LATEST HEADLINE: Bucks field trade proposals for injured Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of Thursday deadline
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CONTENT:
The Milwaukee Bucks have opened talks with several clubs about a potential deal involving Giannis Antetokounmpo as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaches, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Charania reported on SportsCenter over the weekend that the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks have emerged as the leading bidders. Milwaukee has exchanged proposals and issued counteroffers to multiple teams, he added.
Any successful trade package is expected to feature significant young talent, a large cache of draft picks, or a mix of both. Charania described the negotiations as centering on price rather than interest.
Shift in strategy after January injury
Until recently, the Bucks were pursuing upgrades designed to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee long-term. That plan changed on Jan. 23, when the two-time MVP suffered a calf injury that has sidelined him indefinitely. Since the injury, the Bucks have fallen to 12th place in the Eastern Conference and have dropped five consecutive games, including Sunday’s defeat in Boston.
Deadline dynamics
Milwaukee could choose to wait until the offseason, when more teams will have additional draft assets and Antetokounmpo, who holds a player option after next season, may exert greater influence over his future destination.
Head coach Doc Rivers sought to calm speculation Sunday. “He wants to be a Buck,” Rivers told reporters, adding that he expects the roster to remain intact past the deadline.
The league’s attention now turns to whether that stance will hold through Thursday’s cutoff.
Source: Hoops Wire
