Milwaukee Bucks trade rumors, Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors update future, Golden State Warriors Giannis trade, Minnesota Timberwolves Giannis trade, Miami Heat Giannis trade, New York Knicks Giannis trade, Bucks Ja Morant trade rumors, Heat Ja Morant trade rumors, NBA trade deadline, NBA trade rumors, NBA trades
Getty
Despite interest from the Warriors, Timberwolves, Heat, and Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks have made a decision on a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
The question of whether the Milwaukee Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at the 2026 NBA trade deadline has been the leading storyline for the past few monthsacross the league.
But with just hours left before theycan’t move him until the summer, all expectations indicate the Bucks will not trade the two-time MVP before the deadline. The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, two teams that led the race for the superstar, have since made other trades that signal they are not in the hunt for Antetokounmpo, and while the Miami Heat are still holding out hope, a trade does not look like it will materialize by February 5th at 3 pm EST.
Additionally, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer, despite a small amount of remaining hope that the superstar will become available, sources from each of those teams think Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee for the time being.
“The Wolves and the Heat both think they are in play for Giannis,”Fischer said on his live YouTube show. “But no one from GS, MIN, MIA, anyone else round the league even people in MILI’ve spoken to believe the Bucks are actually serious about trading Giannis.”
Despite the biggest name mentioned in trade rumors and hope from numerous teams that he would be available, Antetokounmpo will likely notbe moved from the Bucks.
Bucks Make Massive Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Decision
The reporting onAntetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee has been inconsistent, tosay the least.Shams Charania first reported over the offseason that he was interested in exploring options elsewhere,in which the New York Knicksemerged as his preferred destination. However, trade talks between the Bucks and Knicks quieted relatively quickly, and Antetokounmpo played the first half of the season with his current franchise.
Shams Charania
New York emerged as the only team Giannis Antetokounmpo desired outside of Milwaukee in the offseason, sources told ESPN, and the Knicks and Bucks engaged in talks for a window of time.
Inside the clouds leaving Giannis’ future hanging in the balance:
However, there was another report by Charaniaabout him continuing to explore his options afterhe was injured in early December. That was nearly put to bed after the superstar gave an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, saying he would never ask to be traded, which almost put the kibosh on any potential deal.
But then, Charania once again reported the star was seriously considering a move elsewhere, and that the Bucks were finally open to listening to trade offers. Finally, Antetokounmpo gave an interesting interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, saying he wanted to keep competing for a championship with his current team, despite him knowing the current roster has little hope of making any playoff push.
What has been clear is that Antetokounmpodoesn’t want to be the bad guy and wants tokeep his strong reputation in the city he has spent the first 13 seasons of his NBA careerwith. Despite all of that, there is still a notion that he wants to be moved elsewhere, in hopes of furthering his legacyin the form of winning titles. But with all the back-and-forth reporting, for now at least, the superstar appears not to be moving anywhere at the trade deadline.
ESPN
Trade buzz surrounding Giannis is heating up 👀 @ShamsCharania shares the latest 🙌
Both the Warriors and Timberwolves have madebig trades over the past few days, signaling they areout on the Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes. Golden State traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis, while Minnesota moved Mike Conley, Rob Dillingham, and a few other pieces in what feels like a short-term move to add a true point guard in the form of Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat, as well as the two other teams, potentially the Knicksas well, still feel like they can target Antetokounmpo in the offseason, but for now, any potentialof himbeing traded by the deadline feels extremely unlikely.
The Antetokounmpo-Bucks saga over the past few months hasbeen complicated to say the least.
Bucks Looking To Add Ja Morant By Trade Deadline
At the same time the Bucks are signaling thatthey’ll keep Antetokounmpo for the time being, Fischer also reported they are targeting Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, who appears to be entering afull rebuild after sending Jaren Jackson Jr. and other assets to the Utah Jazz.
Milwaukee was previously linked to Morant a while ago, and is now reportedly hoping to land him in the last few hours before the trade deadline.
Jake Fischer
The Wolves and Heat, sources say, still believe they are in play for landing Giannis Antetokounmpo today, although like the Warriors, few believe Milwaukee is actually serious about parting ways with their franchise face. I’m still being told the Bucks are engaged with the
“I’m stillbeing told the Bucks are engaged with the Grizzlies on Ja Morant as well,”Fischer wrote in a post on X.
In an interesting twist, Miami has beenanother team linked to the controversial point guardout of Memphis. However, they seemed to move away from him as a target as theywere previously all-in on trying to land Antetokounmpo.
But if the Bucks do land Morant, it would signal they are trying toput a winning team around their superstar.
At the moment, everythingis still very uncertain, andthings will likelystay that way until Charania announces a trade or the deadline passes.
What is clear is that Antetokounmpo has seriously considered his options elsewhere, and even if the Bucksdon’t trade him today, that will remain the case. They want to do everything they can to keep him, but seem to understand theycan’t hold him hostage if he wants tobe moved.
Until either the summer or Antetokounmpo demands a trade, the Warriors, Timberwolves, Heat, and even Knicksand any other potential suitor will have to wait,or mount a monumental trade package for the 2021 Finals MVP, but for now, thatfeels unlikely.