Bucks keep making poor decisions with Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of inevitable divorce

Giannis Antetokounmpo has carefully avoided making a public trade demand from the Milwaukee Bucks. A new report makes it clear that the Greek Freak is ready to move on.

ESPN's Shams Charania wrote that Antetokounmpo repeatedly told Bucks management that he was ready to be traded from his only team, which is 31-47 and far from the playoffs. Yet the team declined to move on, due to reluctance, insufficient trade offers or perhaps not wanting to be responsible for the franchise player's exit.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks don't want to be the bad guy

According to Charania, Antetokounmpo made it clear he would prefer to be traded from the Bucks, who have lost in the first round of the playoffs for three straight years.

He expressed doubts about the Bucks' ability to compete last summer, before team management convinced him to see how they looked with new acquisition Myles Turner. In December, Antetokounmpo and his agent told Bucks general manager Jon Horst it was time for the two sides to part ways, and reiterated that request in late January.

The two-time MVP and his agent made a "handshake agreement" with the Bucks when Antetokounmpo signed contract extensions in 2020 and 2023. They reportedly agreed to work with their star on a trade should the team become uncompetitive. Horst and team owners Wes Edens and Jimmy Haslam declined to do so, perhaps not wanting the bad publicity of trading the team's best player in 50 years.

Milwaukee Bucks waited too long to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo

Not only did the Bucks tank their relationship with Antetokounmpo, but they seriously weakened their future by refusing to make a deal. Milwaukee could have recognized their window of contention had closed after three early playoff exits and Damian Lillard's Achilles tear. Instead, they choose to keep their star while waiving and stretching Lillard's contract, which will count for $22.5M against the salary cap through 2029-30.

The lost season will likely cost head coach Doc Rivers his job and perhaps Horst's job as well. It also got them an NBA investigation over their desire to shut down Antetokounmpo for the season against his wishes, and a locker room source called it "as toxic of a team situation as any in the league."

By waiting a full season, the Bucks also cost themselves leverage. Teams now know Antetokounmpo wants out, even with Edens claiming he'd be "extended or traded" by Oct. 1 when he's eligible for a $275M extension. That's clearly part of the reason Antetokounmpo's camp leaked to Charania, stopping just short of a public trade demand.

What remains to be determined is if Antetokounmpo will get to decide his next team. He can opt out of his deal after next season, giving him leverage, but the Bucks' stubborn stance suggests they could hold out until near the start of the season.

That would be a mistake. Milwaukee should have worked with Antetokounmpo on a trade before the season or at the deadline. Waiting any longer would merely postpone the inevitable.