Report: Bucks Face Looming Decision Window on Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein says any potential trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlikely to occur during the season and would most likely be considered in the summer following the 2025-26 campaign.
Writing in his newsletter, Stein noted that league insiders around Milwaukee believe the Bucks would wait until the conclusion of that season—if they decide to move the two-time MVP at all. Antetokounmpo recently told reporters he is content in Milwaukee “right now” but acknowledged he could reevaluate his stance in “six or seven months,” adding that the temptation to request a trade typically arises once a season ends.
The 2024-25 schedule therefore shapes up as a pivotal stretch for the franchise. Milwaukee’s front office doubled down over the summer, buying out Damian Lillard’s contract and using the freed cap space to sign center Myles Turner away from Indiana. Beyond those moves, the club kept the core of last season’s 48-win roster intact, even after a first-round playoff exit. Antetokounmpo has publicly stated his priority is competing for another championship.
The 29-year-old forward is beginning the first year of a three-season, $175 million extension he agreed to after the 2023 Lillard trade. The deal runs through 2026-27 and includes a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, giving the Bucks a defined—but potentially narrowing—window to build a title contender around their cornerstone.
Source: Hoops Wire
