Milwaukee Bucks start Giannis Antetokounmpo during an NBA game.
After the trade deadline passed, the Milwaukee Bucks were accused of not seriously entertaining offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The injured superstar forward remains with his one and only NBA squad for the time being.
Can the partnership last? That’s one of the NBA’s biggest questions. Antetokounmpo continues to assure his teammates and the public that he doesn’t want a change of scenery. The Bucks’ unwillingness to trade him confirms how they feel about Antetokounmpo.
Just because they didn’t do it in February doesn’t mean they can’t in the summer. As the 2025-2026 NBA season reaches the final stages of the regular season, the ‘Stein Line’s’ Jake Fischer predicts that a move will ultimately get done before next season, based on the intel he has on the situation.
The Latest On The Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Saga
The public heard from Antetokounmpo recently, as he sat down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews to express his commitment to Milwaukee.
“As of today I’m committed to the Bucks… I don’t want anybody to ever think I quit on my team because this is my team and I love it… But when you’ve had that bite of a really good steak… you want that steak again.”
That quote stands out for obvious reasons. Today is not tomorrow. And while Giannis could’ve forced his way out at the deadline, he stayed behind the scenes and let the Bucks kick around some ideas.
It seems that if the Bucks can’t build a roster worth convincing Antetokounmpo, they can win a championship next season, then the commitment level could drop to new lows, forcing a change. Then, there’s this from Fischer:
“I’ve kept in regular contact with four sources close to the situation who have all maintained that a move to a true title contender is the most likely endgame for the 31-year-old,” Fischer wrote on Sunday, February 22. “And that’s why I think the trade is going to happen this summer. It also remains undeniably true that the Bucks are going to get more attractive offers in the offseason than they could have gotten this month.”
Do The Bucks Have A Shot To Change The Narrative?
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
GettyThe Milwaukee Bucks have some major Giannis Antetokounmpo questions to answer this summer.
Antetokounmpo has been off the court since January 27. In the 30 games he played, the Bucks were 15-15.
In the games he was out, the Bucks are 9-15. Not good enough with him—certainly not good enough without him.
Sitting in 11th place with a 24-30 record, the Bucks are hovering around the NBA Play-In Tournament’s final seat. With a three-game winning streak in play, the Bucks could jump the Charlotte Hornets to insert themselves in the postseason picture.
But collecting a final two seed isn’t enough to convince Antetokounmpo to stay. Several teams have had eyes on Antetokounmpo since his name was tossed on the trade block.
The Heat (7th in the East), Knicks (3rd in the East), Lakers (5th in the West), Warriors (8th in the West), and Timberwolves (6th in the West) all have more attractive situations based on Giannis’s preference.
Antetokounmpo is still a high-level player, averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists when on the court this season. The Bucks will net a haul of assets if he does depart. The saga has brought a ton of fatigue to the league over the past year, but all signs continue to point to Antetokounmpo changing uniforms for the first time in 2026.