NBA teams growing skeptical former MVP will hit the trade market

Due to a limited talent pool in the 2025 free agency class, NBA fans may be treated to a flurry of trades this summer. Multiple teams around the league will be looking to duck under the second luxury tax apron. Others will be trying to improve their rosters in the hopes of contending. And, of course, there will be teams ready to hit the reset button.

As such, we could be on the brink of a truly memorable offseason, especially as multiple stars could also hit the market. Unfortunately, it appears that the chances of seeing Giannis Antetokounmpo switch teams this summer have begun to regress.

The former MVP has spent the past few weeks mired in trade rumors. The Milwaukee Bucks have failed to build a contending roster around Giannis in recent years, and there was a belief that he could look to improve his fortunes elsewhere.

However, according to Jake Fischer, who was speaking via a Bleacher Report live stream, teams around the NBA are growing skeptical that Giannis will become available.

"Of late, I'd say that that confidence has been replaced with skepticism," Fischer said. "To a man, from talking to agents, team executives, whoever, there is not a lot of belief right now at this juncture...I've been told all along that if there is a decision, a formal decision made to shut or open the door on trade conversations for Giannis this summer, that it would likely happen closer to the end of June...But I'd say for now, for now, talking to people around the league, the assessment and the expectation is that they're going to believe it when they see it." 

A Giannis trade would send shockwaves around the NBA. Despite the Bucks' recent struggles, it's widely accepted that Giannis is still a top-5 player. Any team that acquired him would instantly be in the championship picture.

Nevertheless, Giannis is likely to remain loyal to the Bucks. He's resisted the urge to request a trade in the past. However, if Milwaukee fails to build a contender around him this year, things could change very quickly. 

As such, Milwaukee may need to become highly aggressive during the offseason, as it looks to fix what is clearly a disjointed and broken roster.