Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time
Contending teams which see themselves one star away from a championship are in that discussion. And when contemplating off-season moves those teams have surely taken that into consideration.
What’s been persistent are the claims that Giannis wants out of Milwaukee. If he is like many of the superstars that we have seen, he is longing to be part of a “superteam” that carries home a title. Can you blame the two-time MVP for wanting to win another championship?
And could you blame the Bucks, after three straight immediate playoff exits, if they wanted to explore a rebuilding project?
So there you go. Maybe both sides could serve their ends.
Does Giannis have a wandering eye?
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, after the Bucks (+5000 to win the NBA title at BetOnline) were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third consecutive season, Giannis started looking around to see what outside opportunities might exist for him.
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Of course there would be opportunities, which just about every NBA team. The Knicks had been prominently mentioned as a franchise that would be willing to swing a deal. The Celtics, in the wake of a disappointment of their own AND losing Jayson Tatum for a season, might possibly be in that mix as well.
And everybody else who could manipulate their salary cap situation to make it a reality.
Recent deals may have left Giannis upset at Bucks
Having Damian Liillard with the Bucks may have been part of Giannis’ “superteam” plan. Lillard was as productive as any point guard in the league from a scoring perspective over the course of his career. But a torn Achilles spoiled everything. He is going to miss all of next season, in all probability. And the Bucks released him, which left them carrying dead money on the books but also with some cap money freed up. ,
That made Giannis very unhappy, reportedly. And frankly, we’re not sure whether Milwaukee’s new roster moves have done anything to remedy the situation for him (assuming he was grim about it in the first place).
Bringing in Turner – a difference-maker or a wash?
The key move for the Bucks – as far as bringing in new people is concerned – is the free agent signing of Miles Turner, a center who helped the Indiana Pacers win the Eastern Conference championship. Turner shot a lousy 37.7% in the NBA Finals, but he is a capable rebounder and has twice led the NBA in blocked shots. Adding someone like him was necessary after Brook Lopez departed for the LA Clippers.
But does Turner upgrade the team? And if so, how much?
Giannis’ supporting cast is that of an ensemble, and some of those players were re-signed. This is a different crew, however, than the one that won the NBA title in 2021. It was not pleasant to see Khris Middleton dealt off that team. But there’s no sense crying over spilled milk, as they say.
Giannis – as good as ever
It takes just a quick glance to see that Antetokounmpo put up some of the best numbers of his career in the 2024-25 season. The Greek-Nigerian superstar averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists, while shooting 60% from the field. He is the only player in NBA history with a 30-10-5 production line (points-rebounds-assists) in any season while still shooting 60%. He was third in the MVP voting, and BetOnline has him priced at +800 to win the award in the 2025-26 season.
The role going forward – that is, “point forward”
Giannis’ contract has him bound to the Bucks through the 2026-27 season. Then he has a player option he can exercise for $62.8 million before the 2027-28 campaign. Inasmuch as Milwaukee has him for at least two more seasons, he can’t leave unless they trade him. That is, if he wants to leave at all.
There is nothing coming from the franchise that indicates they’re nervous or feel they’re in limbo. In fact, they have a clear vision of what Giannis’ role with the team is going to be and how their player moves fit into that.
Head coach Doc Rivers says he loves the effect he has on the offense when he brings the ball up the floor and sees him as the ideal “point forward.” General manager Jon Horst says that the Lilard move was designed to improve the team in the here and now, to give the team a chance to win with Giannis, and that he would like to surround him with three-point shooters on the floor and make plays with them.
About Giannis in a “point” role, he told The Athletic, “I would say we’ve always doubled down on it, maybe we’re tripling down or quadrupling down on it now. He just continues to grow at such a high rate in generating 3-point shots for his teammates. It’s elite. His decision-making is elite.”
