New details on where Giannis Antetokounmpo might end up next.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo appear headed for a split as reports indicate that the Bucks are listening to offers for their superstar.
Giannis' name has been in trade rumors for a year as he was linked to the New York Knicks last offseason. Rumors continued to swirl throughout the season and heated up going into the trade deadline with multiple teams reportedly courting the former MVP.
No deal was made, and Giannis remained with the team, though an injury cut his season short as the Bucks failed to make the playoffs or secure a play-in spot.
This offseason, it looks like there will be a resolution to the situation with Giannis being traded looking like the most likely outcome.
Where Will Giannis End Up?
According to The Athletic, Giannis reportedly wants to play for a championship contender and it's widely believed he’d prefer to play for an Eastern Conference team.
Along with the Knicks, the Miami Heat were reportedly interest in Giannis during the season and leading to the trade deadline.
Giannis has made it no secret that he wants to compete for a championship, and said that the Bucks are currently far away from that goal, noting how they missed the playoffs for the first time since he was a rookie.
He has only played for Milwaukee in his career, meaning he has only played in the Eastern Conference. Going West would require a move that he may not be quite ready for.
The Portland Trail Blazers were reportedly interested in acquiring Giannis, but this report that he wants to stay east and be on a title contender would seemingly rule them out of the running.
The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves were two other teams linked to Giannis. The Warriors could be title contenders with the addition of Giannis alongside Steph Curry, but are all the way out west. The Timberwolves are already contenders having been to back-to-back conference finals, and though they are in the Western Conference, they aren't too far west geographically.
In The East
The Knicks were title contenders coming into this season, and are now the favorites to make the NBA Finals out of the east as they wait for either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Detroit Pistons in the conference finals.
It is unclear what the Knicks interest would be once the season wraps up as it could ultimately depend on where they finish.
Miami failed to make the playoffs and aren't viewed a title contender, but the addition of Giannis could change that.
Now that only three teams remain in the East, and the Cleveland Cavaliers or Detroit Pistons dealing with a disappointing second round exit, more teams could throw their names into the rumors.