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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks may be coming to an end.
The Bucks are “open for business” when it comes to listening to trade offers for the two-time MVP, ESPN reported Monday. It’s the latest chapter in the saga of whether the team will actually trade him.
The team is reportedly looking for a “young blue-chip prospect and/or surplus draft pick” in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo plays during a game against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on March 10, 2026. (Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images)
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam, who also owns the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, said last week he hoped to get a deal done before the NBA Draft.
“I just think before the draft is a natural time,” Haslam said at a news conference introducing new head coach Taylor Jenkins. “Because if Giannis plays somewhere else, we have to have a lot of assets. That’s Jon’s job to do. And if he’s here, you build the team differently.”
Antetokounmpo maintained that he likes playing in Milwaukee, but that he wants to play for a team that is committed to winning and competing for championships.
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Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on after the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 12, 2026. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)
The Bucks initially signaled their intent to do so when they acquired Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers prior to the 2023-24 season. But an Achilles injury cut short his time in Milwaukee, and he later re-signed with Portland.
Milwaukee finished 32-50 in 2025-26 and missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
“We never had a problem communicating directly with Giannis — at all — and always knew where he stood,” Haslam said. “And I think he always knew where we stood. We’ve had those kinds of conversations since the season ended. . . . So sometime in the next six to seven weeks, we’re going to decide if Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he’s going to play somewhere else. And (GM) Jon (Horst) and Taylor, along with (the co-owner) and myself, we’re going to understand that the gravity of E, and we’ll call that the gravity of Wes.”
The Bucks have the 10th overall pick in the first round and could be set up for the future if a trade goes through.
Antetokounmpo was out for the last handful of games. The Bucks said he was injured, but the 10-time All-Star said he was healthy enough to play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks goes on the court during a EuroLeague playoff basketball game between Olympiacos and AS Monaco in Piraeus near Athens on April 30, 2026. He wears a Michael Jordan shirt. (Petros Giannakouris/AP)
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He finished the year averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games.
