According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the entire upcoming NBA offseason will be predicated upon Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision to either remain with the Milwaukee Bucks or request a trade.

Following the Bucks up-and-down season, their increasingly failing postseason run, and the recent Damian Lillard injury news, there has been an spike in speculation and reports surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks.

Despite him signing an extension with the organization after acquiring Lillard, his future with the Bucks is up in the air. Many are saying Milwaukee’s championship window is officially closing or closed, with no signs of them being able to reopen it.

Giannis has said repeatedly, publicly, that he wants to compete for another championship. He has always stressed the importance of remaining competitive.

“The question for the whole NBA is ‘what does Giannis do about it?'” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on NBA Today. “Does Giannis indicate to the team he wants to stay put and remain a Buck going forward. Or does Giannis indicate he may want to look around? If the answer is B, the entire NBA offseason will hinge on it.”

With Brook Lopez being 37 years old, Lillard being 34 years old (with a recently torn Achilles), no control over their own picks, and not many young players to build around Giannis, the “Greek Freak” superstar may not see the Bucks as a destination to win anymore.

Some reports have disclosed either the Brooklyn Nets or New York Knicks as a team where he would want to join.

In the 2024-25 season, the 30-year-old averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists in 67 appearances.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, confirmed by the Milwaukee Bucks, Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with a torn Achilles. An injury he suffered Sunday night in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers.

This was an non-contact injury, which looked brutal from the very beginning. Lillard needed assistance to the locker room and would be ruled out for the remainder of the game; Chris Haynes was the first to report it.

During the 2023-24 postseason, the 34-year-old was dealing with an Achilles issue that forced him to miss the end of Milwaukee’s playoff run.

Per medical professionals, the typical recovery timeline for an Achilles tear is at least 12 months. There is significant speculation of him missing the entire 2025-26 season.

In this season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists.

Before making his return to the court for their first round matchup against Indiana, Lillard was dealing with deep vein thrombosis – an injury that took him out for some time.

Next season, Lillard will be making $54.1 million. The following season, 2026-27, he will have a $58 million player option. If he opts in, then the veteran won’t be an unrestricted free agent until the age of 37.

During the Bucks-Pacers Game 4 matchup, fans witnessed something they never wanted to see: Damian Lillard suffering a non-contact injury.

This occurred in the first quarter, where he went crashing to the ground, sitting there for a couple of moments, and then needing helped to the locker room.

According to Chris Haynes, Lillard was ruled out for the remainder of the game. It gets worse, as Haynes labeled the injury as a “severe” one.

Then a couple minutes later, Haynes reported that there’s a real fear of Lillard tearing his Achilles. However, those within the organization are hoping for the best, and not going to the immediate negative.