Echoing recent reporting from Marc Stein and Eric Nehm, Jake Fischer writes in his latest story for the Stein Line Substack that the Bucks are conveying to rival teams that they’d prefer to upgrade their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo rather than move their superstar forward.
One rival general manager who spoke to Fischer even suggested the Bucks are giving the impression that “they’re going big-game hunting” on the trade market.
Whether Milwaukee will maintain that stance by the February 5 trade deadline remains to be seen. As Fischer writes, some teams believe they’ll eventually pivot and become sellers, and many executives around the league think it would be in the Bucks’ best long-term interests to move Antetokounmpo sooner rather than later, even if he doesn’t request a trade.
For now though, given the Bucks’ lack of tradable draft picks, Fischer suggests that if they do pursue an upgrade, it might make sense to target a player whose contract isn’t especially team-friendly, since the cost would be lower. Kings guard Zach LaVine is one player who fits that bill and has been linked to Milwaukee. According to Fischer, Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant is another player who has been on the team’s radar, both this season and in past years.
Grant is earning $32MM in 2025/26 and is owed another $70.6MM for the two seasons after this one. He had a down year in ’24/25, but has bounced back this fall, with averages of 20.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on .438/.395/.863 shooting through his first 25 outings.
Grant’s value has likely rebounded to some extent as a result of his strong start, and Fischer notes that general manager Joe Cronin has long been a fan of the veteran forward. Still, his contract probably isn’t considered to have positive value, so the idea of trading for Grant and perhaps seeking a draft pick in the deal (the Blazers control a handful of future Milwaukee picks as a result of the Damian Lillard trade) could appeal to the Bucks.
Heat forward Andrew Wiggins and Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray are two other players who have piqued the Bucks’ interest in the past, according to Fischer, who hears from sources that Milwaukee “regularly” called Golden State about Wiggins before he was dealt to Miami last season and also spoke to Atlanta about Murray before he was sent to New Orleans. Murray hasn’t played yet in 2025/26 due to a torn Achilles, but the Pelicans are hopeful he could return as soon as next month, per Fischer.
Fischer identifies Lakers guard Marcus Smart and Mavericks forward P.J. Washington as two more players the Bucks have previously had interest in, but acknowledges that Los Angeles is unlikely to move one of its best defenders, while Washington isn’t trade-eligible this season after recently signing an extension in Dallas.
Although Fischer doesn’t mention either player specifically, at least one of forward Kyle Kuzma ($22.4MM) or new center Myles Turner ($25.3MM) would almost certainly have to be part of any significant Bucks deal not involving Giannis. Outside of Antetokounmpo ($54.1MM), they’re the only players on the roster earning more than $13.5MM this season.
Grant makes sense going to the Bucks. I would think a 3rd team would be necessary to make that happen.. not sure what the Bucks have to help the Blazers. I see either Grant or Wiggins ending up with MIL.
Kuzma Prince and Harris for Grant and Rupert works
Im 100% taking this if Por but IM NOT giving any of that draft capital back to Mil to do so . Straight up swap no picks. Dont think theres another team interested in Grant so Por has to jump into this quickly Imo if theres any truth
** The irony of Dame and Grant passing each other like 2 ships in the night would be comical for so many reasons to boot
MIL FO, at this point, is pushing on a string. Big game hunting, at least the successful kind, requires weapons they do not possess.
Milwaukee needs wings, the bigger the better. One might suspect Turner, due to his current performance, is on the market again and a phone call to Joe Dumars might be forthcoming.
So the Warriors not only traded away Wiggins for a worse 3pt shooter and defender who is older, more injury prone and makes A LOT more money
They traded away the only player the Bucks had ant interest in trading for on their roster (Steph is not tradeable).
Wow
Two things.
What was the Warriors record when they traded away Wiggins?
What were the Bucks offering?
The team obviously improved when Wiggins moved on and the Bucks may not have offered anything worthwhile.
Well, they did starr the season 10-3 before some unfortunate injuries happened, but overall they were 21-23 while Wiggins was there.
But the Warriors only won games when Jimmy got there because Steph started playing signficantly better. Not because Jimmy unlocked him, he was just more motivated (evidence: Lakers game after the trade before Jimmy arrived).
Sure, he probably wouldnt have gotten more motivated if they hadnt made the trade but still they could have done a deal that didnt jeopardize their next 3 years.
Also, they won the 2022 championship with Wiggins as their second best player and this season they are 13-14 (very similar to 21-23 if you ask me lol)
The Bucks probably werent offering much, but now that Giannis is growing disgruntled, Wiggins would be way more attractive in a PACKAGE than Jimmy.
I really hope you read everything because I put a lot of effort into typing this lmao
Wrong. They started playing better because of Butler. Curry said after the 1st game that Jimmy made things so much easier for him. Teams stopped double and triple teaming him. So, Steph didn’t become more motivated; I doubt he ever needs that. The game became fun again.
Butler is a free agent after next season. They only have 27 million on the books.
Then why did Steph have a 38 point 8 threes game against the Lakers (by far his best so far in that decision) after the trade happened without Jimmy?
Jimmy was contributing to “spacing” on the bench? Lmao
Denial is a river in Egypt. The Warriors are 13-14 THIS SEASON with Jimmy….
No chance Curry needed “motivation “. He needs room to shoot and another serious threat with 3 seconds on the clock.
Yeah man you are sounding like that Davey J dude. Warriors are way better with Butler. Problem is they got him towards the end of the season. Butler is 35 and Curry is 37. They can not carry the full grind of the regular season. They need another player younger. If you get to the playoffs those players will be better than they are in the regular season. It’s why I don’t count the bubble championship.( 3 month layoff) The grind of the regular season is important and older guys can’t go 82 so they need something to help
So why are they 13-14 this season? Lol
I was thinking early on that Milwaukee should have tried to trade Dame back to Portland for Ayton and Grant before waiving and stretching him.
But after Portland traded for Holiday, that was off the board.
None of those actually move the needle enough to make them a serious contender and make Giannas stay so why bother.
Time to start the rebuild and if your not wanting to trade Giannas yet cause there’s nothing amazing yet then cool, but that’s the direction. I’d also be trying to make a Myles Turner for Jonathan Kuminga deal happen.
That Turner contract is regrettable and Kuminga is a young forward with good potential.
Next should be Kuzma for a replacement centre like Zach Collin’s plus some second round picks or even a Mitchell Robinson and Yabusele, both are on an expiring deals and both teams receiving Kuzma would be upgrading in order to try win.
If they trade for Jrue Holiday too then this would be okay