Giannis Antetokounmpo set to grip the league, Shams Charania reports

“Giannis Antetokounmpo, his camp, they are gonna have a grip on this league to an extent now,” the veteran NBA insider remarked during NBA Today.

“There are teams that are gonna continue to monitor it, and they’re gonna ensure that they don’t exhaust themselves in other ways if this seismic trade possibility is still available for them in January or February.”

On Tuesday, Charania broke major news about Antetokounmpo, revealing that the “Greek Freak” has become increasingly frustrated with how things have unfolded in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, his representatives have started exploring possible moves around the league, conducting what Charania described as “serious due diligence on the best potential fits” elsewhere in the NBA.

That frustration ultimately pushed the Bucks and Knicks into trade discussions over the summer, but Charania revealed that those talks failed to gain any real momentum. He explained that New York ran into several obstacles in trying to complete a deal, most notably Mikal Bridges’ contract extension signed on August 1, which makes him ineligible to be traded for six months.

Giannis with the Bucks

The Bucks brought in Myles Turner this summer after his run to the NBA Finals with the Pacers. Milwaukee’s front office believes pairing Turner with Antetokounmpo can elevate their starting lineup and restore the team’s competitiveness.

Four years after capturing his first championship in 2021, the Bucks superstar is still pursuing more titles. At 30, with two years left on his contract, he could steer any trade scenario by making it clear to interested teams that he might not stay beyond that term, even if they surrender a major haul to acquire him.

That’s why Charania noted that next summer as the point when the Bucks star will hold maximum leverage. That makes Giannis’ situation one to watch closely. For now, he stays with the Bucks, but that could shift at any time. His commitment to Milwaukee seems fragile, and the team will need a strong start to convince him they can still contend for a title.