Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks ‘Most Likely’ To Split In Offseason
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will “most likely” split this offseason, according to NBA reporter Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.
Antetokounmpo recently stated that he will never request a trade from the Bucks, who won the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns but have since won just one playoff series.
However, if Antetokounmpo doesn’t sign an extension with Milwaukee this offseason, he could get traded.
“While people around the league believe Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are headed for a split, league sources have consistently told NBC Sports it was most likely to happen in the offseason,” Helin wrote. “That’s when Milwaukee will offer Antetokounmpo a max extension, and if he doesn’t sign it — as most expect — it is essentially trade demand without having to play the bad guy and articulate it.
“The Bucks will have to trade him or risk losing him for nothing in the summer of 2027 (where the Clippers, Heat and others are lined up with cap space, waiting). It’s possible Antetokounmpo will use the contract extension offer as leverage to get the Bucks to upgrade the roster (as they did with Jrue Holiday and later Damian Lillard when earlier Antetokounmpo extensions were up) and then re-sign with the team. But this time it feels different.”
Milwaukee has lost in the first round of the playoffs three years in a row, so many people around the NBA believe Antetokounmpo should ask for a trade.
The Bucks are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. If the regular season ended today, Antetokounmpo and Co. wouldn’t even be in the NBA play-in tournament.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo is making $54.1 million this season. He has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The future Hall of Famer doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
Antetokounmpo has been linked to the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in trade rumors.
Before the season, Antetokounmpo requested a trade and wanted to be traded to the Knicks, sources told DallasHoopsJournal. However, Milwaukee and New York didn’t agree to a deal.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. If he wants to win another championship, Antetokounmpo will have to leave Milwaukee.
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