Groups have routinely referred to as to verify on Antetokounmpo’s potential availability lately, and that course of is predicted to accentuate as they collect in Chicago this week for the draft mix, Charania provides.
Antetokounmpo’s representatives, Giorgios Panou and Alex Saratsis, will meet with Bucks officers in some unspecified time in the future to debate the group’s future and decide whether or not Milwaukee continues to be the perfect match for his or her shopper, in response to Charania’s sources.
The Bucks are reportedly resistant towards the concept of buying and selling Antetokounmpo, who continues to be below contract by means of the 2026-27 season and holds a $62.8M participant choice for the next yr, and are unlikely to pursue a deal except he requests it.
Speculation a few potential Antetokounmpo commerce has been rampant because the Bucks had been eradicated by the Pacers final month, marking the third straight yr they’ve been ousted within the first spherical. Antetokounmpo has been open about his want so as to add one other championship to the one he captured in 2021, and there are doubts concerning whether or not he nonetheless has any hope of attaining that in Milwaukee.
The scenario turned extra dire with the torn left Achilles that Damian Lillard suffered in Sport 4 of the Indiana collection. Lillard underwent surgery final week and faces a prolonged rehab course of that might drive him to overlook all of subsequent season. That would go away the Bucks and not using a second star to group with Antetokounmpo and little likelihood to amass one as Lillard stays on the books for $54.1M subsequent season with a $58.5M participant choice for 2026-27.
Charania notes that Antetokounmpo, a finalist for MVP honors, simply accomplished the most effective seasons of his profession, averaging 30.4 factors, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 67 video games whereas capturing 60.1 % from the sector. He raised these numbers within the playoffs, posting 33 factors, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per evening within the five-game loss.
Antetokounmpo has established himself as one of many best gamers in Bucks historical past since being chosen with the fifteenth choose within the 2013 draft. He’s a two-time MVP and a nine-time All-Star, and he delivered the group’s first NBA title in 50 years.
In keeping with Charania, Milwaukee’s .663 successful proportion since 2018-19 is the perfect within the league. Nevertheless, the Bucks solely have one playoff collection victory since their 2021 championship season.
If Antetokounmpo goes in the marketplace, groups that may supply younger expertise and a stockpile of draft property are thought-about to be the probably locations. The Rockets, Thunder and Nets have already been talked about prominently in commerce hypothesis, however Milwaukee’s entrance workplace would seemingly hear gives from all 29 rival groups.
Charania notes that the Bucks have a possibility to remake their roster this summer time, with Kyle Kuzma, A.J. Green, Andre Jackson, Chris Livingston and Tyler Smith becoming a member of Antetokounmpo and Lillard as the one gamers at the moment below contract. Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton and Kevin Porter Jr. maintain participant choices for subsequent season, they usually might determine to affix Brook Lopez, Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. as free brokers.
Nevertheless, the Bucks are already dealing with cap considerations as Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Kuzma will earn roughly $130M of the $164M they have already got dedicated for 2025-26. Normal supervisor Jon Horst has restricted draft property to supply in any commerce, with the franchise not controlling any of its first-round picks till 2031.
Charania notes that the Bucks had been in a position to escape the second apron with the Kuzma commerce in February, however they nonetheless have restricted respiration room heading into the summer time. They’re at the moment about $23M under the luxurious tax and $41M away from a return to the second apron. Charania factors out that even a modest offseason that features re-signing Lopez, utilizing the $14.1M non-taxpayer midlevel exception and filling out the roster with minimum-salary signees would put Milwaukee into tax territory for the sixth straight yr.
