Report: ‘Skepticism’ Remains Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Request Trade From Bucks

Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report provided an update on Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It appears that everything is quiet right now with Antetokounmpo.

“Right now, everyone in the league wants to know how the offseason is going to unfold, starting with the two biggest dominoes that could fall,” Fischer said. “The trade sweepstakes for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant.

“The Giannis portion of his segment, we’re gonna keep pretty short because I honestly, right now, I’d say the prevailing sentiment from rival teams I’m speaking to around the combine, there was no shortage of optimism, of hope, of excitment from other teams that they were gonna be able to potentially make an offer to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into their franchise, into their building. 

“Of late, I’d say that confidence has been replaced with skepticism. To a man, from talking with agents, team executives, whoever, there’s not a lot of belief right now at this juncture. It’s only June 5, anything could happen. 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 will likely happen closer to the end of June and when the offseason really, really begins. 

“But I’d say 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. That someone who is valued being the franchise face, the central linchpin of the Bucks franchise, is going to want to play somewhere else.”

The Bucks signed Antetokounmpo to a three-year, $175 million extension in October 2023.

Antetokounmpo, 30, will make $54,126,380 next season.

A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a one-time Finals MVP, a one-time Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time All-Star. He has career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks. 

Antetokounmpo doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks this season.

The Bucks won 48 games this season but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in five games. 

Milwaukee has won just one postseason series since winning the 2021 title against the Phoenix Suns.