Bucks eye offseason trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo amid locker-room turmoil
bucks-eye-offseason-trade-of-giannis-antetokounmpo-amid-locker-room-turmoil
The Milwaukee Bucks, headed to the draft lottery for the first time since 2016, are preparing for the possibility of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer after a season described by one team source as “as toxic of a team situation as any in the league,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Superstar’s future clouds season
Milwaukee posted a losing record with and without Antetokounmpo in 2025/26. Team insiders told ESPN the club’s identity unraveled as the 31-year-old forward appeared “one foot in, one foot out.” Although Antetokounmpo has not formally requested a trade, he and agent Alex Saratsis informed management early in the season that “it was probably time” to separate, citing a handshake understanding made during his 2020 and 2023 extensions to work together on any future move.
Two weeks before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Antetokounmpo and Saratsis met with co-owners Jimmy Haslam and Wes Edens to discuss an amicable exit. General manager Jon Horst later told the two-time MVP he was already engaged in trade talks and that a deal could materialize before the 2026/27 opener.
Deadline discussions and Miami’s offer
While several clubs questioned Milwaukee’s seriousness, the Heat, Warriors and Timberwolves believed Horst negotiated in good faith, sources said. Miami’s proposal—Tyler Herro, rookie center Kelel Ware and multiple draft picks—was reportedly given careful consideration before the Bucks declined on deadline morning, convinced stronger packages would surface in the offseason.
Injury, bonus implications and family goals
Antetokounmpo has been limited to 36 games after a mid-March knee injury but is still hoping to return later this week—potentially for Friday’s home finale—to share the floor with brothers Thanasis and Alex. Missing five more contests cost him a Nike contract bonus tied to reaching 41 appearances.
Backcourt friction and Kuzma’s benching
Following a 9-for-27 combined shooting night by guards Ryan Rollins and Kevin Porter Jr. in a Mar. 1 blowout loss at Chicago, coaches urged the pair to involve teammates more. The message rattled the locker room and led to a players-only meeting where veteran forward Kyle Kuzma told the young guards to ignore the criticism. Kuzma received his first DNP-CD the next game and later met with head coach Doc Rivers to clear the air.
Rivers under review, Horst secure for now
Charania reports a season-long disconnect between Rivers and several players. In one meeting, the coach opened by telling the team to “look up my résumé,” noting past playoff and championship runs with underdog rosters. Ownership will decide on Rivers’s status within a week; he has one year remaining on his deal. Horst, extended last year, still has multiple seasons left but has experienced friction with Antetokounmpo since the deadline.
The Bucks’ top executives have come to terms with the likelihood that Antetokounmpo will be moved after the season, setting the stage for a pivotal summer in Milwaukee.
Source: HoopsRumors
