The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other moves, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The news comes just hours before the 3 p.m. ET deadline and after several days of fielding trade offers from teams. The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves were among the teams interested in acquiring Antetokounmpo.
Charania reported last week that Antetokounmpo has been ready for a new home for months, either at Thursday’s deadline or in the offseason. The Bucks began listening to teams’ offers over the past week for the two-time MVP, even engaging and countering a few of them. It’s further along in the process than Milwaukee had been willing to go throughout Antetokounmpo’s tenure.
However, sources told ESPN the Bucks did not feel the urgency to move Antetokounmpo before Thursday’s deadline. Both sides are expected to re-examine a potential deal in the offseason.
Antetokounmpo could have more influence over his next destination in the summer. He is eligible to sign a contract extension on Oct. 1. Given his player option for the 2027-28 season, it means he has only one more guaranteed year remaining on his contract. Where he wants to sign that extension could dictate the terms of his next deal.
The Bucks have not given up complete hope of salvaging the Antetokounmpo era and are now scouring the market for potential upgrades. Milwaukee has won back-to-back games this week but are still in the No. 12 slot in the East and trailing the Chicago Bulls by three games for the No.10 seed.
Antetokounmpo, 31, has been limited by injuries to 30 games this season, but is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He strained his right calf on Jan. 23 against the Nuggets, an injury Antetokounmpo himself estimated could cost him four to six weeks on the sidelines, but the team did not release a timeline. Antetokounmpo does expect to play again this season, however, once he has recovered from the injury, sources told ESPN. He has worked out on the court prior to games in Milwaukee this week in order to test his injured calf.
In the first reported move since making their intentions to keep Antetokounmpo known, the Bucks sent Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey to the Phoenix Suns for Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis, sources told Charania.
Anthony, whom the Bucks signed to a one-year, $13 million deal over the summer, was averaging just 15.1 minutes this season and a career-low 6.7 points.
ESPN’s Jamal Collier contributed to this report.