RealGM Basketball Wiretap

28 January 2026

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Communicates He's Ready To Leave Bucks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo has communicated that he is ready to move on from the Milwaukee Bucks either ahead of the trade deadline or in the offseason. The Bucks have signaled that they are more open than ever to trading Antetokounmpo even though they plan on remaining patient in negotiations.

  The Bucks are seeking a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks. Milwaukee could receive a more appealing package of draft picks in June if they wait.

  Antetokounmpo has informed the Bucks for months that he believes the moment has come to part ways. Antetokounmpo will become eligible to sign a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1.

  Antetokounmpo will miss the next several weeks after sustaining a right calf strain.

  The Bucks entered the season with hopes of competing in the Eastern Conference after waiving and stretching Damian Lillard in order to sign Myles Turner to a four-year, $108 million deal. Antetokounmpo responded by expressing his doubts and for his preference to be traded to the New York Knicks if the teams could agree upon a trade, but he ultimately recommitted to trying to make it work with the Bucks this season.

  Antetokounmpo has made it clear to the Bucks that he loves both the city of Milwaukee and the franchise. But Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, have held discussions with Jon Horst whether his best fit is Milwaukee or elsewhere.

  The Bucks have tried to operate as a buyer heading to the trade deadline as Antetokounmpo's status long-term remained unclear and they continued to try to build around him. The Bucks can currently trade either their 2031 or 2032 first round pick. In June, the Bucks can trade their pick this year along with their 2031 and 2033 selections.

  Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the NBA championship in 2021.

• Heat Believed To Have 'Real Shot' At Trading For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The Miami Heat are believed to have a "real shot" to put together a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  The Heat would likely have to include Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, and several draft picks to complete the deal.

  Multiple teams continue to engage the Bucks in trade discussions for Antetokounmpo despite his calf injury.

  Stein also adds that there is a team with interest in Antetokounmpo that believes the Bucks will push trade talks into the upcoming offseason.

  It was also reported on Tuesday that without Antetokounmpo, the Bucks could tank this season and get a high draft pick to either pair with the forward or use in a trade for an established star.

  The Bucks, who do not own their draft pick this season, will retain the lesser pick between them and the Pelicans.

• NBA Insiders Believe Bucks Tanking Could Open Window To Keep Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The latest calf injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo will force him to miss at least four to six weeks and could bury the Milwaukee Bucks from even qualifying for the Eastern Conference play-in, but it could create a scenario that gives them an unforeseen opportunity to keep Antetokounmpo with the franchise long-term. While the Bucks have run out of ways to build a championship-caliber roster around Antetokounmpo this season, they could effectively tank for the remainder of the season to increase their odds of a high draft pick in the May lottery.

  The Bucks do not control their own first round pick, but they will not lose it altogether as they will retain the lesser selection between them and the New Orleans Pelicans. Because the Pelicans will have one of the best lottery odds, both picks could be extraordinarily high for a draft class that is one of the deepest in recent memory.

  With a potential franchise player in the draft, the Bucks could either add a building block with Antetokounmpo or package that selection for an established star to lead the team back to title contention.

  "They are coming up against it in Milwaukee," said Brian Windhorst on Tuesday's episode of First Take. "And so when you see this injury, I think the common sense thing is, 'Well, now the Bucks are screwed.' But this actually, when you talk to folks around the league, may have opened a window for the Bucks to keep Giannis. And let me try to explain why.

  "This team was not going anywhere this year. Now, whether or not they wanted to admit that, whether Doc Rivers wanted to admit that, or whether Giannis wanted to admit that is another story. They were .500 with Giannis in the lineup. They're 3-11 without him. With Giannis now out, he cannot win any of the awards. This team is not going anywhere. They have a pathway, if they want to pivot to a tank, that they-right now, if the season ended right now, they would have the eighth-best chance to advance in the lottery. And they are going to get worse.

  "And now, it is absolutely true that they don't own their pick outright this year. They have a swap situation, but the swap is with New Orleans, who has got, if not the worst record, the second-worst record in the league. If the Bucks tank and tell Giannis to take the rest of the season off, they are giving themselves position with either their pick or New Orleans' pick to have a top-five, six pick-maybe, you know, maybe seven, eight pick.

  "And this summer, right now, they could only trade one first-round pick if they were trying to improve this team. If they wait till July, they could trade three first-round picks, and potentially they could draft a top player in this draft, and they could come back to Giannis and say, 'Giannis, will you reconsider?'

  "Now, the teams in the league still think that there's a chance that the Bucks are going to trade Giannis. In fact, Milwaukee was on the phone with teams yesterday talking about trade situations-not with Giannis, but with other players. They're still actively looking for trades. But this, believe it or not-I know it's counterintuitive-but this actually opens a way that they can offer another pathway to Giannis to try to improve the team. Whether Giannis wants to take it or not is another story, but I think it's worth pointing out.

  "And I also think that's why Doc Rivers said yesterday, 'No timetable.' Giannis says, 'I know it's four to six weeks.' They said no timetable for a reason: to leave their options open."

• Bucks Haven't Considered Shutting Down Giannis Antetokounmpo For Season

  The Milwaukee Bucks have confirmed that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be out indefinitely with a calf strain. Antetokounmpo predicted he will be out between four and six weeks as he was previously with the injury.

  "There's really no timetable," Doc Rivers said.

  Rivers said the Bucks haven't considered resting Antetokounmpo for the remainder of the season despite his history of calf issues.

  "There's no thought to that," Rivers said. "But listen, there's no timetable either."

  The Bucks will receive the lesser first round pick between their own and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans are tied for the third worst record in the NBA. The Bucks have an 18-26 record and are 3-11 without Antetokounmpo in the lineup.

  Antetokounmpo's future with the Bucks and a possibility of a trade either before the February 5th trade deadline or in the offseason is the biggest transactional question in the NBA currently.

• Trade Discussions For Giannis Antetokounmpo Continue Despite Calf Injury

  Multiple teams continue to engage the Milwaukee Bucks in trade discussions for Giannis Antetokounmpo despite his calf injury, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Antetokounmpo, who suffered the injury on Friday night, said that he would be out for the next 4-6 weeks with a calf strain.

  It was reported over the weekend that trade discussions were intensifying prior to Antetokounmpo's latest injury, with the Bucks realizing there is no clear pathway to championship contention.

  While there remains no clear-cut indication that the Bucks are willing to move Antetokounmpo, several teams believe a trade could still happen before the February 5 deadline.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Buzz Was Intensifying Around NBA Before Calf Injury

  Numerous NBA front offices began operating under the belief in recent days that a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade before the league's February 5 trade deadline at 3 PM ET had become somewhat more possible. The speculation intensified despite Antetokounmpo insisting on January 8 that he would never ask for a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks.

  But Antetokounmpo suddenly sustained another worrisome calf injury in Friday's loss by the Bucks against the Denver Nuggets. Antetokounmpo said he expects to be sidelined by this latest setback with his right calf for at least four to six weeks, well beyond the February 5 trade deadline.

  ESPN's Brian Windhorst went on Get Up on Friday morning and proclaimed that Antetokounmpo is the trade deadline. The Bucks' incessant losing is the foremost culprit for the rising trade speculation.

  Before Friday's injury, tensions in Milwaukee had spiked to a tone more concerning than any previous tipping point in Antetokounmpo's 13-season tenure with the Bucks. The Bucks had slumped to 18-25 even before Antetokounmpo's latest calf misfortune, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference.

  Antetokounmpo had only sparked further doubt about his future with the franchise by repeatedly airing his increasing frustration during recent postgame media availabilities. Multiple officials from rival teams indicated that the league's top curiosity as the trade buzzer nears had most definitely become Antetokounmpo's status.

  The precise impact of a long-term Antetokounmpo absence was still being assessed leaguewide as of Saturday. Valid questions have emerged about whether a trade must wait until the offseason or if interest in Antetokounmpo remains strong enough that even a new injury won't dissuade potential suitors.

  "This is shaping up to be a draft-day kind of thing," said one league source particularly well-versed in Bucks matters.

  Another source stated simply: "It's happening."

  The most immediate impact of Antetokounmpo's injury absence is that continuing to pursue win-now moves over the next 12 days until the deadline would appear to be futile for the Bucks. Without Antetokounmpo in the lineup, the Bucks are 3-11 this season.

  League sources say that the Bucks were already struggling to generate difference-making trade discussions by making the likes of Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis Jr. available. Michael Porter Jr., Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Jerami Grant and Miles Bridges have all been mentioned as potential targets.

  The Bucks' lack of available draft capital to sweeten trade offers has clearly complicated their search to improve the roster around Antetokounmpo. Sources describe Milwaukee's grudging realization over the course of this season that pathways to providing Antetokounmpo with the championship contention he has cleared prioritized just aren't there.

  Waiting until after the NBA's lottery drawing in May to truly launch into the process of parting with their franchise player via trade would at least enable the Bucks to know exactly what potential trade partners can offer in terms of 2026 draft capital. If the Atlanta Hawks land a top pick in the June draft, its ability to make a compelling trade offer for Antetokounmpo rises exponentially.

  Teams such as the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers would have access to more tradeable future first-round picks in the offseason than those teams can put on the table between now and the February 5 trade deadline. After this season, Antetokounmpo has only one more guaranteed season on his contract in addition to a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28.

  The Portland Trail Blazers are definitely a team to track here when it comes to eventual Antetokounmpo outcomes. Portland still controls Milwaukee's draft capital in 2028, 2029 and 2030 thanks to the teams' Jrue Holiday-for-Damian Lillard swap.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Says He Has Calf Strain, Expects To Miss 4-6 Weeks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo told the media following the Milwaukee Bucks' 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets that he has a right calf strain and expects to miss 4-6 weeks.

  Antetokounmpo will get an MRI on Saturday.

  "After the MRI, they'll probably tell me I popped something in my calf and probably give me a protocol of 4-6 weeks I'll be out. After that, I'm going to work my butt off to come back probably end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully, the team can at least make the Play-In (Tournament) or playoffs," said Antetokounmpo after the game.

  Antetokounmpo missed eight games earlier this season with a right calf strain.

  "I thought he was favoring it for most of the second half personally. I asked our team five different times. I didn't like what my eyes were seeing, personally. Giannis was defiant about staying in," said Bucks coach Doc Rivers after the game about the injury.

  The Bucks are currently 18-26 on the season.

  It was reported on Friday that discussions between Antetokounmpo and the organization about his future have recently intensified.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks Dialogue On Future Have 'Recently Intensified'

  Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have continued their dialogue on his future with the franchise ahead of his next extension decision in October 2026.

  "Giannis and the Bucks have been having ongoing conversations about his future," said Shams Charania on the Pat McAfee Show. "Even going back to May. Those conversations... every single passing week, every single passing month since May when I first reported he was exploring his best fits outside of Milwaukee, for really the first time. And really getting down to which team he would want to go to. Where he would want to be. Those conversations have only grown with every passing week and month since May. And recently, the Bucks and Giannis' conversations have intensified in nature."

  Antetokounmpo has voiced his frustration with the situation publicly in comments to the media as well as his reaction to being booed on

  "I've spoken to about a dozen sources on and off for weeks now," added Charania. "The tension that is in the air within that organization and within the front office and in that locker room is at an all-time high. There's a splintering environment going on there."

  Charania added that Jon Horst and Doc Rivers met with Antetokounmpo in the offseason with the Bucks telling him they believed they had a championship-caliber roster around him.

  "What I've been hearing for months and months now is that the writing is on the wall for Giannis and the Bucks," said Charania. "How do they get there? When do they get there? When is either side ready to step up to the plate and have that level of understanding or will it continue to live in this nebulous state?"

• Miles Bridges Drawing Trade Interest From Bucks, Warriors, Suns

  The Charlotte Hornets haven't indicated that they are looking to move Miles Bridges, but they are drawing interest in the veteran forward. The Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns have all shown interest in acquiring Bridges.

  Charlotte is reportedly looking for at least one first-round pick, and maybe two, for Bridges. The combo forward makes a very tradable $25 million this season, with a fully guaranteed $22.8 million owed to him in 2026-27.

  One challenge for the Bucks is that the Hornets have no interest in taking back Kyle Kuzma in a Bridges trade. Kuzma is owed $22.4 million this season, followed by $20.3 million next season.

  The Warriors could offer Jonathan Kuminga as the centerpiece of a deal for Bridges. The Suns could piece together a handful of contracts to match salary for Bridges, but don't have the draft capital to send to Charlotte.

• NBA Trade Season 'Hinging' On Whether Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Come To Market

  The future of Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the central question of the NBA's transactional landscape entering the trade deadline period as it did last offseason beginning at the lottery in May. Neither Antetokounmpo or the Milwaukee Bucks have signaled any interest in initiating either a trade request or trade conversations. The closest movement to date was when the Bucks and New York Knicks held brief trade conversations in August presumably at the request of Antetokounmpo.

  "The entire NBA trade season is hinging on what happens with Giannis," said Brian Windhorst on SportsCenter. "Because if Giannis comes onto the market, not only would be there immense interest in him, but because of the size of his contract and the potential of a multi-player trade, I think you could see this see generate two, three, four different teams involved in trades and many, many players.

  "The Bucks, to this point, have yet to cross the rubicon there. And Giannis has yet to cross the red line and ask for the trade. Everybody in the league believes this is eventually going to happen. Everybody in the league can see that the Bucks are not good enough to support Giannis going for title contention and knows this moment is going to happen and they are preparing for it. There doesn't seem to be a clarity on when it might happen. They will stay on the sidelines and they will wait. And if the bell goes off, you will see a hive of activity."

  Antetokounmpo and the Bucks are believed to be at this stalemate because he'd prefer not to have to request a trade and jeopardizing his fandom in Milwaukee, while the team has remained adamant they will not entertain trading him unless he explicitly asks for it.

  Antetokounmpo can become a free agent in 2027 and is eligible for an extension in October, leading to an obvious deadline for when a tangible decision on his future must be made despite the continued reluctance from the parties.