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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on from the bench during the first half of the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Fiserv Forum on February 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks have been taking calls over the last few days about possible trade packages for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Teams have been trying to pry him away from Milwaukee for weeks. However, that will not be happening.
Milwaukee has told teams that they will not trade Antetokounmpo at the deadline. This is a deal that they will make in the summer, when more teams have a chance to enter the bidding. Before this decision was made, the Warriors and the Timberwolves were the two top suitors.
According to a report, other teams don’t believe that the Bucks were ever thinking of trading him before the deadline.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward looks on. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Other Teams Believe the Bucks Were Never Going to Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, other teams around the league believe that the Bucks were “never serious” about dealing Antetokounmpo before the deadline. It was always assumed that Milwaukee was likely going to wait until the summer to move him.
Still, multiple teams tried everything they could to get a deal done. It seems Milwaukee had a plan to keep Antetokounmpo all along. While speaking on NBA Today, ESPN’s Shams Charania said that the Bucks believe they can still build a contender around Antetokounmpo this summer.
If that is the case, the Bucks are holding on to Antetokounmpo for dear life. It also might be a failed proposition, especially because they have almost no trade assets to find a way to improve the team in the offseason. They won’t have cap space to get players in free agency, either.
When the summer rolls around, Antetokounmpo could decide that he still wants to be traded. That would force the Bucks to trade him, especially with Antetokounmpo having an expiring contract next season. Then, they would potentially lose him for nothing.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo walks off the court. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks Might not Play Giannis Antetokounmpo the Rest of the Year
With the Bucks keeping Antetokounmpo, they have a big decision to make. Antetokounmpo is currently injured, and he might not be able to return until the end of this month. At that point, the Bucks might not want him to return and play again.
It would make the most sense for Milwaukee to tank, since the Pelicans are a much worse team than they are. Milwaukee owes a swap between themselves and the Pelicans to Atlanta. With New Orleans being one of the worst teams in the league, Milwaukee will likely keep its pick.
Having Antetokounmpo play would make them a better team, which would hurt their ultimate goal of getting a better draft pick. There’s a good chance that Milwaukee ends up sitting Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season.
Right now, Milwaukee sits 12th in the Eastern Conference standings. They have the eighth-worst offense in the league. They likely won’t get any better than that, especially if they don’t play Antetokounmpo.