The latest news on the future of Giannis Antetokounmp.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are headed for a divorce after a year of rumors and hardships.
Since winning the NBA Championship in 2021, the Bucks have won just one playoff series in the last five seasons.
After three straight first round exits, the team failed to make the playoffs this past season, finishing with their worst record since 2015-16, Giannis' second year on the team.
Giannis has said in the past that he wants to compete for more championships as he's now on the other side of 30 and set to enter his 14th year in the league.
Giannis Makes Intentions Clear
According to ESPN's Shams Charnia, Giannis has made it clear that he believes it is time for the two sides to part ways.
"Giannis, for a period of months, has made it clear to the Bucks ... he believes the time has come for both sides to part ways," he said.
Shams extensively reported on the Giannis trade rumors leading up to the deadline. Though much of his reporting circulated around Giannis being traded, he ultimately remained with the Bucks after the deadline.
The Bucks were still trying to compete for a play-in spot after the deadline, but an injury to Giannis in March sank any chance they may have had.
The injury and how it was handled appears to be a big sticking point in the end of the relationship between the two sides as Giannis made it seem as if he could've have played in the final games of the season, while the Bucks wanted to keep him out of the lineup, possibly to ensure better draft odds.
An NBA investigation led to no actions being taken on either side.
What's Next?
Trading a franchise legend is never easy and there's no true equal value that Milwaukee can get back that will satisfy fans.
Giannis is the best player in Bucks history, ranking first in games played, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and triple doubles. He's second in steals.
Milwaukee is likely looking at getting at least one young player and multiple first round picks back in exchange for Giannis. The Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New York Knicks have all been mentioned as possible destinations.
Other teams are expected to make some type of offer as they hope to move closer to a championship with one of the five best players in the world.
