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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 07: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after making a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at Chase Center on January 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks have continued to slide down the Eastern Conference standings in recent weeks. Currently, they sit 11th in the East. With them being outside the play-in right now, things are tense in Milwaukee around the entire roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo recently got booed at home and decided to boo back at the crowd. That was a moment that had never happened before, and it put other teams on alert. The Bucks have had to deal with Antetokounmpo being open to being traded all season long.
With the team sliding, other teams are watching anything that could develop in Milwaukee. In fact, other teams are holding off on trade plans while they wait to see what happens with Antetokounmpo.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo goes up to dunk the ball. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Other Teams Monitoring Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks
According to a report from Zach Lowe, other teams are watching the Bucks closely to see if Antetokounmpo decides he wants out. Lowe talked about this on Amazon Prime.
“The Hawks, the Warriors, the Lakers, the Heat, maybe the Knicks that are sort of thinking to themselves, ‘Do we need to keep all of our stuff and wait for Giannis to maybe become available, whether it’s now or in the summer?’…The whole league is watching. If they slide any further down the standings, if they can’t even get up to tenth or ninth in the East, does Giannis push the button now instead of waiting until the summer?”
The Bucks have informed other teams that they don’t plan to trade him ahead of the trade deadline. Of course, Antetokounmpo might not give them much choice if things don’t improve quickly. He might force their hand by demanding a trade now so he can sign an extension elsewhere.
Milwaukee could end up making a desperation trade to try to show Antetokounmpo that they are trying everything they can to win games with the current roster. That might not be enough to keep him happy.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo plays defense. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Bucks Likely Won’t Move Giannis Antetokounmpo This Season
Despite the pressure that the team is under to perform right away, the Bucks are still unlikely to trade him before the trade deadline. They are much more likely to ride out the season in an attempt to flip a switch and turn this team into a playoff team.
Right now, the Bucks have the eighth-worst offense in the league. Even with Antetokounmpo in the lineup, they haven’t generated enough offense to compete in a weak Eastern Conference. That could make Antetokounmpo choose to ask for a trade in the summer.
Other NBA teams will likely flood the Bucks with offers before the trade deadline. All of them are likely to be turned down. Jon Horst is desperately trying to keep the face of the franchise happy enough to play his entire career in Milwaukee, and trading him is absolutely the last resort.