The Milwaukee Bucks are making headlines ahead of the NBA trade deadline by making two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo available. With the deadline just three days away, Milwaukee has reportedly taken a step that could lead toward a blockbuster deal.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Bucks have made counteroffers to the teams that made “aggressive” proposals to acquire Antetokounmpo.
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Of note, Charania named the e New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves as the three teams that have been the “most serious suitors” out of all the clubs interested in acquiring the perennial All-Star forward.
Obviously, none of the counteroffers Milwaukee proposed to those teams was accepted. It also remains to be seen whether the Bucks will even pull the trigger on a move before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. There is a real possibility that Antetokounmpo remains with the team through the season and is then traded during the summer, when the market for him could be even stronger.
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There is also a chance of another club getting involved, making this a three-team deal. It has been reported that both the Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls are open to getting in the mix as facilitators for a three-team deal without Antetokounmpo headed their way.
Milwaukee has made it known that it wants a surplus of future first-round picks or a potential young cornerstone player it could begin to build a new team around. One other thing to keep in mind if a deal is made: the Atlanta Hawks have swap rights with the Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans first-round picks. So, as of now, Milwaukee would be making its own selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
