Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show (YouTube link), Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s camp has remained in regular conversation with the Bucks regarding the superstar forward’s future and whether the team is capable of competing at the level he desires.
“Giannis and the Bucks have been having ongoing conversations about his future,” Charania said (hat tip to RealGM). “Even going back to May. Those conversations… every single passing week, every single passing month since May when I first reported he was exploring his best fits outside of Milwaukee, for really the first time. And really getting down to which team he would want to go to. Where he would want to be.
“Those conversations have only grown with every passing week and month since May. And recently, the Bucks and Giannis’ conversations have intensified in nature.”
Charania pointed out that Antetokounmpo uncharacteristically criticized the team’s “selfish” play following Wednesday’s blowout loss to Oklahoma City, which was missing several rotation regulars. It was the Bucks’ fourth loss in their past five games, and the past three defeats have all been lopsided.
“The frustration that Giannis Antetokounmpo has is at an all-time high,” Charania said. “He’s frustrated with the losing, he’s frustrated with the situation. And I will say this: I’ve spoken to about a dozen sources on and off for weeks now.
“The tension that is in the air within that organization, in that locker room is at an all-time high. There’s somewhat of a splintering environment that we’re seeing going on there.
“Because when a player of Giannis’ caliber maybe has a wandering eye, or maybe doesn’t know what his future holds there, and is having these intense conversations with the organization about what that looks like, there’s going to be such high levels and degrees of uncertainty within that organization.”
According to Charania, Milwaukee’s leadership met with Antetokounmpo in July and tried to pitch him on the idea that they had a roster worthy of contending for a championship, but the 31-year-old wasn’t convinced that was the case, leading to trade conversations with New York that reportedly never went anywhere.
The Bucks are currently 18-25, Charania notes, one-and-a-half games behind Atlanta for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo has missed 14 games this season due to injuries, with Milwaukee going just 3-11 in those contests. But even when he’s been healthy, the team is a mediocre 15-14. Obviously, none of those marks lend much credence to the notion that the Bucks are a contender.
Several teams have reportedly been hanging onto their top trade assets in the hopes that Antetokounmpo will end up on the trade block, but the Bucks star has said on the record that he never intends to request a trade out of Milwaukee and there has been no indication the front office would proactively look to move him.
Reports throughout the season have indicated that the Bucks are looking to buy, not sell, to upgrade the roster around Giannis. Still, many people around the NBA believe it’s only a matter of time until the two sides split, and with Milwaukee struggling to keep pace in the playoff race, it will be interesting whether the front office doubles down on that aggressive approach or reconsiders it during the next two weeks.
“Giannis to the warriors for Kuminga and 2 second rounders confirmed! Suck it bros!” Davey J 2.1, probably.
Giannis needs to stop being such a baby about wanting out. It’s the worst kept secret at this point. Every couple weeks we keep hearing he’s frustrated but doesn’t want to request a trade and how’s he committed to the team yet fast forward a couple weeks and it’s literally rinse and repeat. Just demand the trade we all know he wants and get it over with
Totally. I wonder how bucks fans feel. Longest breakup ever.
Yeah he needs to cut the nonsense and put the trade request in the bag no one is buying it anymore
He’s a selfish ass
Bucks receive: Lauri Markannen, Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, picks
Heat receive: Giannis, Buddy Hield, De’Anthony Melton
Nets receive: Terry Rozier, Jonathan Kuminga, picks
Warriors receive: Michael Porter Jr
Jazz receive: Andrew Wiggins, Ziaire Williams, Nikola Jovic, Brandon Podziemski
The Jazz get the leftovers for their franchise player?
@Chuck
They would definitely get a bunch of picks on top of younger high upside guys like Jovic and Podziemski in this scenario.
warriors gets eworse of teh deal. Might as well have the warriors send out curry too
Warriors have no leverage in the Kuminga scenario. Buddy Hield is a negative value contract. They’re giving up the upside in Podziemski and a good bench player in Melton for MPJ who can keep them competitive right now.
So he doesn’t think any of the losing is due to him?
They’re 15-14 with him, and 3-11 without him and he’s by far their best player and one of the best players in the world.
So no, he probably doesn’t think that.
Lol, it’s not. They have no wings and their guards are about average. They’re 2 good, not even great, players from contending next year in the east.
I’m starting to think Doc Rivers could get charged with double murder and still keep his job in Milwaukee.
It baffles me that he has a job lol
Shams stirring up the pot again.
Yeah, excuse me if I don’t pay attention to a klutch mouth piece.
I mean he’s just saying what everybody thought after Giannis’ comments the other day. The Bucks aren’t going to move Giannis unless he explicitly tells them he’s not going to resign and Giannis doesn’t want to risk being labeled a villain by asking for a trade. Sometimes you need a 3rd party to get the wheels in motion.
I doubt it’s coming from Giannis or his agents. It’s not in Giannis’ interest (in terms of reputation or in having a say in selecting his next team) to try to force a deal out of MIL in-season. Just ain’t. This “news” is probably coming from the team. Perhaps they see a trade (eventually) as inevitable, and believe doing it now vs the off sesaon is preferrable for them.
Interesting line in, could def be true
My view is G does want to shoehorn his next location (Big market+contender) but those teams don’t have the assets till the summer to make it happen
This extra circular bs now could be attributed to him trying to soften the blow later, tho doing nothing and everyone getting a text alert in July while sitting by a pool would have been just fine by all and saved him a lot of energy
I agree with that. He has the best of both worlds right now if he holds on until the summer. He doesn’t have to demand a trade (just not sign an extension), and so he can technically stay compliant with his stated principles. With an expiring deal going into 2026-27, few teams will do what TOR did with Kwahi, so MIL and he will have to involve him in all their trade negotiations. With that, why open his mouth again (or let his agents open theirs). MIL on the other hand …. ??
He won’t man up and demand a trade, so he enjoys losing.
Couldn’t tell at all.
This unfortunately needs to come to an end. We’ve let him dictate too many moves, whether it be on the coaching side or player side. I can understand some input, but management is there for a reason. TO MANAGE THE TEAM! We need a total rebuild. We have limited draft capital, Dames spread-out contract, Turner’s large salary. It’s been a fun 13 years, and I’m grateful for the title and ride we’ve been on, but I’m over it.
The Bucks will have a 1st rounder and cap space this offseason. They’ll be fine. Giannis will stay 3-4 more years.
& it’s peckerwood hack sports writers drumming up fake news. If the Bucks trade Giannis you’re looking at 6 or 7 first rounders including somehow getting a couple of their own back, plus someone from this past draft. They only trade that makes any sense today is Dylan Harper from San Antonio and assets to Portland for Bucks picks back.
I need someone that wants me as much as Shams wants Giannis to leave Milwaukee
If bucks trade Giannis they might as well go in all out rebuild trading away everyone for young players. they do not have a young team so might as well start the sell off now.