Giannis Antetokounmpo

Trade Notes: Giannis, Rockets, Vucevic, Middleton

December 5th, 2025 at 2:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Discussing Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s potential trade value during the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast (YouTube link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed some skepticism that the Bucks would be able to extract a massive package of future draft picks for their star forward if he asks out of Milwaukee.

“What I’m telling you is when I talk to executives – and these executives are not in trade talks with the Bucks or another team for a star player right now – the mood in the NBA right now is not to give up four first-round picks for anybody,” Windhorst said (hat tip to RealGM). “… People don’t want to do that because the aprons have spooked so many teams.

“All these teams are worried about getting into apron trouble where they can’t reset their rosters, and you get into a situation like the Celtics were in where you’ve got to rip your team down. … This is how teams are thinking right now. They’re a little freaked out about the aprons. There ain’t going to be no five first-round pick trades. I know that we saw those for a while. That’s just not going to happen.”

Windhorst went on to offer a few caveats, clarifying that he’s specifically referring to stars in their 30s who are earning the largest possible maximum-salary contracts, worth 35% of the cap. He also acknowledged that it would only take one team going all-in to prove his sources wrong.

“I can hear somebody out there listening to this podcast saying, ‘What are you talking about? This is Giannis. Giannis will go for two star players and six firsts,'” Windhorst said. “Maybe that will happen. I am just telling you, I talk to the guys who make these trades every day, all day long. And the appetite is just different. Everybody is feeling a certain way. I could end up being wrong, I’m just reporting back.”

While many executives around the NBA may be apprehensive about surrendering a handful of unprotected first-round picks in any deal, I expect a number of them would still be willing to do so for a two-time MVP like Antetokounmpo, who isn’t that old (he’ll celebrate his 31st birthday on Saturday) and doesn’t have the sort of extensive injury history that someone like Anthony Davis does.

For what it’s worth, the most recent trade involving four first-rounders – including three unprotected picks – happened less than six months ago, when the Magic acquired Desmond Bane, a player who has never made an All-Star team.

Here are a few more trade-related notes from around the NBA:

The emergence of Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard has made a trade to upgrade the backcourt a less pressing need, but if the Rockets have any reservations about Fred VanVleet‘s ability to return from an ACL tear and make an impact next season, they still may end up pursuing a deal by February 5, writes Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link). Gozlan acknowledges that there’s no perfect match for the Rockets, since an ideal trade target like Derrick White would be difficult to acquire and lesser options like Collin Sexton or Dennis Schröder might not make enough of a difference to make a deal worthwhile.
With the Bulls sliding down the standings after a hot start to open the season, Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times argues that the front office ought to do right by Nikola Vucevic and trade the veteran center to a team closer to contention, giving him a chance to play in the postseason before he becomes an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) spoke to veteran forward Khris Middleton about what it’s like to be traded as an NBA player. Middleton, who was dealt from the Bucks to the Wizards at last season’s deadline after spending over a decade in Milwaukee, admitted that it was a blow to his ego. “It was just a time to decompress, get my feelings out, reminisce, go through a whole bunch of thought processes and figure out what my life’s gonna be like now,” Middleton told Fischer. “When you get traded, it’s a huge confidence killer, especially if you’re not in control of it. You have to kinda talk yourself back up.”

Fischer’s Latest: Giannis, Knicks, Nets, Hawks, Spurs, Warriors

December 5th, 2025 at 8:04am CST by Luke Adams

When the Bucks briefly explored the possibility of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade over the summer, the Knicks were the only team they spoke to, with the star forward having reportedly expressed some interest in the idea of playing in New York.

Given Antetokounmpo’s apparent affinity for the Big Apple, the Nets have long believed they could have a real shot at winning the Giannis sweepstakes if he ever ends up on the trade block, writes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). However, according to Fischer, while the Knicks continue to be viewed as a credible threat to land the two-time MVP, Brooklyn is no longer being described in the same terms.

As Fischer explains, the Nets are prioritizing a high pick in the 2026 draft in the hopes of landing a young franchise player to build around, and don’t have the sort of championship-caliber roster that Antetokounmpo would be seeking in the event that he requests a trade.

The Knicks, conversely, have a roster better equipped to contend with Giannis, but may lack the assets to sell Milwaukee on a deal. For what it’s worth, Fischer hears from multiple sources that Antetokounmpo told at least one Bucks teammate during the offseason that he thought a deal with the Knicks was close to happening, though multiple reports have indicated that the two teams didn’t gain real traction in their discussions.

Here’s more from Fischer:

The Hawks could make a compelling offer for Antetokounmpo by offering the 2026 first-round pick they acquired from New Orleans back in June. If the Bucks were to acquire that pick, they’d control both their own and the Pelicans’ first-rounders in the upcoming draft. Fischer says he has been repeatedly – and “quite strongly” – told since the start of the season that Atlanta won’t trade that “most favorable” first-rounder, which could end up with the best odds to be No. 1 overall, but he believes the Hawks’ front office would have to at least consider the idea if it meant adding a superstar like Giannis.
The Spurs have talked to Antetokounmpo’s U.S.-based agent Alex Saratsis multiple times over the years about the possibility of joining their front office, sources tell Fischer. Despite that link between the two parties, Fischer says there’s no guarantee San Antonio would be a major player in the Giannis sweepstakes if he seeks a deal, noting that the Spurs have thus far been unwilling to consider moving either Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle, even for Antetokounmpo.
During past trade discussions for other players, the Warriors have “never been close” to putting both Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski in the same package, Fischer writes. They also have never seriously entertained any scenario in which they trade Draymond Green. However, Fischer thinks the club would be open to reconsidering both of those possibilities if Antetokounmpo is on the table.

Knicks Notes: Giannis, Paul, Backup PG, Hart, More

December 4th, 2025 at 9:20pm CST by Rory Maher

Although the Knicks made a “real offer” for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the offseason, an in-season trade looks unlikely at this juncture, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link).

As Begley explains, Antetokounmpo would likely have to try and force his way to New York for a deal to happen, and even if that were to occur, Milwaukee would be under no obligation to fulfill his request. A league source also tells Begley the Knicks like their roster and believe they’re well-positioned in the wide-open Eastern Conference.

The Clippers announced on Wednesday morning that they’re “parting ways” with Chris Paul — what that means exactly is still to be determined, since he’s unlikely to be waived anytime soon and isn’t trade-eligible until December 15. A previous report indicated that the Knicks have discussed the possibility of making a deal for the 40-year-old point guard, but Begley hears a trade, at least as of now, is “highly unlikely” to occur.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News and Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post (subscriber link) weigh the pros and cons of the Knicks making a run at Paul. Vaccaro believes the future Hall-of-Famer would be an upgrade over second-year guard Tyler Kolek and would probably be relatively easy to acquire. Winfield, meanwhile, says Paul would be an imperfect fit on the Knicks due to his declining production and worsening defense, but the team does need another play-maker off the bench, and the 12-time All-Star is one of the best in league history.
As Stefan Bondy of The New York Post writes (subscription required), Kolek has been getting backup point guard minutes of late, but the team has struggled mightily in his time on the court, which is one reason why the need for a reserve play-maker behind Jalen Brunson persists. Bondy lists nine guards whom a pair of NBA executives think could be available before the February deadline, including Paul, Jose Alvarado (Pelicans), Tre Jones (Bulls), and his older brother Tyus Jones (Magic).
Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link) expects Josh Hart to remain in the starting lineup going forward, which is noteworthy because OG Anunoby could return to action on Friday — he’s questionable against Utah after missing the past nine games with a strained left hamstring. Hart has been playing his best basketball of the season recently.
While the Knicks have won five of their past six games, they’ve also blown double-digit leads in five of those six contests, according to Winfield. The latest incident occurred in Wednesday’s win over Charlotte. “Teams aren’t just going to lay down. We build a lead, you’ve got to anticipate they’re going to fight back, they’re not just going to give up,” Brunson said after the victory. “We’ve got to do a better job of slowing down their runs and limiting them. But we can’t let them get all the way back like we’ve been doing.”

Latest On Giannis Antetokounmpo

December 4th, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Luke Adams

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.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Expected To Miss 2-4 Weeks With Calf Strain

December 4th, 2025 at 10:57am CST by Eli Cohen

December 4: Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for two-to-four weeks as a result of his calf strain, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

December 3: Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo left the Bucks‘ game against the Pistons on Wednesday after slipping and suffering a non-contact injury. The team ruled Antetokounmpo for the rest of the contest and referred to the injury as a right calf strain (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo remained seated on the court after coach Doc Rivers called a timeout, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, and eventually walked off the floor under his own power. After briefly returning to the bench, he then limped to the locker room.

The injury comes on the same day that an ESPN report indicated the Bucks’ star was initiating a dialogue with the team to determine whether he would continue his career in Milwaukee or if the two parties would work together to find a trade destination for the two-time MVP.

Antetokounmpo will likely undergo further evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and to assess the severity of the injury.

Doc Rivers Believes Bucks Ruled Out Achilles Injury For Antetokounmpo

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Eli Cohen

Speaking after Wednesday’s win over the Pistons, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said he believed the team had ruled out an Achilles injury for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sustained an injury initially diagnosed as a calf strain, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

“I didn’t know what it was,” Rivers said (ESPN YouTube link). “I just wanted the trainers to attend to him.”

Antetokounmpo left the game after just three minutes with what appeared to be a non-contact injury. He was able to leave the court under his own power, limping first to the bench and then to the locker room.

Rivers confirmed that Antetokounmpo underwent an MRI, according to Nehm (via Twitter), and pushed back on the idea of the injury being non-contact.

“I thought the bump, if you watch, the bump drive, that’s what threw him off balance,” Rivers said, as relayed by Nehm (Twitter link). “He got bumped then and then somebody landed on top of him… and then it looked like no one was around but I thought it was the bump that threw him off balance.”

The team has yet to provide an official update on the injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Talking To Bucks About His Future

December 3rd, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and agent Alex Saratsis have initiated conversations with the team about the two-time MVP’s future, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo and Saratsis are talking to the Bucks in the hopes of determining whether the forward’s best fit is in Milwaukee or elsewhere, with a resolution expected in the coming weeks.

Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee became the subject of intense scrutiny over the offseason after the Bucks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third consecutive year and lost Damian Lillard to an Achilles tear in the process.

Although the 30-year-old has repeatedly expressed his love for the city and the franchise, he has also made it clear that being in position to contend for titles remains his number one goal. Antetokounmpo was said to have “serious questions” about the Bucks’ championship potential and spoke to the team over the summer about the idea of exploring a possible “alternative path forward.” At that time, he reportedly conveyed that he’d be interested in the Knicks if he were to leave Milwaukee.

The Bucks briefly engaged in trade talks with the Knicks, according to reports, but weren’t compelled by what New York had to offer and gained no traction toward a deal. Instead of moving Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s front office did its best to try to upgrade the roster around him, waiving and stretching Lillard’s maximum-salary contract in order to create cap room to sign center Myles Turner, one of the top free agents on the market.

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo reaffirmed his commitment to the Bucks ahead of the season and came into camp expecting to evaluate how the first 25 or so games of the season went before making any decisions about his future. Asked during the preseason about the report linking him to the Knicks, Giannis expressed confidence in Milwaukee’s revamped roster, but didn’t deny the rumor and didn’t rule out the possibility that he could change his mind “in six, seven months.”

After a 4-1 start this fall, the Bucks have slumped, losing eight of their past nine games and dropping to 9-13 on the season, which puts the team outside the top 10 in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee has outscored opponents by 8.8 points per 100 possessions when Antetokounmpo is on the court, but has a dismal -11.0 net rating when he’s not on the floor.

Sources who spoke to Charania described the Bucks’ recent skid as frustrating for Antetokounmpo and the rest of the organization, with one source suggesting the “writing is on the wall” for a potential change of scenery for the superstar forward unless Milwaukee can begin turning things around in the very near future.

[UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo Leaves Wednesday’s Game With Apparent Calf Strain]

While the Knicks had something of an exclusive negotiating window in the offseason, that wouldn’t be the case if Antetokounmpo decides to ask for a trade this winter, Charania writes. A number of teams around the NBA would be expected to get involved in that scenario — the Heat and Nets are among the clubs who have repeatedly been described in the past as potential suitors for Giannis, though there may be others who could offer more compelling packages.

Antetokounmpo, who will celebrate his 31st birthday on Saturday, continues to produce at an MVP level so far this season, averaging 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in just 30.8 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .639/.435/.630. His maximum-salary contract includes a cap hit of $54.1MM this season, with a guaranteed $58.5MM salary for 2026/27. He holds a $62.8MM player option for ’27/28 and will become extension-eligible next October.

Nets Notes: Demin, Wolf, Porter, Antetokounmpo

November 30th, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Eli Cohen

The Nets have lost four games in a row and hold a record of 3-16 on the season, but there have been some signs for hope — if not for this season, then for the future, writes C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News.

In Friday’s loss to the Sixers, rookie lottery pick Egor Demin shook off a scoreless first half to finish with the best game of his young career. His final stat line was 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks, one steal, and five three-pointers.

“I just think we really needed to flip a switch and find a way,” Demin said. “And for me, it was the moment when I just felt it better, and I found that extra energy in myself… To really find that assertiveness and being decisive and being focused on what I can control and what we can control as a group and keep really following our staples and really trying to reach the goals we put pregame on our game plan and being able to get stops and run the floor.”

Head coach Jordi Fernandez liked what he saw in the second half, but is determined to bring out more consistency in the 6’8″ guard.

“He’s going to have to do that for four quarters and not just to take three attempts in the first [half] and 15 in the second,” Fernandez said. “It doesn’t need to be equal or even, but he just has to find a way.”

Demin missed Saturday’s loss to the Bucks as the team continues to manage his playing time following an offseason left plantar fascia tear.

We have more on the Nets:

During stretches of Brooklyn’s loss to the Bucks, rookie big man Danny Wolf was the best scorer on the court, Holmes writes. Wolf scored 22 points with four assists and five made three-pointers, leading the team in scoring, threes, and minutes despite coming off the bench. It was only the rookie’s second time playing more than three minutes in a game, both of which occurred in the last three days.
Michael Porter Jr. has missed the last two games with lower back tightness. While the Nets haven’t expressed any real concern about the injury, Porter’s history of back issues make any ailment along those lines something to monitor closely, Lewis says. “Obviously, we’re never going to rush him. His health, body, is the No. 1 priority,” Fernandez said. “We’re not concerned. [It’s] tightness, and we’ll see how he feels.”
The Nets’ interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo is a poorly-kept secret, but Saturday’s blowout at the hands of the Bucks only shows how far away they are from being in a position to entice him, Lewis writes in a separate story. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and eight rebounds in just 19 minutes as the Nets were unable to offer any resistance to his onslaught. The former MVP was rumored to have some interest in the Knicks during the offseason and has made it clear that his top priority is to contend for championships.

Giannis On Slumping Bucks: Put Aside Personal Agendas

November 29th, 2025 at 9:34am CST by Dana Gauruder

The return of Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t cure all of the Bucks’ ills. Milwaukee lost its seventh straight on Friday, falling to the Knicks, 118-109.

Their superstar tried his best to end the slide in his first game back from a groin strain, racking up 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes. After the loss, Antetokounmpo addressed a number of topics, as relayed by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

On the losing streak:

“Nobody should have a personal agenda. Nobody should worry about what they want from themselves. Worry only about winning mentality. Winning mindset. The more we can win the games, the more everything takes care of itself.”

On the need for a team-oriented mentality:

“You cannot worry about one shot or two shots that you miss, which took four seconds out of the game to dictate 47 minutes, 56 seconds of the game. So, we got to get back to that mindset. We got to get into the mindset that we got to compete. We got to get to the mindset that this is not a one-man show, that we have to do it together. We got to move the ball. We got to find open 3s, we got to run. We got to create spacing. Our spacing sometimes, it’s shaky.”

On the Bucks ranking 20th in defensive field goal percentage:

“At the end of the day, you got to come in, do your job, do what you’re paid to do, defend … do the little things. And sometimes, when you worry about doing the little things, all the other things add up. If you’re so concerned about scoring the ball and get yourself going offensively and that doesn’t work for you, now you feel like you cannot do nothing.”

The Bucks are playing the second game of a back-to-back set when they host the Nets on Saturday. Antetokounmpo plans not only to play but to get more court time than he did on Friday.

“I know how the protocol is,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know when you come back with my injury, there’s got to be a minute restriction, no matter what you want to do. It doesn’t matter what kind of game it is. Would I want to play more? Yes. Could I play more? I don’t know. But I know one thing for sure: Tomorrow, I will play more minutes, and I’m going to try to help the team win.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo To Return Friday

November 28th, 2025 at 5:25pm CST by Rory Maher

Perennial All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will return to action on Friday at New York, the Bucks announced (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo went through a pregame warm-up routine prior to being upgraded to available, notes Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter video link). The Greek superstar was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s contest.

The 30-year-old has missed the past four games — and most of a fifth — after experiencing a left adductor (groin) strain on November 17 at Cleveland. Milwaukee lost all five games without its best player and has dropped six straight overall.

Obviously, having Antetokounmpo back is great news for the Bucks, who are currently 8-11, the No. 11 seed in the East. The 2021 Finals MVP has put up fantastic numbers again in 2025/26, averaging 31.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.2 blocks in 13 games (31.8 minutes per contest).

In other Bucks news, head coach Doc Rivers recently discussed slumping guard Cole Anthony, Nehm tweets. In his first nine games (20.4 MPG) with Milwaukee, the free agent addition averaged 11.2 PPG, 5.2 APG (1.9 TOV) and 3.3 RPG with a shooting line of .494/.323/.538; over the past nine (17.2 MPG), the 25-year-old has put up 5.4 PPG, 4.4 APG (2.9 TOV) and 3.2 RPG on .314/.125/.750 shooting.

“He’s struggling right now and we have to do something to help him,” Rivers said after Anthony went 0-for-7 with two turnovers in 11 minutes during Wednesday’s loss in Miami. “He’s turning the ball over and taking some really rough shots for us. We just gotta keep coaching him.

“The kid can play. We gotta keep believing in him. He gets down on himself, probably too much, which leads to the next error. So, we gotta find the right happy medium to get him to be able to play through mistakes.”

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