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The NBA trade deadline rumor mill is now officially in full swing.
A massive update related to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks came across Wednesday, Jan. 28, and it’s one that will have ripple effects across the entire trading market.
Several teams with the assets necessary to make a bid for Antetokounmpo have been waiting for him to become officially available in a trade, which has caused the overall market to lag some.
That means stars such as Anthony Davis, Ja Morant might have to wait for resolution in the Antetokounmpo case to see if they’ll have new homes.
The trading deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. ET.
Here are the latest trade rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks:
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
According to an ESPN report that published Wednesday morning, Antetokounmpo has indicated he’s ready to move on from the Bucks, which is essentially a euphemism that he’s requesting a trade.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have been cautious about optics in this case, and neither side has wanted to appear – at least in the public eye – as the culprit for what is becoming an inevitability.
Per ESPN, the Bucks are now more open than ever to field offers for Antetokounmpo prior to the trading deadline, though Milwaukee is under no obligation to move the two-time MVP.
In fact, the Bucks are operating from a position of some leverage and can wait until the offseason to find resolution in this case. Teams are constrained by the salary cap and limited roster size during the season, and suitors will have far more draft capital available to ship to Milwaukee.
A trade like this also may require a third or fourth team, so the logistics of wrangling all moving parts together before next Thursday would be complicated.
ESPN also reported that potential suitors have gotten the sense that Milwaukee is willing to listen to offers. The question now becomes whether any team can present a deal enticing enough for the Bucks to maximize their return on Antetokounmpo, who has spent 12 ½ seasons in Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo, 31, has averaged 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists through 30 games this season, though he recently suffered a right calf strain that will sideline him for at least the next month.
Now more than ever, it’s a near inevitability that Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are nearing the end of their relationship.
It may come before the trading deadline, or it may come in the offseason, but Milwaukee, understandably, has started to listen to offers and may consider shipping the two-time Most Valuable Player before Feb. 5.
With that said, which teams can actually present compelling cases to land the versatile star?
Click here to see the potential landing spots for Antetokounmpo.
This is the crux of why it’s seemingly inevitable that the Bucks move on from Antetokounmpo. He’s in his 13th season in the league and is currently locked in through the end of next season (2026-27) for a combined $112.6 million.
After that, he has a player option for 2027-28 worth a staggering $62.8 million. But if Antetokounmpo feels the Bucks are no longer in a position to contend, there’s a scenario where Milwaukee could see him walk in free agency and get nothing in return. That’s why a trade now (or in the offseason) makes sense; this way, the Bucks can recoup assets for their rebuild and life without Antetokounmpo.
But Antetokounmpo’s massive salary is also what makes a trade somewhat complicated; the salary returned has to match for both teams to stay under punitive aprons.
One last thing to note here: the only way Antetokounmpo would be able to sign a max contract with a new team this offseason would be if he’s traded before the deadline. That’s because a player must be with his current team for at least six months before he can sign a max contract.
The Bucks star has already missed 15 games this season due to injuries, but he remains incredibly productive when on the court. In 30 games this year, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.0 points on an absurdly efficient 64.5% shooting rate, with 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
Another reason why this has been a frustrating season for Antetokounmpo has been injuries.
Antetokounmpo reaggravated a right calf strain Friday, Jan. 23 in a 102-100 loss against the Nuggets, and indicated that he would miss between four-to-six weeks. That sidelines him well beyond the Feb. 5 trading deadline, and could complicate any potential trade that would come before the deadline; essentially, any team acquiring him would need to feel that Antetokounmpo would be available and fully healthy for the back half of the season, into a push for the playoffs.
Earlier in December, Antetokounmpo had also missed eight games with a previous right calf strain.
In fact, including a strained adductor sustained in mid-November, Antetokounmpo has missed 15 games this season because of injury.
Antetokounmpo has said time and again that his priority is to compete for championships. He led the Bucks to a title in the 2021 NBA Finals over the Phoenix Suns, and he has been chasing that ever since.
The Bucks, however, have struggled significantly this season, with Antetokounmpo and without.
Milwaukee is 18-27 and fell behind the Charlotte Hornets in the standings. The Bucks are currently on a three-game losing streak and sitting in 12th place. The play-in picture starts with the 10th seed, so there’s the chance – especially with Antetokounmpo expected to miss at least a month – that Milwaukee keeps sliding.
The Antetokounmpo injury also makes it less likely that the Bucks would be buyers at the deadline.
Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays, compared to 3-12 when he’s out.
It has been a turbulent season for Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
It all started before the season, during Bucks media day on Sept. 29, when team owner Wes Edens said he and Antetokounmpo met in June, and that Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his commitment to Milwaukee.
“I had a great conversation with Giannis back in June out here, where he was very committed to Milwaukee,” Edens told reporters in September. “He likes being here. He likes his family being here.”
But when it was his turn to speak, Antetokounmpo said he could not recall that conversation and did not give any assurances that he’s committed to the Bucks beyond the present.
“I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said. “It is never going to change. I want to be among the best.”
Then, on Dec. 2, Antetokounmpo scrubbed his social media accounts of almost every reference or photo from his time with the Bucks, sparking speculation about trade rumors.
Throughout the season, Antetokounmpo has repeatedly voiced his frustrations with the situation in Milwaukee – he most recently characterized the team’s play as “selfish” – and has maintained that he wants to compete for championships.
Interestingly, prior to Milwaukee’s 139-122 loss Tuesday, Jan. 27 against the 76ers, Bucks coach Doc Rivers told reporters that Philadelphia center Joel Embiid, the 2022-23 NBA Most Valuable Player, was “the most talented player I ever coached.” It raised eyebrows considering Rivers has coached Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, for parts of three seasons.
Forward Jae Crowder, who played for the Bucks for two seasons, took to social media Wednesday after news of Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee broke. Crowder was part of the 2023-24 team that eventually fired former coach Adrian Griffin and replaced him with Doc Rivers.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been in the NBA 13 seasons, and just turned 31 last month, on Dec. 6.
Sources: Giannis preps for Bucks exit amid offers
Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home ahead of the trade deadline as several teams have made aggressive offers to the Bucks, league sources told ESPN.