The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade buzz isn’t going away - and around the league, it’s starting to shape how front offices operate heading into the deadline.
Despite efforts from both the Bucks and Giannis to quiet the noise over the past couple of weeks, the rest of the NBA isn’t buying the calm. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, teams are hitting the brakes on potential deals, keeping their powder dry in case the two-time MVP suddenly becomes available. In other words, no one wants to spend their best assets now if there’s even a slight chance Giannis hits the market in a couple of weeks.
“The biggest question in the NBA right now is are the Bucks really going to stand for this and is Giannis really going to stand for this,” Windhorst said on NBA Countdown. That question is getting louder with every Milwaukee loss.
And there have been plenty lately. The Bucks are 5-5 since Giannis returned from injury and have dropped three straight, including ugly blowouts at the hands of San Antonio and Minnesota.
When Giannis sits, the team struggles - badly. They’re currently 17-24 and sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Technically still in the play-in hunt, yes, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
Zach Lowe added fuel to the fire, reporting that several teams - including the Hawks, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, and Knicks - are monitoring the situation and making sure they have the flexibility to pounce if things in Milwaukee go sideways. These are organizations with big-market ambitions and, in some cases, the trade capital to make a real run at a superstar if the door cracks open.
Giannis is under contract through next season, with a massive player option looming for 2027-28. But as Lowe pointed out, if he turns down an extension this fall, it could be the league’s clearest signal yet that he’s ready to move on - even if he doesn’t formally request a trade.
Lowe also floated Ja Morant as a potential swing piece in the broader trade landscape, though Morant has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Memphis.
For now, the Bucks are trying to hold the line. But the pressure is mounting.
They’ve got a generational player in Giannis, but they’re trending in the wrong direction, and the league is watching - closely. If Milwaukee doesn’t find its footing soon, the rest of the NBA might not wait for the offseason to make their move.