RealGM Basketball Wiretap

12 May 2026

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Expected To Decline Long-Term Commitment To Bucks

  Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to decline the opportunity to make a long-term commitment to the Milwaukee Bucks when the two sides meet in the coming weeks, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Milwaukee has begun reengaging other franchises on a potential trade for the star forward.

  Antetokounmpo has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract, giving him considerable leverage over his next destination. The Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams expected to pursue him.

  "Any conversation that the Bucks are going to have with Giannis Antetokounmpo, from my understanding, is going to be a very simple one: 'Do you want to stay here long-term and commit long-term in June?'" Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday.

  "The answer, from all accounts, is going to be 'no.' And at that point, the question is going to be: where does Giannis want to go? Where does he want to play for and commit long-term? Because he's got just one guaranteed year left on his deal. You guys know this; especially in the NBA, that gives a player of this caliber a ton of leverage-a ton of sway on where he ends up."

  Milwaukee has not formally ruled out retaining Antetokounmpo and plans to consult him directly. The conversations are expected to unfold over the next several weeks.

  General manager Jon Horst spent the past decade building around Antetokounmpo, trading for Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard before executing the largest stretch-and-waive in NBA history on Lillard's $113 million contract. Milwaukee then committed $108 million to Myles Turner.

  "They did that all to try to win around Giannis. The reality has been setting in, though, for the Bucks," Charania said. "We'll see over the next six weeks."

  A resolution is expected by the NBA draft on June 23rd. Antetokounmpo can sign a four-year, $275 million extension in October that he would surely need to commit to in June in order to remain with the Bucks.

• Jon Horst Says Bucks Continue To Be Open To Path Of Keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo

  Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst confirmed Sunday that the franchise is actively pursuing two separate paths simultaneously of either trading Giannis Antetokounmpo or building a title contender around him. A decision is expected before the NBA Draft on June 23-24.

  "Both paths are very alive for us," Horst said. "We'll explore and learn a lot in the coming weeks as to what the benefit for the organization will be."

  ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Monday that the Bucks are actively listening to trade offers on Antetokounmpo as they did ahead of the trade deadline.

  The Bucks held their position at No. 10 in Sunday's draft lottery after entering with outside odds at a top-four selection. Horst said the pick could serve either path, whether used to develop a young player alongside Antetokounmpo or packaged as trade capital to acquire veteran talent.

  Milwaukee has used first-round picks aggressively in the past to pursue contention, acquiring Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard in separate blockbuster deals. Horst confirmed the franchise's two additional tradeable first-rounders, in 2031 and 2033, remain available as well.

  Co-owner Jimmy Haslam set an informal deadline earlier this week, telling reporters a resolution on Antetokounmpo's future should come before the draft. Horst pushed back gently on that framing Sunday.

  "That is a deadline because it's a draft, and a lot of those trades happen," Horst said. "For us, it's really about just having a great offseason and keeping both paths open."

  Sunday's lottery offered little clarity on the trade market. The Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, two franchises previously linked to Antetokounmpo, did not move up. The Brooklyn Nets, which holds enough picks to construct a major trade package, fell to sixth despite strong odds at the top selection.

  Horst and the Bucks front office begin combine meetings in Chicago this week, with Antetokounmpo's future at the center of every conversation.

• Bucks Actively Fielding Trade Offers For Giannis Antetokounmpo

  The Milwaukee Bucks are accepting trade offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, with ownership expecting a resolution before the NBA Draft on June 23-24, league and team sources told ESPN. The franchise is maintaining its asking price of a young blue-chip talent and or a surplus of future draft picks.

  "Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he's going to play somewhere else," co-owner Jimmy Haslam said Wednesday. "And Jon and Taylor, along with Wes and myself, will make that call and we understand the gravity of that call."

  Nothing has changed in Antetokounmpo's position that the time has come for both sides to part ways, sources said. The 31-year-old first signaled an openness to leaving Milwaukee last May around the 2025 draft lottery and combine, and later expressed a specific desire to join the New York Knicks last summer before those talks stalled.

  The Bucks finished 32-50 this past season, missing the postseason for the first time in nine years. Antetokounmpo appeared in only 36 games due to groin, calf and knee injuries, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

  Milwaukee holds up to three tradeable first-round picks and tradeable contracts including Bobby Portis and Kyle Kuzma to use in potential deals. The Bucks are also leaving open the possibility of pursuing a significant trade to convince Antetokounmpo to remain.

  Several prominent suitors received their lottery positions Sunday. The Golden State Warriors landed the No. 11 pick and the Miami Heat received No. 13, solidifying potential trade packages. Sources identified the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers as additional interested parties.

  "The conversation will be simple: Where does Giannis want to be moved and where will he sign long term?" one source with direct involvement told ESPN.

  Antetokounmpo becomes eligible for a four-year, $275 million extension on October 1 if he remains in Milwaukee, or six months after any trade is completed.

• 2026 NBA Draft Lottery: Wizards At No. 1, Ahead Of Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls

  The Washington Wizards, who had the best odds at 14 percent, have won the lottery and the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz will hold the No. 2 pick ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 and the Chicago Bulls at No. 4.

  The Indiana Pacers were fifth and must convey their selection to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade at the deadline.

  The top four picks are expected to be some combination of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. The 2026 draft has also became touted for its depth, especially at guard with the likes of Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr. and Brayden Burries.

  Out of all the teams in the lottery, the Jazz were most tightly connected to Dybantsa who has surpassed Peterson on many teams draft boards. But the Wizards will dictate how the draft plays out as they have a challenging decision to make at No. 1. The Wizards made a pair of trades for veteran All-Stars this season in Trae Young and then Anthony Davis.

  The Wizards previously won the lottery in 2001 (Kwame Brown) and 2010 (John Wall). The Jazz had never previously moved up in the draft lottery.

  2026 NBA Draft Lottery Results

  1. Washington Wizards
  2. Utah Jazz
  3. Memphis Grizzlies
  4. Chicago Bulls
  5. Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
  6. Brooklyn Nets
  7. Sacramento Kings
  8. Atlanta Hawks
  9. Dallas Mavericks
  10. Milwaukee Bucks
  11. Golden State Warriors
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LA Clippers)
  13. Miami Heat
  14. Charlotte Hornets

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Believed To Want To Play For Eastern Conference Title Contender

  This summer, teams are expected to be lining up their best trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Several teams who have been eliminated from playoff contention have already shown interest in acquiring Antetokounmpo or reportedly could make a run at the Milwaukee Bucks superstar.

  That list includes Western Conference teams like the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. However, Antetokounmpo is believed to prefer to play for an Eastern Conference team that is a title contender.

  That could make teams like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat or the Toronto Raptors contenders to land Antetokounmpo. The New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves or Cleveland Cavaliers could also get involved if their playoff runs end earlier than desired.

  Antetokounmpo can become a free agent in 2027, which gives him a degree of leverage to control his destination.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Likely Push For Trade To Specific Team

  On a recent appearance on FanDuel TV's Run It Back Show, Sam Amick of The Athletic talked about the likelihood Giannis Antetokounmpo gets traded from the Milwaukee Bucks. One thing Amick said to keep an eye on with Antetokounmpo is that he'll eventually push for a trade to a specific team.

  "The other thought real quick is Giannis is going to have his say here," Amick said about the Bucks superstar's potential trade desires. "He's going to put his foot on the scale, and I think at some point in terms of pushing towards a team that he wants to play for and that part is going to be a big factor as well."

  Amick also said that Milwaukee could see trading Antetokounmpo as a way to reset the franchise in a good place.

  "Maybe it gets them the kind of package where they can really turn the corner and build with some good young pieces, or maybe even some stars," Amick said about the potential return the Bucks could get in an Antetokounmpo trade.

• Cavaliers Contacted Bucks About Giannis Antetokounmpo Before Trade Deadline

  The Cleveland Cavaliers reached out to the Milwaukee Bucks regarding a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade before the deadline, league sources say. Milwaukee's asking price included Evan Mobley and all of Cleveland's tradeable draft capital, which include three picks and three swaps on draft night.

  Multiple rival executives, when informed of that trade construction, said they would make the deal despite the steep cost.

  The Cavaliers remain capable of advancing to the Eastern Conference finals without LeBron James for the first time since the 1991-92 season as they take on the Detroit Pistons in the second round after a challenging first round series against the Toronto Raptors.

  A potential early exit, however, could place Cleveland in a situation similar to Milwaukee's current predicament. Donovan Mitchell has one guaranteed season remaining on his contract, followed by a $53.8 million player option for 2027-28, mirroring Antetokounmpo's contractual structure. Mitchell becomes extension-eligible on July 7, nearly four months before Antetokounmpo reaches that threshold.

  Mitchell, 29, would be weighing that extension decision after a third consecutive spring without reaching the Eastern Conference finals if Cleveland is eliminated.

  The Cavaliers' front office faces a defining offseason regardless of the playoff outcome. Whether pursuing Antetokounmpo or securing Mitchell's long-term commitment, Cleveland's front office faces critical roster decisions in the coming months.

• Bucks Co-Owner Jimmy Haslam Wants Giannis Antetokounmpo's Future Resolved Before NBA Draft

  Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam said Wednesday the franchise hopes to resolve Giannis Antetokounmpo's future before next month's NBA draft, framing the decision as one that will shape the organization's entire roster construction approach this offseason. The Bucks can trade up to three first round picks and three swaps on draft night if they want to continue building around Antetokounmpo in the short- and medium-term.

  "Sometime over the next six or seven weeks, we'll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us, or he's going to play somewhere else," Haslam said at a news conference introducing new head coach Taylor Jenkins. "Jon and Taylor, along with Wes and myself will make that call, and we understand the gravity of that call."

  Haslam was direct about the stakes involved. The Bucks received trade interest at the deadline in February from the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

  "If Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets," Haslam said. "That's Jon's job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."

  Antetokounmpo, 31, has repeatedly stated his desire to play for a championship-contending franchise. Milwaukee went 32-50 this season, snapping nine consecutive playoff appearances, while injuries held the two-time MVP to a career-low 36 games.

  The Bucks can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million extension in October. If unsigned, he would become a free agent after next season during the 2027 offseason.

  Haslam emphasized the organization's relationship with the player remains open and direct.

  "We never had any problem communicating directly with Giannis at all," Haslam said. "We've had those kind of conversations since the season was over. We will do what's best for Giannis and what's best for the organization."

  Jenkins, who compiled a 250-214 record across six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, said Antetokounmpo has already reached out since the appointment.

  "He's expressed tremendous excitement for me and my family," Jenkins said. "He and I established a really good relationship and maintained that respect, even from a distance."

  Jenkins becomes Milwaukee's fourth head coach in five seasons, following Mike Budenholzer, Adrian Griffin and Doc Rivers.

• Taylor Jenkins Among NBA's Highest-Paid Coaches At Over $10M Per Year With Bucks

  Taylor Jenkins has signed a long-term contract worth well above $10 million annually to become the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, per league sources, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

  Jenkins ranks amongst the NBA's highest paid head coaches, behind the likes of Steve Kerr, who earns $17.5 million per year with the Golden State Warriors, and Erik Spoelstra, who makes approximately $15 million annually with the Miami Heat. Doug Christie is the NBA's lowest paid coach at $2 million per season.

  Jenkins replaces Doc Rivers, who was dismissed following the 2025-26 season. The 44-year-old spent the 2025-26 season away from basketball after the Memphis Grizzlies let him go near the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

  Jenkins brings direct familiarity with the Bucks organization. He served as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer during the 2018-19 season, working alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo during the forward's rise to superstardom.

  The hire comes as Milwaukee faces an uncertain summer centered on Antetokounmpo's future with the franchise. Team officials moved quickly to fill the coaching vacancy with an established candidate.

  Jenkins went on to lead Memphis for six seasons after leaving Milwaukee, building the Grizzlies into a competitive playoff program before his dismissal.

• Blazers To Be 'Prime Trade Suitor' For Giannis Antetokounmpo, May Pursue Anthony Davis As Alternative

  The Portland Trail Blazers are set to emerge as a "prime trade suitor" for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

  The Blazers discussed deals for Antetokounmpo with the Bucks before the trade deadline.

  The team is looking to build a trade package revolving around Jerami Grant's expiring contract.

  The Blazers also own the Bucks' first-round picks in 2028, 2029, and 2030.

  The Blazers also reportedly contacted the Mavs before the trade deadline over a possible deal for Anthony Davis.

  They could still pursue Davis should they fall short on an Antetokounmpo deal.