A breakup between the Milwaukee Bucks and their superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo seemed likely this offseason, but it appears that might not end up happening. Jake Fischer reported on the NBA Insider Notebook show that people around the league are now skeptical about Antetokounmpo leaving the Bucks.
“Around the combine two weeks ago, two and a half weeks ago, there was no shortage of optimism, of hope, of excitement from other teams that they were going to be able to potentially make an offer to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into their franchise, into their building,’ Fischer said. “Of late, I’d say that that confidence has been replaced with skepticism.
“To a man, from talking to agents, team executives, whoever, there is not a lot of belief right now at this juncture,” Fischer stated. “It’s only June 5th, anything could happen, and I’ve been told all along that if there is a decision, a formal decision made to shut or open the door on trade conversations for Giannis this summer, that it would likely happen closer to the end of June and when the offseason really, really begins.
“But I’d say for now, for now, talking to people around the league, the assessment and the expectation is that they’re going to believe it when they see it,” Fischer continued. “That someone who has valued being the franchise face, that the central lynchpin of the Bucks franchise is going to want to play somewhere else.”
This would be an interesting turn of events. As Fischer pointed out, NBA agents at the combine were convinced that Antetokounmpo would force a trade from the Bucks. It seemed almost like a foregone conclusion that the nine-time All-Star wouldn’t be with the team in 2025-26.
All this chatter began, of course, after the Bucks’ defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers in the first round. It was their third straight first-round exit, and NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Antetokounmpo was open-minded about exploring whether it was in his best interests to stay.
With the state the Bucks find themselves in, it seemed like an easy decision. They cannot really make any significant improvements to the roster and will also be without Damian Lillard next season, after he tore his Achilles in the playoffs.
The Bucks almost certainly won’t be serious title contenders next season, regardless of how well Antetokounmpo plays, and the future just isn’t very bright in Milwaukee. You’d applaud the 30-year-old if he decides to stay to try to turn things around, but you want to see him play in important playoff games.
Antetokounmpo averaged 33.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game against the Pacers. He shot 60.6% from the field and still lost in five games. Even if Lillard hadn’t gotten injured, they still probably would have been knocked out by the Pacers.
According to Fischer, we’re likely to know what Antetokounmpo plans on doing by the end of this month. Teams around the league would be hoping he decides to take his talents elsewhere. Plenty of them would be lining up for his services if he asked out.
