The trade market for Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be nonexistent, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Tuesday during an appearance on Get Up (YouTube link). As Windhorst explained, despite rampant speculation about the possibility of the two-time MVP being traded this offseason, there has still been no indication that either Antetokounmpo or the Bucks are preparing for that scenario.
“Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone overseas to travel with his family. He has made no trade request to the Bucks. He has made no trade hint to the Bucks,” Windhorst said. “The Bucks are proceeding with their offseason as if Giannis is going to be with them, and there’s no significant trade talks right now. The plan is for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be a Buck.
“Now, he can change all that with a simple request, but that request has not happened and it’s not clear it’s going to happen anytime soon.”
Windhorst’s reporting lines up with what we’ve heard recently from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line and Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Both Fischer and Lewis indicated there’s increased skepticism among league sources that Antetokounmpo will end up on the trade block in the coming weeks.
It’s still not a sure thing that Antetokounmpo will open next season in Milwaukee, since trade requests often don’t come this early in the offseason. When Giannis’ current teammate Damian Lillard asked out of Portland in 2023, for example, it happened on July 1.
Still, I wouldn’t necessarily expect Antetokounmpo to wait that long to make a final decision — the further we get into June without a trade request, the better the Bucks have to feel about the odds of it not happening at all this summer.
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- During that same Get Up appearance (YouTube link), Windhorst confirmed that a Kevin Durant trade is far more likely to happen this offseason than a deal involving Antetokounmpo. He added that the Knicks are among a “handful” of teams expected to talk to the Suns about Durant, but cautioned that salary-matching and tax-apron rules will make it difficult for them to acquire Durant without including Karl-Anthony Towns. Reporting out of Phoenix last week suggested the Suns aren’t enthusiastic about trading for Towns.
- Within an in-depth article exploring the Spurs‘ options with the No. 2 overall pick and considering whether it makes sense to add Dylan Harper to a backcourt that already features De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports cites sources who say San Antonio has explored the idea of packaging its second lottery pick (No. 14) with a player to upgrade its roster.
- With Darius Garland trade rumors percolating, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) evaluates what a deal involving the point guard might look like for the Cavaliers, discussing three separate hypothetical trades in which Cleveland acquires Jalen Suggs and Tristan Da Silva (from Orlando), Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Terrence Shannon (from Minnesota), or Trey Murphy, Kelly Olynyk, and Jose Alvarado (from New Orleans). Fedor also briefly discusses Sacramento’s reported interest in Garland, but suggests it’s not easy to find a match with the Kings.
I am not a KAT fan, but old KD is better than KAT?
Durant is 36, had an Achilles Tendon surgery and is not getting any younger.
KAT is 29. I am a Celtic fan, so I am fine with the Knicks killing themselves, like getting rid of Thibs, but this trade seems bad for the Knicks overall success.
Or is this a “Celtics are out for 26, Cavs will lose people via FA, nobody knows what the Bucks are gonna be like, Philly still sucks, we are going all in for 26” type of move?
Does KD get the Knicks past the Pacers?
I get the Giannis trade for KAT, Giannis is better and what the Knicks need. But KD is old and I just dont understand this move.
Knick fans…remember Philly and the process. Philly did not suck bc of the process, they sucked bc they kept tinkering and adding 2 new stars to Embiid every year.
Perhaps developing the team would be in NYK best interest? Like the Celtics, Cavs and Pacers?
The suns don’t want KAT anyway the deal would center around Bridges or OG if the Knicks are serious about it.
KAT is making over $50 million a year to not put any effort in on defense. No thank you. KAT is not a winning player, why the Timberwolves traded him, and the Knicks will need to eventually trade him as well. While old, KD is still an all-time player that knows what it takes to win. Just having his mentality in the locker room would be good for the Knicks. KD has also been able to defer to other players his whole career, he can really fit in anywhere.
^ knows ball
No 76ers suck because they built around Embiid, and flopper who injures himself.
Yes, KD knows how to win in the playoffs. KAT is never going to win in this league playing the way he currently does and likely never will.
Yes… Both are best at the 4…
KD is a more agile and a more dangerous scorer..
Wolves have to get KD or Garland, otherwise they could miss the playoffs.
Suns and Cavs need to cut payroll. Wolves GM knows how to make a good trade.
To me, the Magic only make sense if it results in Garland and Suggs pairing up i. their backcourt. Exchanging lead guards doesn’t get either team anywhere.
Agreed
I doubt the Cavs will trade Garland to Orlando, they dont want to give them the lead guard that the Magic desperately need. They know they could likely face them in the playoffs
Yeah generally it’s better to trade outside your conference if it makes sense.
I’d rather have Jaden McDaniels, Donte, and TSJ is waaaay too much for Garland. Those guys have actually played winning basketball unlike Suggs and Trey Murphy.
I kinda like the garland for Mcdaniels and DDV trade for both teams. Only issue is it leaves the twolves pretty thin.
Maybe instead of DDV it is Conley going to the cavs? I think that still works capwise.
Most important thing to remember – both teams plan to save luxury taxes
Cavs current luxury tax is $98 million for 2025-26
Wolves luxury tax is $98 million IF paying Naz Reid $26 million for 2025-26 (Alexander walks for nothing)
also remember Tax Apron Rules
That’s not enough to pry McDaniels away from the Wolves he’s essentially off the table in all trade talks.
Giannis is content with one chip then…Just like Dirk.
And he’s going to walk in 2 years and the Bucks will get nothing. The time to trade him is now. Watching Indiana and OKC it’s obvious the Bucks have become too old and slow. That happens when you keep trading away your draft picks.
2024-25 Luxury tax top 4
Phoenix Suns: $188.49 million in luxury tax.
Minnesota Timberwolves: $105.62 million in luxury tax.
Milwaukee Bucks: $74.84 million in luxury tax.
Boston Celtics: $54,19 in luxury tax.
“No trade market for Giannis 2025” = “No trade market for KD 2016”
If the Spurs couldn’t come to terms with the Bucks or Suns. And they don’t want to take another guard, wonder if they’d swap with Philly. Take Ace at 3 and pick up like an Oubre or something like that.
From Phillys perspective you aren’t giving up the world or more future assets just to move up 1 spot, you take Ace and live with it or trade down.
If you’re the Spurs, you don’t dare slide past 3 unless you get a hefty offer.
Like if the Jazz go 5, Kessler, and a future FRP or Pelicans give 7, Herb, and a future FRP.
Something along those lines, I can see them also just taking Harper, but Ace would be a better fit in general if they have similar grades.
I wouldn’t accept less than a good cost controlled player and future FRP if I moved past 3. The drop off is too big as far as prospect grades.
I don’t pretend to be a scout but from a lot of NBA people’s accounts harper is a clear number two then it drops off after him. Patience is key for the spurs. If you could get someone reasonably then do it. They still have a ton a young players that can grow together. I’d say a Trey Murphy type would so wonders for them if they can get him. Getting a dynamic center that can start next to wemby and protect him physically would also be awesome.
Giannis has come to Brasil sponsored by a SPORTS BETTING company, I thought it was weird but if the nba allows it
The Suns are in a world of hurt when it comes to trading KD, I know Houston has some interest in KD I would look at them first, say for the 10th pick in this draft, Whitmore, the future number ones that used to be the Suns before they traded them to Brooklyn for KD and Brooklyn traded them to Houston.
The Knicks have no future ones for the next 4 years trading them to Brooklyn for Bridges. So, if the Knicks would trade for KD, it would cost them say Bridges, Hart, McDaniel’s and future 2nd’s
Literally the ONLY move they can make with KD is to trade him 1-1 with Jimmy Butler. It’s literally the only move either team can make with those two guys. The best part: KD adds to the current “zero” offense the Warriors have past Steph, while Jimmy becomes the pass-first playmaker he says he is born to be, but for Book and Beal. Easiest trade ever with no loser and it makes both teams better than they are with them on opposite sides.
In no world would the Wolves even consider that trade.
The Knicks have no chance for Giannis or KD without giving up any of the Nova brothers. I doubt highly OG and Mitch could get either one. I just hope some ring chaser player takes a pay cut and comes to New York however it hasn’t happened in a longgggg time
I’m not trading Suggs for Garland, just saying.
Love the famous “cites sources”. Spurs are known as the chamber of secrets so there are no sources. They won’t trade that pick unless someone makes them a ridiculous offer. Hard to imagine what that is. The gap between the top two picks and the rest of this draft is enormous.
Also would hate to see the Spurs take on the floating cancer that is Durant and I don’t see what a guy in his age 37 season does for them but if he comes for spare parts they might try it.