Jimmy Haslam: Bucks want decision on Giannis Antetokounmpo by NBA draft

The Bucks are heading toward a pivotal stretch with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and ownership is not shying away from it.

After co-owner Wes Edens said in March that the franchise would likely either trade or extend Antetokounmpo within the next year, fellow co-owner Jimmy Haslam took it a step further. He’d prefer clarity sooner rather than later.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right?” Haslam said, via TMJ4. “Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, then we ought to get a lot of assets, and it’s (general manager Jon Horst’s) job to do it. If he’s here, then you build the team differently.”

That’s about as direct as it gets. Pick a lane, then act accordingly.

The noise around Antetokounmpo has been building for a while. It started last summer and never really stopped. It carried into the season, through the trade deadline, and included some public friction.

There were disagreements over his return from a knee injury. Antetokounmpo also didn’t love Edens’ earlier comments about his future.

Haslam, for his part, pushed back on the idea that things are strained.

“I just want to stress that our relationship with him, despite what is reported by certain ESPN writers, is very positive,” he said.

He also made sure to highlight what Antetokounmpo has meant to the franchise.

“Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world, and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization.

“We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”

Around the league, teams are watching closely. The Trail Blazers are among those already preparing potential trade packages. The Magic were aggressive at the deadline. The Heat, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Knicks have also been linked at various points.

Antetokounmpo has not requested a trade and has left the door open to staying. He becomes extension-eligible in October, which adds another layer. The Bucks could get an indication of his thinking before the draft, but a firm commitment may hinge on what the roster looks like by then.

Haslam acknowledged the stakes and said the organization has been upfront internally, even during the hiring of new coach Taylor Jenkins.

“We didn’t hold back with Taylor,” Haslam said. “We just said, ‘Listen, (Antetokounmpo) may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that,’ because you want to be straight up with people.”

This is the kind of decision that defines a franchise. The timeline is getting clearer. The outcome is not.