RealGM Basketball Wiretap

08 January 2026

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Says He Will Never Tell Bucks He Wants Trade

  Trade speculation has swirled around Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks for months now. Antetokounmpo has been less than clear about his desires. However, in a recent interview with The Athletic, Antetokounmpo made his intentions obvious.

  "There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment, that I will come out and say 'I want a trade,'" Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. "That's not... in... my... nature. OK?"

  It's hard to be more direct than that. In addition, this comment from Antetokounmpo came after a Bucks loss at the Golden State Warriors. This wasn't the Bucks superstar getting caught up in the moment after a victory.

  Antetokounmpo added that he's "locked in" with the Bucks. He also added that "My plan is to be here for the rest of my career."

  Doc Rivers has been consistent with his messaging that Antetokounmpo appears to him to want to remain with the Bucks.

  "If you're around the team every day, and you saw those reports, you would laugh," Rivers told The Athletic. "He's given no indication (that he wants out). That doesn't mean that he doesn't change his mind, or whatever. But Giannis loves being in Milwaukee. He loves playing for this team. If something happens someday, where he changes his mind, I'd actually be surprised. But that can happen.

  "But it's frustrating for me. Giannis, two or three times now, has said, 'Guys, I'm here. I love it.' "

  Antetokounmpo becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension with the Bucks on October 1st.

• Bucks Waive Mark Sears From Two-Way

  The Milwaukee Bucks have waived guard Mark Sears. After signing a Two-Way contract with the Bucks in July, Sears saw action in seven games this season, averaging 3.1 points in 3.7 minutes per game in his first NBA campaign.

  The Alabama product also appeared in 12 games (five starts) with the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League this season, where he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per game.

  Sears went undrafted out of Alabama in 2025.

• Hawks, Raptors, Warriors, Bucks All Have Interest In Trading For Anthony Davis

  If the Dallas Mavericks choose to trade Anthony Davis, they've reportedly got teams lined up with interest. The Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks have all shown varying levels of interest in acquiring Davis.

  Atlanta is in the process of trying to find a trade for Trae Young. They could wrap a Davis acquisition into a Young trade, with the guard acting as the primary salary-matching piece in the deal. The Hawks could also use any flexibility obtained after trading Young to go after Davis, possibly with Kristaps Porzingis as a large chunk of the necessary outgoing salary.

  The Raptors are interested in adding frontcourt help. They would have to send back long-term contracts, which is something the Mavs are expected to want to avoid in a Davis trade.

  Getting to the matching salary for Davis is difficult for the Warriors. With Golden State unwilling to include Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green, it's nearly impossible for them to trade for the Mavs big man.

  The Bucks have said they intend to add talent around Giannis Antetokounmpo, as opposed to trading their superstar forward. The Bucks could also have issues coming up with the matching salary in deals, and they have little in the form of draft capital to offer the Mavericks.

• Peter Feigin Steps Down As Bucks' President, Replaced By Josh Glessing

  Peter Feigin stepped down as the president of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday after 12 years in the role.

  Feigin originally joined the team in 2014.

  "Serving as President of the Milwaukee Bucks has been the honor of my professional life," Feigin said in a statement. "Together with our ownership group, partners, players, and an incredible staff, we built something truly special for this city and state. I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished and confident that the organization is in tremendous shape."

  Feigin will be replaced by Josh Glessing, who was previously the Haslam Sports Group's chief of strategy and development.

  "I was born a Bucks fan and I don't need to learn what this team means to Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin," Glessing said in a statement. "I have known it my entire life."

• NBA Executives Predict Quiet Trade Deadline Ahead Of 'Crazy Summer'

  NBA executives anticipate a relatively quiet February trade deadline but expect significant movement during the 2026 offseason, according to multiple league sources. Large player salaries and new CBA restrictions are limiting trade possibilities as teams navigate luxury tax aprons and roster-building limitations.

  ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported on the outlook as the league reaches the halfway point of its current collective bargaining agreement.

  "I don't see an eventful trade deadline," an Eastern Conference executive said. "But that could set up for a crazy summer."

  Several star players face limited trade interest due to massive contracts. The source material references a Dallas player earning $58.5 million next season with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.

  Trae Young with the Atlanta Hawks and Zach LaVine with the Sacramento Kings are also making approximately $40 million annually. Teams are struggling to find cap room to accommodate such salaries.

  Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to state he has no interest in discussing a future outside Milwaukee. League insiders suggest waiting until summer would maximize his leverage in any potential move.

  "If he waits until the summer [to ask out], he'll have maximum leverage on what his future will be," an Eastern Conference scout said.

  Sources indicate Milwaukee will focus on roster improvements around Antetokounmpo before the February 5 deadline. The Bucks sit five games behind the fourth-seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference.

  "They aren't trading him in-season," a Western Conference scout said.

  "I don't think it will be as busy as people think, and I don't think the available players will be that good," a Western Conference executive said.

  Jonathan Kuminga's situation with the Golden State Warriors also remains unresolved following last summer's contract negotiations. Kuminga becomes trade eligible on January 15th.

• Bucks May Renew Interest In Dejounte Murray

  The Milwaukee Bucks have made it known that they are looking to upgrade their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. That has Milwaukee linked to several players, but the Bucks don't have the trade assets to pursue superstar trades. That has the team looking at good player who have some sort of notable flaw, be it style-, injury- or contract-related

  One player the Bucks could renew interest in is New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray. Milwaukee previously had interest in trading for Murray when he was with the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks.

  Murray is expected to make his season debut at some point in January. The veteran guard has been rehabbing from a torn Achilles' tendon that he suffered on January 31 of last season. If Murray plays well, the Bucks may look into trading for Murray. The Pelicans have point guard depth with rookie Jeremiah Fears starting and veteran Jose Alvarado as the primary backup.

  Murray makes $30.8 million this season. After this year, Murray is owed $32.8 million with a $30.7 million player option in 2027-28.

• Pistons, Warriors, Bucks, Bulls Could Pursue Michael Porter Jr

  The Brooklyn Nets are receiving trade interest in forward Michael Porter Jr. as next month's trade deadline approaches. It's unclear if the Nets are set on moving Porter, but his strong play this season has improved the forward's trade value from negative to at least neutral.

  The Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be suitors for Porter. The Bucks are looking for ways to upgrade the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Golden State is expected to move Jonathan Kuminga, whose contract would go a long way towards matching salary for Porter. The Pistons are expected by many to pursue additional scoring, while the Chicago Bulls had interest in Porter when he was still on the Denver Nuggets.

  Porter has been the Nets primary scorer this season and is averaging a career-high 25.8 points per game. The 6-foot-10 forward has been efficient, with shooting splits of 49/41/81, while also grabbing a career-best 7.5 rebounds per game.

  Injuries and contract have been part of the value evaluation with Porter. He's now stayed mostly healthy over the last three seasons. Porter makes $38.3 million this season, with one additional season at $40.8 million left on his deal.

• Bucks Have Looked Into Trades For Zach LaVine, Jerami Grant, Malik Monk

  The Milwaukee Bucks won't trade Giannis Antetokounmpo without a trade demand. For his part, Antetokounmpo seems reluctant, if not unlikely, to make such a request. That's left the Bucks looking for ways to upgrade their roster around Antetokounmpo.

  Milwaukee has looked at trading for veteran guards Zach LaVine or Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings. LaVine is making $47.5 million this season, with a $48.9 million player option for next season. Monk's contract is more easily acquirable, as he's making $18.8 million this season, with two years and $41.7 million after that. The final season of Monk's deal is also a player option.

  The Bucks have reportedly also held discussion on acquiring Jerami Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers. Grant makes $32 million this season, with $70.6 million owed to him through 2027-28, with the final season being a player option.

  Acquiring any player with a sizable salary for Milwaukee would mean sending out multiple players. For example, acquiring LaVine would likely mean sending the Kings multiple players to match salary, or involving a third team to take on salary in a multi-team trade.

  A trade with the Blazers would be interesting for the Bucks, as Portland has control of Milwaukee's first-round picks from 2028 through 2030. The Bucks can't trade a free and clear first-round pick until 2032.

• Bucks Won't Trade Giannis Antetokounmpo Without Forceful Request

  The Milwaukee Bucks have not engaged with teams about trading Giannis Antetokounmpo since the NBA's unofficial trade season began Dec. 15, sources told ESPN. Instead, Milwaukee has been scouring the market as buyers looking for roster upgrades.

  A resolution to Antetokounmpo's situation is expected in the coming weeks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. If the Bucks continue losing and Antetokounmpo wants out, it will require a more forceful request from the two-time MVP, league sources told ESPN.

  "The question is who is going to get made uncomfortable," a league source told ESPN. "There's a difference between saying it out loud and innuendos. [The Bucks] know Giannis doesn't want to be the villain."

  Antetokounmpo threw down a windmill dunk with seven seconds remaining in Saturday's 112-103 win over the Chicago Bulls, sparking a near-brawl. He scored 29 points in 25 minutes while on a playing time restriction after missing three weeks with a calf injury. Before the injury, Charania reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis were reopening conversations with the Bucks about his future.

  Milwaukee has engaged in internal conversations about Zach LaVine and Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings, as well as Jerami Grant of the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple team and league sources. The Bucks like their roster but believe they need additions to compete for a championship.

  "I've been 13 years in the league," Antetokounmpo said. "If we keep on losing, brother, probably half of the team is not going to be here."

  The Bucks sit at 13-19 in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. They are 3-11 without Antetokounmpo this season and have won one playoff series since capturing the 2021 NBA title.

  Milwaukee has limited trade assets, with only one first-round pick available in either 2031 or 2032. Doc Rivers insisted Antetokounmpo has never requested a trade.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Expected To Return On Saturday

  Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday at the Chicago Bulls. Antetokounmpo has missed the Bucks last eight games due to a right calf strain.

  Without their star forward, Milwaukee went 2-6. Overall, this season the Bucks are 3-11 when Antetokounmpo misses a game.

  Antetokounmpo returns as the Bucks find themselves 12-19 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Trade rumors continue to swirl around Antetokounmpo, but the superstar has yet to formally ask Milwaukee for a trade.