This was not an easy summer for Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. He was at home in Athens, Greece, when Bucks' general manager Jon Horst went halfway around the globe to meet with the former NBA Finals MVP. It happened after he played in EuroBasket 2025 for his native Greece.
Horst had to explain to Antetokounmpo why he waived Damian Lillard to sign former Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. Turner signed a big contract with the Bucks. He inked a four-year, $108 million deal. Between that money and Lillard's money, both of which remain on the books, it does not leave much room for Antetokounmpo and his near future.
He becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension on Oct. 1, 2026.
Horst met with Antetokounmpo and one of his representatives. Horst wanted to work out any kinks in the relationship between the player and management, to the extent there were any. Horst did not reach out to Antetokounmpo to seek his opinion on either of the moves he made.
Ultimately, peace was reached between the two sides, and Antetokounmpo agreed to return to Milwaukee this season. As a gesture of good faith, the team agreed to bring back his brother Thanasis on a one-year, guaranteed $2.9 million deal.
There was speculation that Antetokounmpo wanted to be traded from the Bucks, who have not won a playoff series since 2022. The Bucks and the player's agent fielded phone calls from other teams in the event there was going to be some movement.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Bucks and the New York Knicks had relatively meaningful discussions in August, but the teams never got close to a deal.
Milwaukee took the position they did not want to move Antetokounmpo. Charania reports that the Knicks did not make a strong enough offer to land him. There was apparently a negotiating window in August, but depending on which side is to be believed, the other side was not serious about making a deal.
Knicks president Leon Rose has developed the Knicks into a championship contender since taking over in 2020. Reports have indicated that Antetokounmpo wanted to be a member of the Knicks since 2024. The Knicks made a bevy of moves recently which brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the squad in October 2024. They also acquired Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets that previous June. The Knicks have gone all out to build a winner.
The Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, before succumbing to the Pacers. They came close to competing for a title. That is what Antetokounmpo wants. He wants the Bucks to assure him they are going down the same path. If not, there have been reports, according to Charania that he could be looking to take his talents elsewhere.
Antetokounmpo has been adamant for the past few seasons he want to either play for a winner or move on.
At the media day of Sept. 29, which he missed due to a bout with COVID-19, per team sources, he spoke remotely about wanting to play for a winner.
"I want to be on a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship," Antetokounmpo said. "I think it's a disservice to basketball, just to the game, to not want it to compete in a high level, to want your season to end in April."
Antetokounmpo went one step further. He exhibited his dissatisfaction with the Bucks in other comments he made about the team and their inability to win in the postseason.
"The last three years, we've been eliminated in the first round, so it's not much to talk about," he said. "We just got to put our heads down and stay locked in the whole year long and try to win some games and hopefully get in the playoffs and then don't get eliminated in the first round. That's pretty much it. And then we go from there."
Charania said he could become a "viable trade target" in-season depending on the Bucks ability to grow as a team and play competitive basketball.
The Knicks might have a second bite at the apple and make a deal for Antetokounmpo during the season.