According to reports, spearheaded by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Milwaukee Bucks, along with the rest of the league, are slowly coming to the realization that his time with the organization is coming to the end.

While Giannis Antetokounmpo has publicly stated that he is going nowhere and wants to remain loyal to the organization, he has made it known he wants to continue to win games. Plus, shared the tidbit of teams doing what’s best for them and not remaining loyal to players.

Since the beginning of last season’s trade deadline, rumors and reports have been circulating the internet surrounding the future of Antetokounmpo.

Now, it’s expected by everyone that Antetokounmpo will begin to take the steps necessary to lay the foundation of a trade request out of Milwaukee. Reportedly, the New York Knicks were one of his top teams to go to.

“There’s been an expectation for quite some time that Giannis’ days in Milwaukee, one way or another, are numbered,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on NBA Today. “Whether that was going to happen this year, whether it’s going to happen potentially during this season, or whether it could happen next summer.”

Without this being a shock to majority of people, Antetokounmpo suddenly inching towards wanting out will create a market frenzy and the ultimate bidding war. While Milwaukee is trying to prevent this, a request continues to grow stronger with every passing moment.

“Then you look at the New York Knicks. They obviously knew it was possible that Giannis would be available. We saw some teams this summer potentially hold back on moves with the idea that Giannis could be available. So the idea that you wouldn’t be prepared for this kind of phone call, I don’t think is true. And despite knowing that, the Knicks went ahead and extended Mikal Bridges, which significantly limited their ability to make a major trade. Again, that action indicates that they didn’t think they were in position to make this type of trade right now.

“And let’s go to Giannis. If you want to be traded as a star player that makes over $50 million a year in the apron era, especially if you have a small selection of teams that you want to be traded to, you do not ask for a trade or discuss a trade in August. Those discussions happen before the NBA offseason begins. That’s not to say that a trade couldn’t happen, but certainly he would have to understand that.

“So, I definitely think the actions that we see indicate at some point Giannis could again be discussed with the Knicks or elsewhere, but I look at the actions here and I don’t think they were ever going to lead to a deal over the summer between New York and Milwaukee.”

The 30-year-old is eligible contract extension on October 1st, 2026. If he were not to sign that $275 million extension, then he would become a free agent for the first time in his career in 2027.

Did the Milwaukee Bucks have any legit interest in sending their franchise player to the Houston Rockets? Houston’s general manager Rafael Stone made an appearance as a guest on ESPN Radio Houston, where he cleared the air once and for all.

Per the popular GM, Giannis Antetokounmpo was highly coveted by the Rockets, as Houston was absolutely willing to get a deal done. However, general manager Jon Horst ultimately said no and Antetokounmpo was not available for potential trade scenarios.

“I deal well with Jon Horst, I really like him,” Stone said. “Jon was very clear that they weren’t doing anything. So, that was that.”

Since the beginning of this year’s offseason, rumors have circulated throughout the league on the future of Antetokounmpo. The 30-year-old said he was willing to keep an open-mind and wanted to still compete for a championship, white reiterating his love for Milwaukee and not wanting to leave.

This spurred on rampant rumors and reports of potential trade packages, teams interested, and if he would ever request a trade out of Milwaukee. In the end, unless Giannis wants it, the Bucks have no plans to trade away the player who delivered them a championship back in 2021.

According to ESPN’s Jamal Collier, Damian Lillard has always had the plans of making a return to the Portland Trail Blazers before his retirement.

Even before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, he reportedly told people his plan of making a return to Portland.

“In just two years, I probably wouldn’t have believed it,” Lillard said in late July at his introductory news conference. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect this to happen at some point, but for it to happen this soon, I wasn’t expecting this.”

Ultimately, his plan of returning home was sped up due to his Achilles tear. Once that happened and the Bucks no longer wanted him, Lillard was ready to return to Portland and enact his plan.

By the time Lillard is able to rejoin the Blazers, he will be 36 years old when he is fully healed from his Achilles injury.