Reports say the Rockets and Spurs will not pursue Giannis! Both teams possess young talents and draft picks but are unwilling to make an offer.

As of January 29th Beijing time, ESPN reporters McMahon and Bonthemps reported that the Spurs and Rockets each have young prospects and future draft assets, theoretically allowing them to make trade proposals to the Bucks for Giannis while still maintaining some competitive edge this season. However, with Giannis entering the trade market before the NBA deadline on February 5th, it is expected that neither team will actively compete in this bidding war.

“The information I’ve received indicates that the Rockets will not enter the bidding,” ESPN’s McMahon said on a podcast. “Of course, these reports are not official statements under oath, but I’ve heard similar remarks multiple times, and honestly, my sources who have given me insider info before have been quite reliable.” Notably, the Rockets still rank first in the latest odds for Giannis’s next destination.

The Spurs have conveyed a similar stance to McMahon. The team consistently believes that the best path to building a championship roster around Wembanyama is to pair him with young guards like Kastler and Dylan Harper, supplemented by a more experienced guard such as Fox.

“A Spurs insider told me, ‘We are not the destination for Giannis,’” McMahon stated. “In fact, rumors about this potential trade have been swirling since last summer, but all of San Antonio’s team-building plans strictly follow the timeline centered on Wembanyama. Considering Giannis’s current age, bringing him on board would effectively accelerate the team’s championship timeline by a full decade.”

“I also believe the Spurs will not participate in the bidding,” Bonthemps added shortly after.

The Rockets can currently offer up to five future unprotected first-round picks plus three pick swap rights; meanwhile, the Spurs can provide up to four future unprotected first-round picks along with three pick swap rights.