Why Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are just smoke
- Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks is uncertain, but he has not requested a trade.
- Recent reports suggest Antetokounmpo is evaluating his options, but this aligns with previous statements.
Maybe the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before the 2025-26 season opens.
Maybe they don’t.
The NBA has seen too much – it hasn’t even been six months since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic – to predict Antetokounmpo’s future with 100% certainty.
But until Antetokounmpo asks for a trade, the Bucks aren’t exploring a trade. And as now, Antetokounmpo hasn’t asked for a trade.
Otherwise, it’s just static – background noise in the NBA ecosystem’s insatiable need for rumors.
Why is this a topic in doldrums of the NBA’s offseason? ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania appeared on one of the network’s TV shows Monday, Aug. 4 and said, ‘There is nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to stay in Milwaukee or whether he wants to leave elsewhere. He’s been evaluating his future his entire offseason. … he’s open-minded about whether his best fit is in Milwaukee or is it a trade elsewhere.’
When the NBA’s preeminent newsbreaker teases a nugget like that – ‘ohhh, maybe there’s another blockbuster trade coming the NBA’ – it gets attention.
But as Charania noted, what he said Monday was almost identical to what he said about Antetokounmpo’s future in May.
Don’t get me wrong, Antetokounmpo’s future is a big deal. He has spent his 12-year career with Milwaukee and has won an NBA championship and two MVPs with the Bucks. Last season, he finished third in MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA first team for the seventh consecutive season.
At 30 years old, Antetokounmpo remains one of the best players in the league with prime years ahead. Naturally, he wants to win another title. He knows that isn’t easy especially in today’s NBA. More and more teams are getting better and improving their title chances. Heck, winning the Eastern Conference’s Central Division is difficult with Indiana, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit and Chicago.
Antetokounmpo should be evaluating his future. In fact, if he weren’t evaluating his future, I’d be concerned. But until he asks for a trade, Milwaukee isn’t trading him. And there’s a real good chance he doesn’t ask for a trade – at least not before the season starts.
