League sources believe a Giannis Antetokounmpo–Bucks split is inevitable, with a trade now expected around the draft rather than the February 5 deadline.
NBA front offices spent much of this week preparing for the possibility that the Milwaukee Bucks could trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February 5 deadline.
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For a moment, the writing appeared to be on the wall -- until Friday's calf injury for the Greek Freak sent Milwaukee back into uncertainty.
According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, a wave of questions has since begun circulating rapidly around the league.
Taken together, they reflect a growing belief among executives that a split between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks is inevitable.
One league source with deep knowledge told Jake Fischer: "This is shaping up to be a draft-day kind of thing."
Another was even more direct: "It's happening."
In other words, if a deal doesn't materialize now, it's increasingly expected to occur in conjunction with the NBA Draft.
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Waiting until the summer, however, comes with notable drawbacks. After this season, Antetokounmpo will have just one fully guaranteed year remaining on his contract, along with a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
That timeline gives Giannis and his agent, Alex Saratsis, significant leverage, including the credible threat of leaving after just one more season.
Such uncertainty could discourage some teams from aggressively pursuing a trade and potentially limit the return Milwaukee could command.
According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, Giannis' unclear future has already prompted teams like the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat to hold off on major trade moves ahead of the February 5 deadline.
Tensions between Giannis and the Bucks have now reached an all-time high.
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