Giannis Antetokounmpo Watch could extend beyond trade deadline

The Bucks may be more open than ever to moving Giannis Antetokounmpo, but do not expect a quick resolution.

Around the NBA, the belief is that the Giannis saga will stretch at least through Thursday and possibly well beyond, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst. Apparently, Milwaukee’s front office is in no rush to make a franchise-altering decision without fully surveying the landscape.

The sense is that general manager Jon Horst wants to make sure the Bucks extract maximum value if they ever do pull the trigger. Multiple league sources told ESPN there is a growing expectation that Milwaukee could ultimately wait until the offseason.

One Eastern Conference scout put it bluntly, saying there is little incentive to rush when the Bucks could benefit from seeing how the draft lottery unfolds and what options open up in the summer.

That timing matters. Several potential suitors will be able to make stronger trade offers in the offseason. The Knicks, for example, could gain access to additional first-round picks, while the Heat may be able to expand their draft capital from two available picks to as many as four.

There is also the health factor. Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined with a calf strain, which complicates any short-term decision.

If Milwaukee leans toward a soft reset or a strategic step back, keeping Giannis on the roster and limiting his workload could help maximize draft positioning in 2026, where the Bucks hold favorable pick control.