Trade Roundup: Executives Wary of Paying Premium for Giannis; Rockets Weigh Guard Market; Calls to Move Vucevic; Middleton Reflects on Deal
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December 5, 2025 — During the latest episode of “The Hoop Collective” podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said league executives are reluctant to surrender large bundles of draft picks for star players in their 30s, even for Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Windhorst noted that front offices are “freaked out about the aprons,” referring to new salary-cap thresholds that restrict roster flexibility. “There ain’t going to be no five first-round pick trades,” he said, adding that packages of four first-rounders are also unlikely for high-salary veterans. He acknowledged, however, that one aggressive team could still break that trend for a two-time MVP.
Rockets Monitoring Backcourt Options
The emergence of rookies Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard has eased Houston’s need for immediate backcourt help, but Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron wrote that the club could revisit trade scenarios before the Feb. 5 deadline if concerns linger over Fred VanVleet’s recovery from an ACL tear. Gozlan described Celtics guard Derrick White as an ideal yet difficult target; alternatives such as Collin Sexton or Dennis Schröder may not offer enough upside to justify a deal.
Bulls Urged to Find Contender for Vucevic
With Chicago slipping after a strong start, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times argued that the Bulls should move veteran center Nikola Vucevic to a playoff team, giving the 34-year-old a postseason opportunity before he reaches unrestricted free agency this summer.
Middleton Details Emotional Impact of Trade
Veteran forward Khris Middleton told Jake Fischer of The Stein Line that last season’s deadline trade from Milwaukee to Washington was a blow to his confidence after more than a decade with the Bucks. “When you get traded, it’s a huge confidence killer, especially if you’re not in control of it,” he said, recalling a period of reflection on his future after the move.
Source: Hoops Rumors
