DHJ Quick Take
- Trade Inevitability: Following a season of internal friction, the Milwaukee Bucks‘ highest levels of ownership and the front office have reportedly accepted that trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason is a reality.
- Fractured Relationship: The bond between the superstar and the franchise deteriorated significantly due to locker room tension—described by one source as “feeling like a funeral”—and a public disagreement over a knee injury in March that is currently under NBA investigation.
- Likely Suitors: While the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves were aggressive at the February deadline, the New York Knicks have emerged as Giannis’s preferred destination, with a massive pursuit expected from them this summer.
The Milwaukee Bucks are open to trading superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
Highest levels of the Bucks have come to terms with the inevitability of a likely Antetokounmpo trade coming to fruition this offseason.
“This is as toxic of a team situation as any in the league,” one source close to the team told ESPN. “They waited until the very end on Giannis, and now everyone knows.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors aggressively pursued a trade for Antetokounmpo at this year’s trade deadline. The Bucks seriously considered the Heat’s offer, which centered on Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, other players and multiple draft picks and pick swaps.
A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo has spent his entire NBA career with the Bucks. He’s a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. Antetokounmpo guided Milwaukee to the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. The Bucks have won just one playoff series since then.
Antetokounmpo’s relationship with the Bucks is very strained at the moment. The NBA is investigating Milwaukee for its handling of the player participation policy and potential inconsistent statements regarding the health of Antetokounmpo, who believes he’s healthy enough to play. The swingman wants to play with his brothers, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Alex Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks have told investigators that Antetokounmpo declined an opportunity to play 3-on-3 scrimmages as part of the return protocol from his knee injury. Antetokounmpo, however, told the NBA that he is healthy enough to play.
Milwaukee has already been eliminated from the playoffs and the NBA play-in tournament. With everything that has gone on with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks this season, all signs point toward the two sides finally parting ways this offseason.
“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face,” Antetokounmpo told reporters on April 4. “So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
If Antetokounmpo doesn’t play again this season, he will finish the 2025-26 campaign with averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in 36 appearances. It will be fascinating to see where Antetokounmpo, one of the greatest players of all time, is playing next season. One exec told Dallas Hoops Journal that he thinks Antetokounmpo will be on the New York Knicks.
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