get a win-now piece, Clippers look to the future
Sam Amick on Wednesday revealed the one hurdle that the Cavs must clear to get in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could be on his way out of Milwaukee in the next 24 hours.
Amick reported that executives around the NBA think Cleveland is in position to ship out center Jarrett Allen to make room financially for Antetokounmpo -- who would join Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in the East's most imposing starting lineup.
"That would get them to a place where they could start swinging for the fences," Amick told FanDuel TV of a possible Allen trade before the deadline. "Some people around the league thought they might try to sneak in on the Giannis sweepstakes."
Sam Amick says people around the league think the Cavs could sneak into the Giannis sweepstakes 😱
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 4, 2026
"If they can find a new home for Jarrett Allen, from a financial standpoint...they might sneak in on Giannis."@sam_amick | @MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @TeamLou23pic.twitter.com/ZDBTMluwIx
Allen, whose three-year, $90 million contract extension kicks in next year, would be a key salary-matching piece in any Antetokounmpo trade. The two-time MVP is extension-eligible in the summer and can become a free agent in 2027 if he declines his $62.8 million player option.
Trading Antetokounmpo to a division rival surely wouldn't be palatable to the Bucks. But if Antetokounmpo signals that he would be willing to extend his contract in Cleveland, then Milwaukee may well try to facilitate it -- though the final asking price likely would be enormous.
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