At last, Giannis Antetokounmpo seems open for a trade.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar is "ready for a new home," and would be open to a change of scenery before the NBA trade deadline takes place on February 5. If not by then, Antetokounmpo will certainly be a name to keep an eye on this summer.
Throughout the 2025-2026 NBA season, several teams have kept their eyes on Antetokounmpo as a potential future addition. Several organizations such as the New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and the Golden State Warriors have been rumored to be holding out for a Giannis trade request as the Bucks struggled. For a while, Antetokounmpo shot the idea down.
But the Bucks haven't shown any promise as of late. With or without Antetokounmpo on the court, wins have been hard to come by. As Giannis nurses a calf injury, the Bucks are sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 18-27 record. They haven't shown any signs of turning it around. At this stage of his career, Antetokounmpo wants to compete for another title. The Bucks don't have the talent to do that currently.
With Giannis finally opening up to a potential move, his decision could shift the NBA trade market. Lately, there hasn't been a lot of movement, and several reports have noted that Giannis is why. Interested teams have been saving up for a potential bid. Now that Giannis could get moved, that should open up the trade market. And if he is moved ahead of the deadline, the fallout from that could be major.
The Bucks have indicated that they are not in a rush to complete a move. If teams aren't willing to meet their price point, which is a reported "blue-chip young talent, along with a surplus of draft picks," then Milwaukee is more than open to waiting it out a few more months.
At 31, Giannis remains one of the most dominant players in the game. Despite dealing with common setbacks throughout the year, he has averaged 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
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