Now that the NBA All-Star Game is over, the Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to continue to play winning basketball. While the season, as a whole, has not gone the way they envisioned, they went into the break winning five of their last six games. At 23-30, they certainly are not where they want to be, but they have a good shot of making it into the play-in tournament if they continue to stack wins.
The return of Giannis Antetokounmpo after the break will undoubtedly play a big role in the Bucks’ hopes of making the postseason. He has been out for nearly a month after suffering a calf injury, and an earlier such injury forced him to miss nearly the whole month of December.
And as he makes his return to play, there will rumors, once again, that the ten-time All-Star could be traded this summer.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots down Miami Heat trade rumors
Feb 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and forward Taurean Prince (12) watch their team play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Of course, there have been trade rumors involving Giannis for nearly a decade. This year, though, they were even more pointed and seemingly realistic. Multiple reporters, especially Shams Charania of ESPN, stated “sources” told them the Bucks were going to trade their two-time NBA MVP.
Obviously, that did not happen. Despite him remaining on the roster, though, these same insiders have already begun laying the foundations for off-season trade speculation.
But if Miami Heat fans were hopeful of landing Giannis, they may end up being disappointed [again]:
Someone asked Giannis earlier today if he’s coming to Miami this year:
“Giannis will we see you in Miami this year?”
“For vacation” – Giannis
Yea let’s pivot to Kawhi😭 pic.twitter.com/prRwA7gU3X
— 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 (@WadexFlash) February 16, 2026
As one can see in the post/video above, someone asked Giannis if they were going to see him in Miami next year, as in playing in a Heat uniform.
True to his joking nature, the Greek Freak responded, “For vacation.”
Despite this, and yet another interview during All-Star weekend in which he reiterated his commitment to Milwaukee, there will still be Giannis trade rumors. He can, of course, nip them in the bud for a while by signing a contract extension with the Bucks in October.
Before that happens, though, fans and the organization will once again have to deal with multiple outlets pushing a narrative to get one of the NBA’s biggest stars out of the league’s smallest market.
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