As Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors swirl, Bucks schedule key meeting for this week
In an eight-minute update on Haynes Briefs, Haynes relayed that Antetokounmpo 'has great ambition' and wants to win multiple NBA championships. That could prove challenging on an aging Bucks squad that finished as the No. 5 seed in a weak Eastern Conference before losing co-star Damian Lillard to an Achilles tear during a first-round series loss in the 2025 playoffs. That injury is expected to cost Lillard most or all of next season, as well.
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Since that final April 29 loss, there has been no communication between the player and team, Haynes reports. Among his comments:
There was no exit interview, or meeting, for Giannis. From what I was told, the Bucks said, 'Hey, emotions are running high immediately after the loss. Let's just pivot to doing this down the road.'
There has been no communication from that point on... until (Saturday) morning, I was told. So, this meeting that's expected to occur in the middle of the week this is going to be Giannis' time to tell the organization what he wants, and what he desires. And also, most importantly, listen to what plans the organization has.
The Bucks are well above the league's salary cap and have one of the league's worst future draft outlooks, both owing to all-in trades that have been made in previous years to bring in marquee veterans around Antetokounmpo — such as Lillard.
Thus, it's unclear whether any moves of significance can be made.
With that in mind, the next domino in terms of any Antetokounmpo trade pursuits in the 2025 offseason will be seeing what he does when presented with that information.
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Playing as a 6-foot-11 power forward, Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points (60.1% FG), 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game in the 2024-25 season. A two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), the 'Greek Freak' is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a perennial MVP candidate.
In contrast to the Bucks, Houston finished at No. 2 in the tougher Western Conference while featuring a younger roster consisting of more players with upside. While some of those players would undoubtedly go to Milwaukee in any hypothetical trade scenario, others would remain — and that might give Antetokounmpo a better opportunity to compete for championships.
More: Fact or fiction: Do the Rockets have the best assets to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: As Giannis trade rumors swirl, Bucks schedule meeting for this week
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