Bucks’ co-owner on Giannis: ‘Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded’

The Bucks aren’t leaving it up to chance with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Co-owner Wes Edens told Ramon Shelburne of ESPN the franchise has no plans to let Antetokounmpo play out the final guaranteed year of his contract and reach free agency in 2027.

“Either he will be extended or he’ll be traded,” Edens said. “The likelihood you’ll let him just kind of play out the last year, we can’t afford that.”

Antetokounmpo is under contract through 2026-27 and becomes eligible Oct. 1 for a projected four-year, $275 million extension. If he signals he won’t sign it, Milwaukee appears prepared to revisit trade talks that quietly surfaced before last month’s deadline.

Around the NBA, there’s some skepticism it’s that straightforward.

Milwaukee’s ownership structure has created uncertainty among rival teams about who would ultimately approve a move of that magnitude. Edens currently serves as governor, with Jimmy Haslam set to take over in 2028, while other stakeholders remain involved in major decisions.

“This has nothing to do with Giannis and whether he asks out,” one source told ESPN. “It’s about who’s making the decision … and I don’t think anyone knows that.”

Edens maintains the group is aligned, calling the partnership “unbelievably good.”

Still, interest has been strong. Teams have made aggressive inquiries, with one rival executive describing Milwaukee’s asking price as “enormous.”

Either way, the message is clear. Specifically, the Bucks intend to define Antetokounmpo’s future before it reaches the point of no return.