Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly prepared to leave the Milwaukee Bucks as the trade deadline approaches, according to multiple league sources. Several teams have submitted substantial trade offers, prompting the Bucks to become increasingly receptive to potential deals.
While Milwaukee is now more open to discussing trades involving Antetokounmpo, the organization has communicated they are not pressured to make an immediate move. Sources reveal the Bucks prefer to wait until the offseason if the offers do not include top-tier young talent or a significant number of draft picks. Delaying the trade could allow Milwaukee to explore improved draft options available during the summer.
Antetokounmpo has indicated privately for months that he feels the time has come to part ways after more than 12 years with the franchise. This development comes as the Bucks struggle with an 18-27 record, placing them 12th in the Eastern Conference and raising questions about the team’s direction. Open conversations between the player and team management have become more frequent and transparent.
Milwaukee holds a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, owning the less favorable selection between its own and that of the New Orleans Pelicans. Trying to balance current competitiveness with future assets, the Bucks face a complex strategic decision. Antetokounmpo, age 31, will become eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax contract extension starting October 1. Absent this extension, he could opt out of his $62.8 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent by the 2027 offseason.
The next season operates like an expiring contract year for Antetokounmpo, adding leverage to influence his trade destination. Teams contemplating trades must consider whether he plans to commit long-term. A trade executed in the offseason would also delay his ability to sign the supermax extension by six months from the deal date.
Antetokounmpo’s recent comments underscore his uncertain status. Asked if he expects to remain with the Bucks this season, he replied, “I don’t know. I take it day by day.” Following a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, he candidly described team struggles: “We’re not playing hard… Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of the right shot for the team.”
The Bucks’ front office and coaching staff had assured Antetokounmpo that they aimed to contend for a title this season, notably after trading Damian Lillard’s $113 million contract to sign Myles Turner for $108 million over four years. Despite offseason concerns about the roster, Antetokounmpo initially recommitted to Milwaukee with hopes for a strong 2025-26 campaign. Recent injuries, including a right calf strain and a groin strain, have sidelined him for significant stretches. The team’s record without him stands at 3-12.
Antetokounmpo’s durability and commitment have repeatedly pushed Milwaukee’s success. He is a 10-time All-Star who led the Bucks to their first NBA championship in 50 years. He remains the franchise leader in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and games played. His individual performance this season includes averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game with a historically efficient field goal percentage of 64.5%, the highest ever for a player scoring at least 25 points per game.
Despite building lineups around Antetokounmpo’s skills—highlighted by acquiring Jrue Holiday in 2020 and Lillard in 2023—the Bucks have suffered three straight first-round playoff exits. The roster’s depleted depth and limited trade assets constrain their ability to make transformative moves. Trade discussions have primarily involved forwards Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma, while the Bucks remain unwilling to part with their valuable 2031 or 2032 first-round draft picks except for a blockbuster superstar acquisition.
The uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future has created tension within the Bucks’ locker room and unease among the fanbase. Highlighting this, an incident occurred in January when home fans booed the struggling team, prompting Antetokounmpo to boo back, demonstrating frustration over the team’s status. Milwaukee’s overall offensive and defensive efficiencies rank them near the bottom of the league, and the team’s margin of effectiveness markedly depends on whether Antetokounmpo is on the court or not.
Looking ahead, the Bucks will enter the draft with multiple picks, including those in 2031 and 2033, which could become pivotal assets in future trades involving Antetokounmpo or restructuring the roster. Meanwhile, conversations between the player, his agent Alex Saratsis, and Bucks management have been ongoing for nearly a year as all parties seek clarity on the best path forward.
The evolving situation suggests Giannis Antetokounmpo’s tenure in Milwaukee may soon come to a significant crossroads, with the trade deadline and offseason trade discussions poised to shape the next chapter of one of the NBA’s most iconic players.
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