Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have been frustrated with the results on the court throughout the 2025-26 season. The 2021 NBA Finals MVP has missed 19 games, and the team has been under .500 since before Thanksgiving, currently sporting a 20-29 record with four games remaining before the All-Star break.
There have been reports that Antetokounmpo has been looking for a new organization where he can become a championship contender again. Bucks management could use a Giannis trade and a major step toward blowing up the roster and beginning a rebuild.
The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves have been heavily linked to the Bucks forward. For now, they will have to wait longer.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo Pursuit Shifts to Summer
ESPN reporter Shams Charania announced that the Bucks are not trading Antetokounmpo before the deadline. This announcement came about three hours before the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
This anti-climactic announcement was expected, though. Earlier, The Athletic’s Sam Amick had claimed that “there was an extended lack of communication” from the Bucks regarding Antetokounmpo.
This could be a positive development for both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Warriors. Both teams are waiting for the summer to pursue the forward as they want to acquire a bunch of draft picks to entice the Bucks.
The Warriors finally resolved their Jonathan Kuminga situation by trading him to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis. Now, they can have more roster flexibility and a clear frame of mind to persuade Antetokounmpo.
The Athletic NBA analyst Nick Friedell wrote a piece capturing the Warriors’ vibe after the trade, calling it a moment of “relief”. He argued that although the Warriors have an aging roster, they can be an option for the Bucks forward with Stephen Curry still playing like an All-Star and two-way forward Jimmy Butler getting healthy by next season.
Acquiring Porzinigis has filled a hole in the pivot, but the Dubs have to make more moves to build a championship-contending roster and convince Antetokounmpo.
The Lakers are also expected to load up on first-round picks to entice the Bucks. There is a chance that LeBron James leaves the squad during the summer, so they’d need someone to step into his shoes at the forward position.
Forming a duo with a superb player like Luka Doncic could be lucrative for Antetokounmpo. Apart from that, the Lakers need to fix their 3-point shooting woes; the Bucks forward doesn’t address that concern.
Both the Warriors and the Lakers now have time to make moves that can help them trade for the 31-year-old. It's setting up for exciting free agency period in the summer, highlighted by Antetokounmpo's probably move to a new destination.