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.
