The Milwaukee Bucks did not trade Giannis Antetokounmpo before the deadline, despite reportedly targeting VJ Edgecombe or Evan Mobley in potential deals.
The Milwaukee Bucks did not trade their franchise superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo before the February 5 trade deadline.
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According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Bucks were reportedly interested in younger building blocks such as 20-year-old rookie VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers or Evan Mobley, 24, of the Cleveland Cavaliers in potential discussions involving Antetokounmpo.
"The players the Bucks did seem interested in were younger building blocks such as VJ Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers or Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources said."
Per ESPN, Milwaukee's asking price ahead of the February 5 deadline was extremely high.
One executive from a third team described the Bucks' approach as simply "gauging the market," adding that the price was essentially "all our draft picks and good young players."
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The Golden State Warriors were among the teams that made an offer, reportedly including four unprotected first-round picks. However, talks never gained serious momentum.
Now, there is growing friction within the organization over whether to shut down Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season following his latest injury. As a result, trade discussions are expected to resurface during the summer.
ESPN's Bobby Marks reported that starting October 1, Giannis will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million extension with Milwaukee.
Had he been traded in the offseason, Giannis would have had to wait six months from the trade date to sign a maximum contract.
"It's not an accident that teams like the Lakers, Clippers, Heat, and Warriors all have lined up to have cap space in 2027 when Giannis can be a free agent," one NBA executive told ESPN. "A player like Giannis can tilt the balance of power in the league for years to come."
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