Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks May Be Heading Toward Summer Separation
giannis-bucks-summer-split-looming
League insiders increasingly believe Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are on course for a breakup once the 2024 offseason begins, according to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin.
Helin reports Milwaukee intends to present the two-time MVP with a contract extension after the season. Should Antetokounmpo decline, rival front-office executives would interpret the decision as a de facto trade request, minus any public confrontation. The Bucks would then face a choice: move their franchise cornerstone or risk losing him for nothing when he can become a free agent in the summer of 2027.
The 29-year-old forward has publicly stated he will never ask out of Milwaukee, yet few around the NBA expect him to spend the remainder of his prime with the team. Potential suitors such as the Knicks, Heat, Warriors, Lakers, Nets and Hawks — along with cap-space projects like the Clippers and Heat for 2027 — are already monitoring the situation.
Antetokounmpo has leveraged extension negotiations before, prompting the Bucks to add veterans Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard in separate blockbuster trades. This time, sources sense the dynamic is different. Milwaukee sits 11th in the Eastern Conference and has won only one playoff series since capturing the 2021 championship. If the season ended today, the club would miss even the play-in tournament.
Antetokounmpo remains one of the league’s elite talents, carrying career accolades that include two MVP awards, a Finals MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year honor and 10 All-Star selections. He is earning $54.1 million this season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.
Whether Milwaukee can convince its superstar to commit long-term — or chooses to explore trade options this summer — is now viewed as one of the NBA’s pivotal storylines.
Source: Hoops Wire
