Shams Charania says Bucks keep Giannis as standings pressure builds

With the NBA trade deadline set for 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5, the Milwaukee Bucks delivered their clearest signal yet on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status: he’s staying through the deadline. The message, shared publicly by NBA insider Shams Charania on Thursday morning, comes as Milwaukee sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and tries to stabilize a season that has slipped into crisis territory.

The decision closes the door—at least for now—on the loudest “Giannis trade” chatter and shifts attention to what the Bucks can realistically do around him in the final hours.

Giannis stays put through deadline

In recent days, rival teams had been checking in on Antetokounmpo as Milwaukee struggled and Giannis remained out with a calf injury. Thursday’s update resets the market: instead of a franchise-altering move, the Bucks are positioning themselves to make smaller roster adjustments while keeping their superstar centerpiece.

In practical terms, it’s a bet that the Bucks can still salvage the season enough to justify staying the course—while also preserving optionality for the summer if results don’t improve.

NBA standings show how steep it is

Milwaukee’s record has fallen well off the pace in the East, turning each week into a math problem: climb quickly or risk drifting out of the postseason picture entirely. Here’s where the relevant slice of the conference stands as of Thursday, Feb. 5 (ET):

The standings context explains why even a “no trade” decision can feel like news: Milwaukee is under pressure to show a credible plan for the final third of the season.

Is Giannis playing tonight?

As of Thursday, Feb. 5 (ET), Antetokounmpo’s next-game availability remains unclear publicly beyond the fact that he has been sidelined with a calf issue. The most immediate on-court data point is Wednesday night, Feb. 4 (ET), when Milwaukee won 141–137 in overtime against New Orleans without him.

That win mattered because it kept the Bucks from sliding further in the standings, but it also underlined the core problem: the team is operating in survival mode, asking role players to produce high-end offense and late-game execution while their best player is out.

What the Bucks did instead: smaller moves, fast

With Antetokounmpo staying, Milwaukee quickly pivoted to “move around the edges” activity. One notable deal in the final hours sent guard Cole Anthony and wing Amir Coffey to Phoenix in exchange for center Nick Richards and wing Nigel Hayes-Davis.

The logic is straightforward: Richards adds a true center profile—rim protection, rebounding, and a clearer interior presence—while Hayes-Davis offers size and defensive versatility on the wing. It’s not the sort of transaction that changes a franchise’s identity overnight, but it aims at practical needs: steadier frontcourt minutes and lineup options that don’t collapse on the glass.

What this means for Shams’ “Bucks” signal

Charania’s update functions like a league-wide memo: the Giannis sweepstakes are paused, and Milwaukee is acting like a team that still wants to compete this season rather than blow it up. That doesn’t mean the Bucks are suddenly safe, or that the pressure is gone—just that the timeline has shifted.

If the Bucks keep losing at this rate, the questions will return with more force in the offseason. If they rip off a strong post-deadline stretch—especially once Giannis returns—this week will be remembered as the moment Milwaukee drew a line, then tried to build a functional supporting cast before it was too late.

What to watch after 3 p.m. ET

Once the deadline passes, the storyline becomes measurable. These are the concrete markers:

• Giannis’ return window: any clear upgrade from “day-to-day” language into a firm target date will change expectations fast.

• Defense and rebounding: Richards’ impact should show up quickly in second-chance points allowed and paint outcomes.

• East climbing math: Milwaukee needs wins in clusters, not alternating streaks, to close the gap on the play-in line.

For now, the Bucks’ stance is clear: keep Giannis, patch the roster, and try to win their way back into relevance—before the standings make the next decision for them.

Sources consulted: NBA, The Associated Press, Reuters, Basketball-Reference