In the wake of a Shams Charania report stating that star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has reopened conversations with the Bucks about his future, head coach Doc Rivers – who dismissed Antetokounmpo-related trade speculation in October – reacted with exasperation when asked about the latest rumors.
“So, here we go again. There’s been no conversations,” Rivers told reporters, including Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter links). “I want to make it clear for the – I want to say one more time – for the 50th time, and clearly it’s not getting to one network, for sure, Giannis has never asked to be traded. Ever. I can’t make that more clear. … I talk to the source every single day, every single day. And he loves Milwaukee and he loves the Bucks.”
Rivers’ veiled shot at ESPN was likely a reference not only to Charania’s reporting but also to a comment made by another one of the network’s NBA reporters, Brian Windhorst, during an ESPN Cleveland radio appearance (Twitter video link).
Windhorst went viral on Wednesday after saying that Antetokounmpo “asked to be traded already” prior to the season, a reference to the Bucks’ trade talks with the Knicks reportedly instigated by Giannis. During an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on Thursday morning, Windhorst walked back that remark to some extent.
“Doc can say with a straight face that there was no trade demand, and I think that’s true. He didn’t demand it,” Windhorst said of Antetokounmpo (YouTube link). “However, those (offseason) discussions (with the Knicks) were not the Bucks’ idea, I assure you.”
Team sources who spoke to Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic downplayed the “severity” of the situation with Giannis and confirmed that he hasn’t formally requested a trade at this point.
However, with Milwaukee off to a slow start this season and Antetokounmpo raising eyebrows by scrubbing his social media accounts of virtually all their content, leaving little reference to the Bucks, speculation will continue to run rampant as potential suitors keep a close eye on the situation.
“I talked to teams yesterday that immediately scheduled meetings to talk about whether they would make an offer (if Antetokounmpo requests a trade),” Windhorst said on Get Up. “The Knicks would potentially be on Giannis’ list, but the feel would be that Giannis might expand (that list). … Because he’s only got one guaranteed year left (after this season), he would probably have a role in directing where the Bucks might send him.”
Windhorst added that all involved parties – including Giannis and the Bucks – would probably like to have clarity on which way the situation is headed within the next couple weeks or so, and pointed to December 15 as a date to watch, since many offseason signees become trade-eligible at that point.
Here’s more on Giannis and the Bucks:
- Brian Lewis of The New York Post has long reported that the Nets have interest in Antetokounmpo, but he suggests the timing might not be right for Brooklyn if the two-time MVP requests a trade in the coming weeks or months. As Lewis explains, the Nets are now in full-on tank mode and don’t yet have an obvious young franchise player to pair with Giannis.
- The Heat would and should be interested in Antetokounmpo if he were to ask for a change of scenery, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. However, Winderman suggests that including Bam Adebayo in an offer would be a “non-starter” for Miami and it’s unclear if the rest of the team’s assets would be enough to entice Milwaukee — especially if the Heat aren’t offered any compensation from the NBA for the first-round pick they traded for Terry Rozier without knowing he was being looked at for unusual betting activity.
- ESPN’s NBA experts take a look at five hypothetical trades that might work for the Bucks and Antetokounmpo, exploring scenarios that send the star forward to the Hawks, Rockets, Knicks, Spurs, and Warriors.
- Despite the uncertainty surrounding Antetokounmpo’s future and the fact that he left Wednesday’s game after just three minutes due to a calf injury, the Bucks picked up their best win of the season, beating Detroit by a score of 113-109. Big man Bobby Portis said the Bucks had a team meeting before the game that helped everyone “get settled in,” as Jack Maloney of CBS Sports relays (via Twitter).
- In case you missed it, Antetokounmpo’s calf strain is expected to keep him on the shelf for about two-to-four weeks.
From ESPN – and me, who has been saying this for months:
“Warriors get:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Bucks get:
Draymond Green
Jonathan Kuminga
Buddy Hield
2026 first-round pick
2028 first-round pick
2030 first-round pick (if 1 through 20)
2032 first-round pick
“The Warriors trade, meanwhile, is probably the best value when it comes to first-round picks. Even with Antetokounmpo, the roster will continue to age, leaving the first-rounders in 2028 and 2030 as possible lottery picks in a potential post-Curry era.
Despite the Knicks’ inclusion of Towns, their offer should be a nonstarter due to the lack of first-rounders — aside from the Wizards’ top-eight protected pick in 2026 — headed to Milwaukee.”
Don’t ever say I don’t know ball. I have written pretty much all this verbatim on here. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha….
If Houston offers Segun as the same article claims Bucks would be crazy not to take that offer.
The Bucks owner would rather strip the team for parts and totally rebuild. Watch.
Even if Gianni’s asked for a trade, he seems like the type of guy who would keep it between him and the team instead of dragging the media in.
As for where he lands if he does in fact request a trade, he may want to land with the Knicks, but that’s a “wish in one hand, poop in the other and see which one fills up first” scenario. I can’t see the Bucks wanting KAT, and what else can the Knicks offer? The Washington 1st likely won’t convey, so it’s 2nds, pick swaps and a couple of unproven young g players along with a 3rd team being dragged in to salary match by taking KAT.
He’s now a high risk Achilles tear too ala Haliburton last season. That injury adds a ton of risk.
You might be onto something here, KD and Klay had that same route too…
G quit on his team—he feels emotionally exhausted and tapped out.. “generational talent” faked an injury and flat-out quit. Get the man a glass of milk and Oreo cookies.
“Quit on his team”
-literally leads the league in field goals lmao
-has 1.6 VORP in 17 games, or 7.7 in 82, more than he had in his MVP years
-has a ring, proven WINNER alongside being an elite talent
-Golden State will take him next to Steph