NBA exec expects Giannis to request trade from Bucks next offseason

An NBA executive expects Giannis Antetokounmpo to request a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks next offseason.

Antetokounmpo almost requested a trade from the Bucks this offseason, but he decided not to.

“I think Giannis asks out of Milwaukee next summer,” an NBA executive told Ahn Fire Digital. “That team is not good enough to compete for a championship this season, but I can’t see Giannis requesting a trade during the season. Players don’t like to be traded midseason.

“I think Giannis gives it his all — like he always does — this season for one last hurrah in Milwaukee and then he requests a trade next offseason. The Knicks and Spurs are the two teams to watch for him.”

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Bucks and Knicks spoke about an Antetokounmpo trade this offseason. Antetokounmpo, 30, was open to getting traded to New York, but a deal didn’t go through.

Milwaukee has won just one playoff series since winning the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. Antetokounmpo desperately wants to win another championship and he may not be able to accomplish that feat on the Bucks, who have no All-Stars on the roster outside of Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks have lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row. Antetokounmpo has only been to the NBA Finals once during his legendary career.

A future Hall of Famer, Antetokounmpo doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he wouldn’t be able to choose his destination if he requested a trade. The Greek Freak is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time All-Star with career averages of 23.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.

The Bucks’ front office was busy this offseason, parting ways with Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner, adding Gary Harris, Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony and re-signing Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince and Jericho Sims.

Antetokounmpo wasn’t consulted before Milwaukee waived and stretched Lillard.