Bucks reveal deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo decision amid trade rumors

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could sign a four-year, $275M contract extension to stay with the club on Oct. 1, or he could plan to become a free agent after next season wraps up. 

On Wednesday, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed he doesn't want to wait until the fall to make a decision about Antetokounmpo's future. 

When Bucks would like to make final Giannis Antetokounmpo decision

Per Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Haslam said during a news conference introducing Taylor Jenkins as the Bucks' coach that the team wants to have clarity on Antetokounmpo’s future before the 2026 NBA Draft gets underway on June 23.

"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam explained. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we oughta get a lot of assets, and that’s [general manager Jon Horst's] job to do it. If [Antetokounmpo’s] here, then you build the team differently."

Antetokounmpo was the subject of all kinds of rumors from last summer through this past winter, but he ultimately remained with the Bucks through the Feb. 5 trade deadline. While he later insisted that he was "committed" to playing for what's been his only NBA team since he was drafted in 2013, he also wasn't thrilled about Milwaukee's desire to shut him down in the middle of March due to a left knee hyperextension.

"We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis -- at all -- and always knew where he stood," Haslam said, according to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "And I think he always knew where we stood. We've had those kind of conversations since the season was over. ...So sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else. And Jon and Taylor, along with [co-owner Wes Edens] and myself will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call."

What teams could trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Before the trade deadline, stories heavily linked Antetokounmpo with the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors,  Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. That said, Sam Quinn of CBS Sports noted in April that up to 18 teams could become "plausible suitors" for the two-time MVP. 

Antetokounmpo hasn't hidden that he wants to play for a championship contender. The Bucks ended the 2025-26 regular season with a record of 32-50.

"Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years," Haslam added. "He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world, and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization. We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks."

In short, it sounds like the Bucks are ready to open the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes unless he puts pen to paper on an extension before the first pick of this year's draft is made.