Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo is open-minded about leaving the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time in his career.
The Bucks won the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns, with Antetokounmpo winning Finals MVP. However, Milwaukee has won just one postseason series since then.
Charania reported that the Bucks will not trade Antetokounmpo unless the two-time MVP requests a trade. Antetokounmpo doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, so if he requested a trade, he wouldn't be able to pick a destination.
Antetokounmpo trade rumors may all be white noise, though, as Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that there is still "plenty of skepticism" that The Greek Freak will ask out of Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
"There is still plenty of skepticism from people around the league and people around Giannis who have worked with him in the past, who have worked with the Bucks in the past, that someone who is as loyal as him, who has always relished being the main central figure of that franchise is actually going to stick up his hand and say, 'I want to be somewhere else,'" Fischer said.
"So until that happens, I've been given every indication that Milwaukee is going to try as a front office to continue to upgrade the roster, continue to make moves to shape a championship contender around him."
Antetokounmpo is coming off another stellar campaign. He averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Bucks this season in 67 games. He is an MVP finalist.
If Antetokounmpo remains with Milwaukee, the front office will have to make upgrades to the roster this summer since Damian Lillard could miss the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers.