Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future headlined this year’s NBA trade deadline, with speculation swirling about where the two-time MVP might land. The Milwaukee Bucks had a chance to secure a significant return if they chose to move him, but no offer aligned with their goals, so they kept their franchise cornerstone. In the months since, questions have surfaced about how seriously Milwaukee considered a deal, and Brian Windhorst has said the team was genuinely open to exploring that possibility.
Windhorst said the Bucks were fielding calls about Antetokounmpo and that the possibility of a trade was legitimate, not just speculation. Milwaukee set a high asking price in any potential deal, but no offer separated itself enough for the team to move forward.
“The Bucks were negotiating a trade for Giannis last week. Now, whether or not they ever intended to follow through on those negotiations, I don’t know. I can’t speak with that kind of intelligence, but the Bucks were on the phone taking bids and having a back-and-forth. So, the idea that this was all some sort of hoax, no, the Bucks were absolutely doing it,” Windhorst commented during his appearance in the Rich Eisen show.
What does the future hold for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks?
The Greek Freak ultimately stayed with the Bucks beyond the February 5 deadline, though the franchise could reopen trade conversations once the offseason begins.
“And you know, they didn’t like the offers that they got. I think their offers, you know, the NBA trades are so complex, and I don’t know where to go, like to lose people, have them glaze over. But long story short, the Bucks can get more from teams in the summer than they can now.”
Milwaukee may not have truly planned to move him at the deadline, or the organization simply values its franchise player too highly to part ways without the right return. The offseason now shapes up as one to watch, especially if Antetokounmpo formally requests a trade. The Bucks have a better sense of what the market could bring, and more teams with financial flexibility may join the conversation.
