RealGM Basketball Wiretap

01 May 2025

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Has Worked To Have 'Zero Speculation' On His Future With Focus On Bucks

  The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks will hit an inflection point this offseason as they face the prospect of a challenging 25-26 season without Damian Lillard. What Antetokounmpo is thinking at this time has been difficult for insiders to gauge as both he and his camp have focused on having their intention solely on the Bucks.

  "There has been zero speculation about Giannis and his future," said Brian Windhorst on NBA Today on Wednesday. "He's worked very hard and so has his representation to shut down anything. He has been completely focused on the Bucks. So therefore this is basically a bit of a mystery. It might be a mystery within the organization a little bit. It's definitely a mystery for other teams out there. Whether he would want to get moved and who would potentially be on a list of interested teams.

  "Which means this is going to be one of the biggest things hanging over the NBA offseason. And other players, potentially even star players who might end up on the trade market might have to wait themselves to see how Giannis' situation plays out because teams are going to see him as the biggest fish."

  Antetokounmpo will meet with the Bucks in the coming days or weeks to discuss his future with the franchise. This has been the type of conversation the sides typically have at the conclusion of the season.

  Antetokounmpo and the Bucks most recently signed a three-year, $186 million extension in October 2023 following their trade for Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo has a player option for the 2027 offseason. Antetokounmpo also signed his supermax during the 2020 offseason after the Bucks acquired Jrue Holiday and they went on to win a title.

• Bucks Declined To Discuss Trading 2031 First Round Pick At Deadline

  The Milwaukee Bucks were unwilling to include their 2031 first round pick in trade talks at the deadline, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks do not control any of their upcoming first round picks until 2031.

  The Bucks inquired about trading for several former All-Stars leading to the deadline, including Zach LaVine.

  Milwaukee instead acquired Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards while agreeing to swap first round picks in 2028 along with Khris Middleton and AJ Johnson.

  Milwaukee has just four players signed to guaranteed contracts in 25-26: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Kuzma and Tyler Smith.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks To Meet To Discuss Future

  The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are scheduled to meet after the season to discuss both his future and the future plans of the franchise, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania. The two sides meet annually in this way, but this one is expected to take a different tone heading into the offseason as the Bucks have fallen outside true title contention and face an extended absence of Damian Lillard.

  Sources tell ESPN that Antetokounmpo has remained happy in Milwaukee and has been pleased with the progress he and Lillard have made. The Bucks have made every effort to continue competing for titles during Antetokounmpo's prime but the roster around him has degraded.

  "It doesn't feel good, man," Antetokounmpo said after Game 5. "It doesn't feel good. I just got to look myself in the mirror and I just have to be better. I have to be better."

  Antetokounmpo was asked about his future with the Bucks, but he elected not to discuss it.

  "I'm not going to do this," Antetokounmpo said. "I'm not going to do that. I know how it's going to translate. I don't know, man. I wish I was still playing. I wish I was still competing and going back and working out.

  "I don't know."

• Damian Lillard: I'm Not Going Out This Way

  Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers shared some comments from star guard Damian Lillard ahead of Tuesday's Game 5 in Indiana. Rivers was able to share some insight on how Lillard is thinking in the wake of suffering a torn left Achilles' tendon during Game 4.

  "He said two things, which I love," Rivers said. "The first one, he just said 'I can't believe I'm here.' Then the second one is 'I'm not going out this way.' I can guarantee you he won't, and that's what I meant about his resolve."

  Lillard is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season while recovering from the torn Achilles'. Average recovery time ranges from 10-12 months, with most NBA players missing a full year to recover and then ramp up to playing again.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: Postgame Behavior Of Tyrese Haliburton's Father 'Totally Unacceptable'

  Giannis Antetokounmpo was taunted on the middle of the court by the father of Tyrese Haliburton immediately after the Milwaukee Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of their first round series.

  "This is the last I'm going to say, I don't want to talk about it," said Antetokounmpo. "We lost the game. It doesn't really matter. All I'll say is that I believe in being humble in victory. That's the way I am. Now, there are a lot of people out there that can say, 'No. When you win, you gotta talk [expletive]. It's a green light for you to be disrespectful towards somebody else.' I disagree.

  "I have won a championship. They haven't. That doesn't say anything. I'm not trying to minimize their effort. When we won a championship, I remember my mom was scared to cross. She was like, 'Am I allowed to come and hug my son?' This is not something that we do. We don't. I try to keep my family away from the game.

  "But losing a game, emotions run high, having a fan, which at the moment, I thought he was a fan and then I realized, it was Tyrese's dad. I love Tyrese. He's a great competitor. - coming in the floor and showing me his son's towel and saying, 'This is what we do. This is what we f'ing do. This is what the eff we do.' I feel like that's very, very disrespectful.

  "Having somebody's dad - and I'm happy for him and I'm happy for his son and I'm happy that he's happy for his son, that's how he's supposed to feel - but coming to me and disrespecting me and cursing at me is totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. I'm not a guy that points fingers because in my neighborhood snitches get stitches, so I don't want to say something for him to get fined or anything, but it's not respectful. I talked with him at the end. And I think we're in a good place."

  Tyrese Haliburton also took issue with the behavior of his father and spoke to the media about how he felt.

  "After we won, I kind of blacked out a little bit," said Haliburton. "I don't really remember a ton (other) than all of the guys grabbing me on my head. As far as the incident between Giannis and my pops, I had no idea it happened until I got to the back [and] was showed the video. Me and my pops have talked about that, and I don't agree with what transpired there from him. I think basketball is basketball and let's keep it on the court. I think that he just got excited. [He] saw his son made a game-winner and came on the court. But we had a conversation, and I think he needs to just allow me to play basketball, stay over there and I'll come to him to celebrate. But I think just the emotions of the game, [he] got excited there. But I've talked with him, (and) I'll talk with Giannis eventually about it. I don't think that my pops was in the right at all there."

• 'Entire NBA Offseason Will Hinge' On Giannis Antetokounmpo's Decision With Bucks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo's long-term commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks has become an increasingly significant topic among NBA insiders following Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon tear, which threatens to compromise the team's championship aspirations next season.

  Despite Antetokounmpo averaging 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season-likely earning him third place in MVP voting-questions persist about Milwaukee's competitive window. The Bucks were not widely expected to compete in the East beyond the first round even with a healthy Lillard, and his absence further complicates their path forward.

  "The question for the whole NBA is 'what does Giannis do about it?'" ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on NBA Today. "Does Giannis indicate to the team he wants to stay put and remain a Buck going forward. Or does Giannis indicate he may want to look around? If the answer is B, the entire NBA offseason will hinge on it."

  Windhorst emphasized the significance of Antetokounmpo's decision, adding: "I don't even think any team can make a big move until they figure out what Giannis might prefer."

  Though Antetokounmpo signed an extension in October 2023 following the Lillard trade, keeping him under contract until 2027, his satisfaction with the team's direction could drive potential trade discussions. The Bucks face additional challenges in retooling their roster, as they do not control their own first-round draft pick until 2031.

  The organization now faces critical decisions about how to maintain competitiveness around their superstar forward while navigating Lillard's injury recovery and limited draft assets.

• Damian Lillard Diagnosed With Torn Left Achilles Tendon

  Damian Lillard has been officially diagnosed with a torn left Achilles tendon following an MRI. Lillard was believed to have suffered the injury with the original diagnosis in the locker room following the first quarter injury in Game 4.

  Lillard recently returned from a deep vein thrombosis to play in the playoffs. During the 23-24 season, Lillard dealt with an Achilles issue that forced him to miss the end of the Bucks' playoff run.

  Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 24-25. Lillard has a player option for 26-27 with his contract expiring in 2027. Lillard was set to become extension eligible this offseason with the Bucks.

  The typical recovery timetable for an Achilles tear is at least 12 months with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson each returning from the injury while into their 30s.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: We're Going To Help Damian Lillard 'Overcome'

  Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke after the Milwaukee Bucks' Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers in which Damian Lillard was injured with an apparent Achilles tear. Antetokounmpo and Lillard have been teammates with the Bucks for the past two seasons following the latter's trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in September 2023.

  "A lot of people don't see what Dame had to deal with, but I've been around him every single day and it's hard," said Antetokounmpo. "It's hard being in his position, but he's one of the toughest, mentally toughest guys I've ever been around and that's why he is who he is, and I think he's going to overcome every obstacle that's going to be in front of him. Everybody's going to be there for him. No matter what the obstacle is for him, he's going to overcome and we're going to help him overcome."

  Antetokounmpo was previously injured during the Bucks' first round series loss to the Pacers in 2024.

• Damian Lillard Exits Game 4 With Suspected Achilles Tear

  Damian Lillard exited Game 4 of the Milwaukee Bucks' first round series against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter with a potentially severe non-contact lower left leg injury. Lillard stayed down on the floor for several moments and needed to be helped off the floor as he couldn't put weight on his left leg. Chris Haynes reports that the initial fear is that Lillard suffered a left Achilles tear.

  Lillard recently returned from a deep vein thrombosis to play in the playoffs. During the 23-24 season, Lillard dealt with an Achilles issue that forced him to miss the end of the Bucks' playoff run.

  Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 24-25.

  Lillard has a player option for 26-27 with his contract expiring in 2027. Lillard was set to become extension eligible this offseason with the Bucks.

• Gary Trent Jr. Ties Franchise Record With 9 3s In Game 3 Win

  Gary Trent Jr. hit nine 3-pointers as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 117-101 to win Game 3.

  Trent tied Ray Allen's franchise record for most threes in a playoff game.

  "A big fan of Ray Allen as a kid, I watched him accomplish great things as a Buck, as a Celtic, just followed his whole career, the way he shot the basketball, said Trent. "So, to be in that group, your name near him as a shooter, it's a great thing for me. It's a testament to just keep going and keep going."

  Trent finished with 37 points, with Giannis Antetokounmpo also adding 37 points. The two became the first Bucks' duo to each at least score 35 points in a playoff game.

  Trent was inserted into the starting lineup for Taurean Prince for Game 3.

  The Bucks outscored the Pacers by 21 points in the third quarter, with Trent hitting 5 3s.

  Damian Lillard finished the game with seven points on 2-of-12 shooting.

  Game 4 takes place on Sunday.