Giannis Antetokounmpo rarely speaks up when it comes to front office decisions, but the one time he did had some major implications for the Milwaukee Bucks. Apparently, during trade negotiations years ago, Giannis shut down a deal that would have made him teammates with Jimmy Butler.
“Giannis, when he was younger, the Bucks would call him about trades, and he’d be like ‘do your job’ and we’ll go from there. Specifically, trade was a trade… Khris Middleton for Jimmy Butler swap,” said Jon Horst on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Giannis was like ‘nah we’re not doing that.’ That was the only time I’ve ever seen him stand up and say something.”
Before Jimmy Butler joined the Miami Heat, he was being considered a potential trade target by the Bucks. They were in a desperate search for star power and believed that Butler was an upgrade over veteran swingman Khris Middleton. While costly (Middleton is a 3x All-Star), the deal would have brought together two of the NBA’s best forwards and made the Bucks a formidable force in the East.
Instead, Jimmy ended up in Miami, where he was a repeated obstacle for Giannis and the Bucks. With career averages of 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, he cemented himself as a legend in Miami, and he would have achieved great things alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks did win the championship without Butler in 2021, but the team is now in a major decline that began with the Jrue Holiday trade a few years ago. After helping them win it all, the Bucks turned on Jrue to make room for Damian Lillard, a superstar point guard in Portland, they thought would make a perfect match with Giannis.
The results were devastating for Milwaukee, and in two seasons together, Giannis and Lillard failed to win even a single playoff series. Now, it’s Lillard who is on the way out as the Bucks welcome Myles Turner in his place. All the while, Butler found success in Finals trips with the Heat and (most recently) a second-round playoff run with the Golden State Warriors. His two-way game makes a major impact on the floor, and he’s expected to play a major role in the rotation next season as Stephen Curry attempts to make one last title run.
For the Bucks, it’s fair to say that they have some regrets over their recent decision-making, but it’s not all on them. Had Giannis allowed his team to acquire Jimmy Butler back in the day, they might have been better off than in their current situation.
At 30 years old, Giannis Antetokounmpo still has time to make another title run, but the clock is ticking. After trading away his co-star and friend, the Bucks are officially on the hot seat, and any mistakes from here could cost them greatly. Only winning will win back his trust, and there are major questions about how they stack up to the rest of the East.
