Bucks Open Trade Talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo as Playoff Hopes Fade
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Milwaukee is actively discussing potential trades for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, league sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday, signaling that the 31-year-old superstar may have played his final game for the franchise that drafted him in 2013.
The news broke less than 24 hours after the Bucks’ 139-122 defeat in Philadelphia. That loss dropped Milwaukee into a tie with the Charlotte Hornets for 11th place in the Eastern Conference, 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in position. The Bucks are also now level for seventh in the league’s draft-lottery standings and own a 3-12 record this season without Antetokounmpo, who remains sidelined by a calf strain.
Mounting Frustration
Antetokounmpo entered the 2025-26 campaign hoping management could assemble a contender, but criticism has intensified as the team fell down the standings. Last week he accused teammates of “not playing hard, not playing to win, not playing together,” adding that chemistry was “off” and “guys are being selfish.”
Previous and Current Trade Dialogue
Milwaukee briefly engaged the New York Knicks in the offseason after the forward identified New York as his lone preferred destination outside Wisconsin. Talks fizzled when the Bucks declined to seriously entertain moving him, and sources said the Knicks never made an offer strong enough to advance negotiations. Antetokounmpo is no longer focused on a single team, widening the field of suitors.
League-Wide Impact
With only one notable deal – Trae Young’s move to Washington earlier this month – completed so far, front offices have been waiting for a major piece to hit the market. An Antetokounmpo trade could ignite activity, although significant salary-matching hurdles, limited draft capital and several star injuries around the NBA have complicated discussions.
Potential Bidders
Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Memphis, Sacramento, Utah and Washington possess the largest pools of first-round picks over the next seven years, collectively holding half of all tradable selections league-wide. Eleven clubs, including Atlanta, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Miami, Minnesota, New York, Portland, San Antonio and Toronto, combine draft assets with roster talent that could appeal to Milwaukee.
Portland is a notable factor because it controls Milwaukee’s first-rounders from 2028 through 2030. Golden State could also explore a blockbuster as it seeks another title run with Stephen Curry, though such a move would likely cost most of the Warriors’ remaining draft stock.
Milwaukee’s Dilemma
General manager Jon Horst has repeatedly mortgaged future picks to surround Antetokounmpo with help, from the acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard to this summer’s signing of Myles Turner. As a result, the Bucks are among the NBA’s oldest rosters and hold limited draft assets. The Pelicans own Milwaukee’s 2027 first-round selection, and Portland has swap rights in 2028 and 2030.
In June, Milwaukee will receive the lesser of its own pick or New Orleans’ pick, a choice that could land in the top five. If Antetokounmpo is dealt, the Bucks’ objectives would be to get younger, restore draft flexibility and obtain cost-controlled players who can contribute immediately.
What Antetokounmpo Wants
The forward has consistently stated that legacy and championships drive his decisions. Any team that trades for him must convince him it can compete for a title before he becomes eligible on Oct. 1 to sign a four-year, $275 million extension. He can still enter free agency in 2027.
The NBA trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 5. Until then, league conversations are expected to revolve around one question: where will Giannis Antetokounmpo play next?
Source: ESPN
